The Lens

One of the most important features of the SLR camera is the ability to change the lens. The range of lens types is extensive, from the 16mm fish eye lens, which captures a 180 degree field of view, to the powerful telephoto lens enabling distant object to be photographed. A two times converter can be fitted between the camera body and the lens to double the focal length, or the power of the lens. Other lenses known as macro lenses are also available to photograph small items close up. Zoom lenses have a focal length that can be adjusted.

My kit consists of : 

 28 - 200mm zoom lens which is a good general purpose lens because of its focal length range though suffers with image quality.

70 - 200 f2.8 zoom lens which has excellent light gathering capability and very good quality optics and is very good for sport. I also have a 2x converter for this lens which makes it a 140 - 400mm f 5.6.

300mm f4.5 telephoto lens which although is not as flexible as the 70 - 200 has outstanding optical quality.

As a general guide, fixed focal lenses give better optical results than zoom lenses but zoom lenses are very useful.

A 50mm lens is known as a standard lens as it sees objects as the human eye does. Smaller than 35mm will start to distort straight lines slightly. 85mm to 135mm is ideal for portraiture as it slightly flattens features on the face. Anything over 300mm and you will have to consider fixing the camera to a tripod to avoid camera shake. (see exposure)

Camera / Lens / Film / Exposure / Composition