Understanding Digital Photography Lenses

Digital cameras have made taking photos easy - you can set them to "Auto" and just point and shoot. What is being forgotten is that the camera can only apply the settings to the image it receives and that depends purely on the type of lens being used. It is easy to get confused over the huge number of different types of lenses available but to start with all you need are 4 - the rest can follow as your needs for even better photos increases.


When you buy a camera it will probably come with a standard general purpose lens fitted - one with a focal length of 35 - 70 mm. This is a point and shoot lens and will produce good photos in any conditions - but usually not great ones.


For photos of distant objects and for nature and sporting photos where you want to appear to be near the action, you will need a medium telephoto lens. These lenses are also ideal for portraits since when used for close ups the make the object of the picture stand out from the background and thus enhance the "portrait" nature of the image. Experimenting with this kind of lens will show you how changing the perspective can change the whole tone and mood of a photo. Medium telephoto lenses are available in with a focal length range of 85 - 135 mm.


If you are into real long range outdoor photography you will need a full telephoto lens. These normally have a focal length of between 135 - 300 mm (and more for special applications) and are the only lens you can use if you need to bring distant objects close and ensure that the resulting image is sharp and clear. Long telephoto lens can also be used for medium range work when you need to highlight a part of a distant object and the point of focus will make that aspect of the composition stand out.


The last of the four basic digital photography lenses is the wide angle lens with a focal length of less than 50 mm. These lenses are best of wide sweeping landscapes and panoramic images - like mountain range, for example. You can use a wide angle lens for group picture against expansive backgrounds as the lens will make the group appear to stand out from the background.