If you are considering investing in lenses and accessories, here are a few points that will help you pick the right lens and accessory for your camera.
Picking up the right lens and accessories for your DSLR camera can help you click the perfect photographs and, at the same time, increase the shelf life of your camera.
In this article, we will help you pick the right things for your camera, but before we do that, let us first explain to you the importance of lenses and accessories when you click a picture with a DSLR.
What is the role of the lens in cameras?
Most cameras, including DSLRs, come with a lens, but if you wish to explore photography and click exceptional photographs, the lens plays a vital role, especially in DSLRs.
The lens helps you focus on the objects while you are clicking photographs. In addition, you can zoom in and out using the lens at your discretion because the pictures clicked are accurate and clear.
So, how to pick the right lens for your camera?
Picking up the right lens for your camera can be difficult for obvious reasons. First, the technology behind a lens is known to very few people, and because of this, it becomes difficult for people to pick the right lens for their cameras, especially when using a DSLR.
Another reason people become charry while choosing lenses for their cameras is that lenses are often expensive. So, you need to carefully select lenses because it involves a lot of investment, and picking up the wrong lens for your camera can deteriorate the quality of your pictures.
Understanding the technology of lenses
Before you think of investing in lenses, it is necessary to understand how a lens affects the picture quality and what the technology behind it is. This understanding will help you choose the right lens without any hassles. Also, it will help you select the right lens while taking pictures, especially if you have multiple lenses.
So, without wasting much time, let us tell you how a lens works and what to look for when purchasing one.
Features of a lens
A camera lens has two major features. One is called the focal length, and the other is called the aperture.
What is a focal length?
A lens is usually used to magnify objects. The lens’s degree of magnification is called a focal length measured in mm. When picking up a lens for your camera, all you need to remember is that the bigger the number, the more magnification.
For example, normal human vision is 35 mm to 50 mm. This means anything more than this will make things appear closer and larger, and anything lesser than this will help you see things smaller and distant.
What is an aperture?
When you see a lens, you will see a hole inside the lens. This physical hole inside the lens is called an aperture. It allows light to pass in. The amount of light that can pass through the lens depends on the size of the hole.
Related: Understanding Aperture in Photography
How to decide which camera lens you need for your DSLR?
DSLR cameras offer a wide range of lenses, and some lenses are more expensive than the camera. Therefore, it becomes difficult to choose the right lens for your camera. We suggest you keep the following things in mind when choosing a lens for your DSLR.
- Make sure the lens you choose has a greater aperture. The bigger the hole, the more light can pass through; therefore, bigger apertures are more desirable. The size of the aperture is denoted as f and is mentioned below the hole. Therefore, if you see two lenses with apertures f/1.8 and f/1.6, you should know that the lens with aperture 1.8 will allow more light and is, therefore, more desirable.
- If you wish to spend wisely on lenses, we suggest you should always get a lens with variable focal length. For example, if you choose a 24- 70 mm lens, you can adjust its focal length from 24 mm to 70. So you don’t need too many lenses.
- The kind of photography you do also decides the kind of lens you would choose. For example, if you are interested in landscapes, you need lenses that are wide in angle. Wide-angle lenses are generally between 10mm to 35 mm. At the same time, if you are interested in shooting portraits, you need a lens with a fixed focal length. These are called prime lenses. Prime lenses that have an aperture between f/1.2 and f/1.8 are ideal for clicking portraits. Likewise, if you are looking forward to clicking photos of nature, you would probably need a lens with a long focal length. Any lens between 100 mm and 400 mm is ideal for nature photography.
Importance of Accessories
You must be wondering if all you need to take amazing shots is just the right camera. But the fact is there are a few accessories that are quite essential when you are out there capturing moments. These help you take pictures comfortably and more accurately, carry your camera effortlessly, and, most importantly, these accessories can increase the shelf-life of your camera and make it last longer.
Some must-have accessories with a DSLR include
A spare battery
A spare battery is always a must-have accessory if you are constantly on the move. It will save you from carrying a charged-out camera with you. In addition, there are many instances when you are at a remote location where you cannot charge your camera. In these situations, the extra battery can save your day.
memory card
If you are an avid photographer who does not have the habit of counting shots when in the mood, a memory card is an absolute necessity for you, even though your DSLR holds enough space. It will not let you lose the beautiful moments just because your camera is running out of space.
camera bag
Even though you choose to buy a lightweight DSLR, carrying a camera on your shoulders all the time, especially when climbing cliffs, can give you a backache. Moreover, it becomes difficult for you to carry the other accessories of the camera if you are carrying just the camera with you. Therefore, a camera bag is something you ought to have. Whenever you choose a camera bag, make sure you have room for all the accessories in the bag. This also prevents your camera from accumulating dirt and dust.
Tripod
A tripod is mainly used to balance the camera on uneven surfaces. It prevents the camera from falling and helps you take clear photographs. There are instances when you get blurred images because of shaky hands. A tripod ensures the images are clearer and sharper.
Related: Why a tripod is crucial for photography?
Manual
A manual helps you understand the controls of your camera. If you are a beginner, you need the manual to understand the camera’s controls.
Now that you know the importance of lenses and accessories, let’s walk you through the steps of picking the right lens for your camera.
Conclusion
Therefore, to conclude, we can say that the lens and accessories of a camera play a major role in the quality of images you take. Buying a camera involves a lot of investment, and at times, the lens turns out to be far more expensive than the camera itself. Therefore, we must choose the lens and accessories carefully.
It will save time, reduce costs, and allow you to enjoy clicking pictures. Most importantly, if you have the necessary accessories and the right lenses, you don’t have to worry about taking re-takes. Photography is like painting.
One wrong stroke can ruin the entire picture. After reading this article, we hope you can choose the right accessories and lens for your camera easily.
Related: Tips for Taking Great Photos