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.
3
votes
5answers
601 views
Which lenses should I take on a honeymoon trip to Alaska?
Newbie photographer here and really hoping for some expert advice! I go to Alaska on honeymoon in July and really need some advice on lenses.
My camera is the Canon EOS 1100D (told you I was a ...
3
votes
2answers
298 views
How to shop for a lens filter?
What should I consider when shopping for a lens filter?
I see filters that range from $15 to $115 and more. What are the differences between the $15 and the $115 filter?
I'm asking in the ...
3
votes
3answers
346 views
Is the kit lens focal length specified for APS-C or FF?
I have the 18-55mm kit lens for my Canon 50D and was wondering if they're still specified against full frame 1:1 crop? Would my 18mm actually be 1.6x?
I ask because I doubt anyone with a full frame ...
2
votes
1answer
410 views
Which 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens is “better?” [duplicate]
I'm looking for a budget telephoto lens and I'm wondering which of these two is the better option. They have very similar specs:
Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital ...
1
vote
3answers
181 views
What web-based expert resources for Nikon are similar to The Digital Picture for Canon?
I've followed Canon photo products for years and I can't go past this great expert resource on Canon cameras, lenses and few other accessories photographer should know about and read before buying ...
18
votes
2answers
1k views
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 here and here, it sounds like a real usability issue.
...
12
votes
4answers
757 views
Why buy an expensive manual focus lens?
What are the benefits of (expensive brand new) manual focus lenses? Why did you, for example, buy a manual focus Carl Zeiss 85/1.4 rather than an auto-focus Nikon 85/1.4? I'm not concerned with ...
11
votes
3answers
4k views
How does a spherical lens differ from an aspherical lens?
Many lenses (like the Pentax DA 15mm f/4 Limited, or the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G) are described as having "aspherical lens elements". Does this mean that regular lenses are spherical lenses? What's the ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
What are Barrel and Pincushion distortion and how are they corrected?
I have some questions regarding Barrel distortion and pincushion distortion. Since they are related I have put them in single post.
I am aware that barrel distortion
occurs more in wide-angle
...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
Which prime lens to get after the 18-55mm & 55-250mm?
I started out with the 18-55mm IS kit lens on my Canon EOS 550D over a year ago, and added the 55-250mm IS a couple of months back to augment my telephoto reach (based on the recommendations in one of ...
8
votes
6answers
248 views
On smaller prints, will a high-quality zoom lens provide near equal image quality compared to primes?
Let's say I shoot with Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L, Canon EF 50mm f/1.4, and a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. Can these 3 primes be replaced with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 for the convenience of not needing to change ...
7
votes
5answers
427 views
Why not have the diaphragm in camera body instead of the lens?
Why is the diaphragm to control the amount of light entering the camera typically in the lens and not the camera body itself?
7
votes
2answers
201 views
Do normal macro lenses suffer the same light reduction as tubes?
When stacking tubes to make a normal lens a macro lens, you have significant light lost due to the increased distance. Do normal macro lenses suffer the same fate? Why or why not?
7
votes
4answers
2k views
What Nikon lens to buy to make photos of birds?
Currently, the zoomiest lens I have is a Nikon 18-200mm. I want to be able to take photos of wildlife, or in most cases birds, which I can't do at 200mm.
For a long time, I wanted to purchase a Nikon ...
6
votes
5answers
660 views
Which one wide-medium lens to buy as the main lens for an outdoor wedding?
I have my first solo wedding gig coming up and I'd love recommendations for almost any lens (under $1500, preferably) to go on my 7D. My Sigma wide-angle is basically no longer usable. I have some ...
6
votes
3answers
428 views
What motor gets used if both lens and camera body have a focus motor?
If both a camera body and lens have motorized autofocus, would one be used over the other or would both work in tandem to speed the focus process along?
5
votes
7answers
1k views
What DX Nikon lenses should I look at for concert/club photography?
I'm looking at upgrading my kit for a music photojournalism internship over the summer and I was wondering what the best way to spend $600 was.
My current setup is a d7000, a kit lens, a manual ...
5
votes
1answer
485 views
What's the small white plastic dome on old Pentax lenses?
My old Pentax lenses have a small white dome between the aperture ring and the focus ring. See the photo below:
The clear white dome calls to mind the larger white plastic domes used in light ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Why is the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR twice as costly as Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX?
The Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR is almost twice as costly as Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX. Why is that so?
The only difference I see is the internal Focus. If that ignored are ...
4
votes
2answers
634 views
Is it normal for focal length to change while focusing?
When I change the focus distance on my Pentax 55-300mm lens, the focal length appears to change. More specifically, the lens appears to zoom in as I focus towards the minimum focusing distance. This ...
4
votes
2answers
569 views
What's the base f-stop when counting an ideal f-stop for lens?
I've read a lot around this site that an ideal quality of the lens is achieved when using f-stop roughly 2 stops slower than the fastest value of the lens.
Firstly, I'm not exactly sure what "2 ...
4
votes
5answers
940 views
Is an EF 50mm f/1.4 the same as 50mm with an EF-S lens on a Canon 550D?
I have a Canon 550D with the standard 18-55mm kit lens. The 550D has a 1.6× crop factor.
My question is very simple but whenever I've asked before (Yahoo Answers) I always got overly-complicated ...
4
votes
1answer
730 views
Is AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G lens good for both macro and portrait photography?
I'm thinking of buying a macro lens am considering the Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR.
Is this lens really good for portraits? Where can I find sample pictures taken with this lens? Is ...
3
votes
3answers
604 views
After 2 years of amateur photo, buy a new body or a great lens?
Two years ago I bought my first DSLR. Since then I have bought and inherited some lenses. What should I buy next, a better body or more lenses? I enjoy photography but I do it fewer than I'd like (not ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Will a prime lens help me get better portraits at a wedding?
I have a Canon 600D with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. I have a friend's wedding coming soon, and I'm not sure if my zoom lens will do a good job or not. I was thinking of buying a prime lens so ...
3
votes
3answers
524 views
Image Stabilization in Lens vs Body: Which is Cheaper?
Is Image Stabilization better in the lens or the body? Someone already asked that.
But I'm trying to make a purchasing decision. It seems that the short answer to my title question is that it's ...
2
votes
1answer
481 views
What does “angle of view equivalent to that of some lens in 35mm format” mean?
Does "angle of view equivalent to that of 22.5-585 mm lens in 35mm [135] format" for a digital camera mean that the lens is equivalent to a 22.5-585 mm lens for a DSLR camera?
2
votes
2answers
661 views
Do lenses affect color fidelity?
It seems to me that my costlier (Tamron 90 f/2.8 macro) lens gives better colors than my cheap Canon 18-55 IS kit lens.
So does lens matter for color quality? What physical processes are involved in ...
2
votes
4answers
970 views
Where to buy used Nikon lenses in the USA?
What are some of the sites available for buying used lenses for the Nikon D-90 camera body? Do any specialize in Nikon or have enough supply to deeply cover Nikon lenses?
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Which lens should someone who enjoys the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 get next?
I bought a Canon 550D months ago, and at that point I chose the 50mm f/1.8 because it was super affordable and quite popular. I must say I've taken some really wonderful photos with it; mostly with ...
2
votes
1answer
684 views
Which 70-300mm lens between the Nikon VR and Sigma? [duplicate]
I am confused about selecting a 70-300mm lens. I have 2 lenses to decide between, the 'Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5 - 5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR' and the 'Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG'. I hear lot of good things ...
1
vote
2answers
222 views
Canon 75-300mm f4-5.6 USM or 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS lens?
I am getting a deal on a Canon T3 cam with 18-55mm kit lens and I have choice of one extra lens: 75-300mm f4-5.6 and 55-250mm f4-5.6. I generally like to shoot street, abstract and nature photos and ...
1
vote
1answer
183 views
Can I save money on lenses by buying a Nikon camera with an in-body autofocus motor?
I have dilemma what camera is better Nikon D5100 or D90. The first one is newer but the second one has lens servo ("screwdriver") motor. My question is: can I save some money overall with the more ...
0
votes
2answers
750 views
Should I choose the AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D or AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G for my Nikon D5100?
I have D5000 DX body and planning to buy a fast lens. I'm stuck on choosing between "AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4D" and "AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G".
I was quite leaning towards 50mm f/1.4D, as I had plans ...
0
votes
2answers
8k views
What is the difference between DX format and FX format lenses, and which to choose for what purpose?
http://www.nikon.co.in/products.php?categoryid=1011
What is the difference between DX format and FX format lenses, and which to choose for what purpose?
What are the pros and cons of both?
30
votes
8answers
35k views
What can be done using a 18-55mm lens?
I have a Canon EOS 1000D with 18-55mm kit lens (entry level, as many say). Whenever I go out for a shoot, I always end up feeling handicapped because of the limited zoom range.
Most of my friends ...
37
votes
11answers
3k views
Should I keep Image Stabilization (IS) off when I do not actually need it?
I own a Canon 7D and a EF-S 15-85 IS lens and I keep the image stabilization turned on all the time.
Recently, an experienced photographer told me that this is a huge mistake because it reduces image ...
23
votes
2answers
2k views
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 ...
26
votes
2answers
1k views
Why no zoom lenses below f/2.8?
I can understand that a zoom below f/2.8 would be difficult and costly, but it seems like something pros would kill for. Surely it can't be more expensive (if its possible) than some of the $10k+ ...
24
votes
5answers
6k views
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
642 views
What is a Carl Zeiss lens in a camera?
I have a Sony CyberShot camera and I don't know why they use a lens in the camera. What is a Carl Zeiss lens?
27
votes
7answers
1k views
Do good lenses really last a lifetime?
I’ve heard people say “a good lens will last a lifetime” many times. Is this actually true of modern lenses? More specifically, will a good lens be usable for a lifetime?
With an inexpensive adapter, ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
Software to auto correct lens distortion based on photo
A photo contains digital information about the make of the camera the focal length,etc. Does any software use this information and auto correct the lens distortion in the photo. I know that Photoshop ...
18
votes
6answers
810 views
How long should a lens last?
There are loads 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 ...
17
votes
2answers
596 views
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?
15
votes
5answers
690 views
How do I find the aperture that produces the highest-quality images for a given lens?
I'm not talking about large aperture (f/1.8, f/2.8...), rather, about small apertures (f/18, f/20, f/23...). I read somewhere (actually I think it was on this site, but I don't exactly remember which ...
13
votes
6answers
1k views
What should I do to switch my gear from Sony to Canon?
So I currently have a Sony A700 which i bought a year ago, and wanting to get some quality glass. I was looking at the Carl Zeiss 24-70/f2.8 lens, but then got talking to a friend who's a canon user.
...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the reference point that the focal length of a lens is calculated from?
I understand the idea of a focal length for a single lens, i e the distance from the lens to the point at which parallel rays of light converge. However, in the case of a photographic lens with ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Sigma 10-20mm f5.6 alternatives?
I've been wanting to add a wide angle lens to my collection for a while now. Sigma 10-20mm f5.6 looks good. I was looking at it about 2 years ago. I was wondering if there have been newer wide angle ...
25
votes
5answers
9k views
Is it worth to upgrade from Canon 50mm f/1.8 to Canon 50mm f/1.4 on 550d?
I'm a newbie in the world of DSLR photography, having played around with my Canon 550d for few months. After posting my first question here and getting some superb advices I decided to buy Canon 50mm ...
