Questions tagged [lens]
A photographic lens is used to focus the light onto film or a digital sensor. Many cameras have interchangeable lens systems, allowing the photographer to choose the type of lens to use.
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What is a pancake lens?
I've read about a "pancake lens" but don't really understand what that means.
What the pros and cons of having a pancake vs. another type of lens?
I'm thinking of getting a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 ...
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How to choose a lens for my first DSLR?
I am considering buying my first DSLR.
How do I know whether I need a 18-200 lens, 17-85, or 18-55? Or something else?
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Is there a difference between taking a far shot on a 50mm lens and a close shot on a 35mm lens?
I am looking for a prime lens to pick up, and I'm wondering if there is any difference between 35mm and 50mm in terms of the end product if I just stand back more with the 50mm. I use the Sony a6000 ...
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Why do some lenses cost so much?
Something that confuses me is why there is some lenses that cost so much. For example the only difference that I see between the two lenses is the aperture: f/2.8 vs f/4.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II ...
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What is the effect of a scratched lens?
I have a lens with a small but significant looking scratch near the center. But I don't see any difference in the photos. Where does the imperfection show up? How important is it to get the piece of ...
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Why there is no image-stabilized Canon 50mm lens?
Canon's 50mm prime lenses are all non-IS (Image Stabilization) for some reason. Considering the popularity of these range primes, shouldn't Canon be interested in shipping a new, optically improved IS ...
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What are the most notable differences between Canon and Nikon lenses?
I'm currently considering to buy one of the next generation enthusiast DSLRs. Either a Canon EOS 60D or the slightly more expensive Nikon D7000. I'm quite new to the SLR discussion but I know there ...
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Is it ok to breathe on the front glass element of a lens to fog it and clean it?
Nikon specifically recommends not breathing on the glass elements to clean them as harmful acids in the breath can damage the coatings on the glass.
However, I've read on many other websites that it ...
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How does the lens diameter influence photo quality?
I have tested two different 50mm lenses in my camera. One was a Nikkor 50mm ∅52mm. The other one was a Sigma 50mm ∅72mm. I took some pictures with both lenses using the same setup for aperture and ...
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How do I properly position a lens hood?
I understand the basic idea of a lens hood, but after looking at mine and contemplating how to use it, I get stuck on the same question every time:
Does the orientation of the hood on the lens matter?...
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Is it physically possible to build a long zoom (17-300 mm for example) at an aperture value of around 1.4 or 1.2?
I'm curious if the physics allow a company to build such a lens of course with good IQ, minimal color aberration, maximum sharpness, and little to none lens vignetting or edge softness
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Are Sigma lenses comparable to Canon lenses for a Canon camera?
I always feel that I should buy a Canon lens for my Canon camera, and Sigma would just be a cheap knock-off. Is that the case?
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What does a 'nano crystal coat' do on this lens?
The Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G AF-S has a 'Nano Crystal Coat'...what is that and why is it on most of their most expensive lenses? Obviously its a coating and some links seem to indicate it may increase ...
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How can a 18-55mm lens focus on objects beyond 55mm?
I guess this is a total noob question, but doesn't 18-55mm mean that it can focus only up to 55mm?
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How do I get a stuck screw filter off of my lens?
There is a UV-filter screwed on my Canon 16-35mm. For some reason, I'm not able to get it off the lens.
Does anyone has a simple but safe trick?
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Is it worth it to have the 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens?
Is it really useful to have a fast prime lens for portrait photography, considering a low budget? If it is, what about the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II?
I have an entry level 18-55mm lens and a Canon 20D.
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What is a "fast" lens?
I've been reading lots of camera reviews lately and have ran across several references to "fast" lenses.
What exactly is a fast lens and what are its advantages compared to other lenses?
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Why am I allowed to turn my focusing ring beyond infinity?
Is there a good reason why I can turn the focusing ring on my lenses beyond infinity mark on focusing scale? Following recent questions about focusing in the dark (here and here), it sounds like a ...
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Do the Lightroom lens correction tools make good lenses less important?
Lightroom has Lens Correction tools such as Distortion, Vignetting, Chromatic Abberation, etc. depending on the brand and model of lens.
Due to this feature, is it less relevant what the distortion ...
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How do I find the right size of filters for a lens?
I was looking to get a circular polarizing filter and an UV filter for my Canon 550D, 18-135mm lens. When I checked online I found these filters came in different sizes, like 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm. ...
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Considerations when purchasing a prime lens?
What should I be aware of when buying a prime lens (other than that it will fit my camera)? What specs should I pay close attention to?
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What is the farthest a camera can see?
At what distance can a face no longer be identified using a camera? At what distance can a figure of a person no longer be captured?
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Should I really lug around a lens cap everywhere?
I lose lens caps by the billion. Is there another way to protect my lenses without having to carry these things around with me?
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How long should a lens last?
There are plenty of ratings and tests for how long DSLR bodies last, but I have never really seen much that describes the expected lifespan of lenses.
Recently, one of my cheap-o lenses (Nikon 18-...
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What is the difference between Canon "L" lenses and non-L lenses?
The Canon L lenses are much more expensive and presumably much better quality than non-L lenses. What makes an "L" lens? How much better are they over a similar length/speed "ordinary" canon lenses?
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Should I be worried about getting dust inside my SLR?
I recently went to Silverstone to watch the F1 qualifying and took my DSLR camera with me. Throughout the day, I switched lenses a few times, but each time was very conscious that there was a lot of ...
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What is 'freelensing'?
I've recently heard about a photographic technique called 'freelensing.' How do I go about 'freelensing,' and what can I do with the technique?
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Why buy prime super telephoto lenses instead of zoom super telephoto lenses?
35mm and 50mm primes make perfect sense to me: sharper images, simple operation, and framing can usually be handled by taking a few steps forwards and backwards.
I'm struggling to see how one would ...
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Why don't more people use fisheye lenses as a cheap wide angle lens?
From my understanding, a fisheye lens usually has a coverage of 180 degrees or close to it. Given the extreme coverage and the availability of software that can turn fisheye images back to a ...
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Why is the aperture ring removed from new Nikon lenses?
Maybe I'm wrong, but I notice that Nikon's newer lenses don't have an aperture ring. For example, an older AF 35 mm f/2D is now replaced by AF-S DX 35 mm f/1.8G, or AF 50 mm f/1.8D is replaced by a ...
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Canon 50mm lens: f/1.2 L or f/1.4? Alternative brands?
I am in the market for a 50mm lens for my Canon DSLR. I've read plenty of reviews, and all of them have great things to say about both lenses. From a scientific perspective, the f/1.2 performs better ...
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What makes a Carl Zeiss lens so special in a smartphone?
There are smartphones on the market that have a focus towards photography. Some are equipped with a Carl Zeiss lens. I have looked into Wikipedia, which tells me that they are a brand who produces ...
user2112
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(Why) do lenses increase in value over time?
Neocameras lens buying guide claims:
Lenses most often increase in value over time until a significant change in technology.
Is this accurate? Why would value increase?
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How can aperture be f/11 on a lens with an aperture range designation of 3.5-5.6?
I made a series of outdoor shots with Nikon D5000, with the 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR kit lens.
On some shots, I see in the EXIF info f/11, and in another shot, f/9.
How can that be, that the f-number ...
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Why do two lenses with the same F-number give different amount of light?
Why do the following two lenses provide different amount of light?
In both images we have fixed focusing distance, distance to the object, ISO, shutter speed and F-number.
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How do photographers manage multiple lenses?
This is probably a very naive question but I will ask anyway.
It appears that most photographers carry multiple lenses. Each lens serves a different purpose. I understand that. However, I can't ...
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Which scenarios are better shot with a prime lens versus zoom lens or macro lens?
What scenarios are better shot with a prime lens? A zoom lens? A macro lens?
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What should I consider when purchasing a macro lens?
What should I be aware of when buying a macro lens (other than that it will fit my camera)?
What features should I look for?
What specs should I pay close attention to?
What factors affect macro ...
- 2,087
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How do camera body motors compare to in-lens motors for focusing?
What is the difference between using a motor on the camera body and the motor built into lenses?
Aside from how both compare in terms of speed, what differences would I notice if I use a body with a ...
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Why choose an 80-200mm over an 18-200mm lens?
Being a beginner, I can't see why I must choose an 80-200 over an 18-200. Are there scenarios where an 80-200 would be preferable over an 18-200?
I will be buying a D7000 soon and am looking at these:...
- 1,609
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What's this little sign on the focal length ring of zoom lenses?
Looking at pictures of zoom lenses I've noticed there's sometimes a little sign between the two widest focal lengths:
What is the meaning of that sign?
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Why do zoom lenses and compact cameras have varied maximum aperture across the zoom range?
Why does a camera's maximum (allowed) aperture get smaller when you increase its zoom?
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Is it true that there are no stabilized prime lenses (and if so, why)?
Fast prime lenses like the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens work nicely in low-light situations. But I'm quite sure they would work even more nicely if they had optical image stabilizers. It seems to me that no ...
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What's the best way to create a tilt-shift photograph?
Specifically, what's the best way to go about shooting photos that have a fake miniature quality to them, which produces high-quality (and believable) images? Is there some special lens that you can ...
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What are the limitations of a typical kit lens as a general purpose lens?
I have a Canon EOS 550d with the 18-55mm IS kit lens. I have done quite a bit of shooting with it over the last few months (portraits, nature, night shots etc), and find the image quality to be pretty ...
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Why are cine lenses so much more expensive?
For example, compare a cine lens like the Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 50mm/T2.1 ($3,900) to a high-end DSLR lens like the Canon 50mm f/1.2L ($1418). Both are EF-mount, have the same focal length, and it ...
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How does a circular lens produce rectangular shots?
Is it something like the sensor captures a circular image and then what we get is the cropped version?
Something like this:
Or did I get it completely wrong?
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What is Chromatic Aberration?
What is Chromatic Aberration? Is it a physical part of the lens, or just an optical illusion?
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What is the benefit of an internal focus lens?
The "IF" in Pentax DA★ 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM stands for "Internal Focus". I know what this means: the lens doesn't change in size as I focus. (And it's true; it doesn't.) What's the point of this, ...
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How does a lens affect the saturation of a picture?
In many reviews people describe how a lens can affect the saturation of a picture, especially when it comes down to a comparison of two similar lenses, e.g. 50mm 1.8 vs. 50mm 1.4 or something like ...
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