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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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12 votes
6 answers
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How to select lenses for outdoor sports photography?

I would like to get into sports photography, and would probably want a better telephoto lens so I can get better close up shots. What other factors should I keep in mind as I make my choice? Does IS (...
chills42's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
3k views

Is it better to upgrade Canon 18-55mm IS kit lens to the 18-200mm, or complement with 55-250mm? [duplicate]

I currently have the Canon EOS 550D with the 18-55mm IS kit lens. I am primarily looking for greater telephoto reach, as I have found the 55mm length to be quite limiting at times. So, I was ...
ab.aditya's user avatar
  • 4,645
9 votes
5 answers
6k views

How can I get maximum DoF with no distance markers?

I am aware of what hyperfocal distance is and the general principles behind it. However, most of the tutorials I have seen and read regarding it make use of lenses with focus distance indicators. ...
ElendilTheTall's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
6k views

How can I compare the lens serial number from the EXIF of a picture, to the serial on my lens?

I have a Canon EOS 85mm f/1.2 L II lens. I sold it to someone, they claim it was broken and sent it back. I am trying to prove that the lens I sent to them, is not the one they returned. From http://...
Zlatty's user avatar
  • 281
7 votes
5 answers
5k views

Do cheap filters have an effect on image quality?

Do cheap lens filters (UV, ND, CPL) affect image quality, color reproduction, sharpness, etc.? Do they really offer protection?
Arkadi's user avatar
  • 353
7 votes
3 answers
7k views

Best lens for taking pictures of surfers

I'm just trying to decide which new lens to get. I need to take surf and windsurf photos from onshore. Sometimes 300 mm is enough but there are many times they are too far away. I have a sigma 70-300 ...
Susana's user avatar
  • 71
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Wide Angle Lens on a Step Down ring?

I'm a beginner at photography and own a Canon 20D with two lens; a 50mm prime and a 17mm-85mm zoom. I've purchases all my filters at 67mm to fit my zoom lens and use a 52mm - 67mm step up ring to use ...
Peter Hough's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
8k 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 ...
Paolo's user avatar
  • 2,781
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

How does using a lens with some focal length on a full frame camera differ from using a lens with "equivalent" focal lens on a crop camera?

As an example, a 35mm lens on a crop body (such as Nikon DX) is said to be "equivalent" to a 50mm lens on a full frame body. Equivalent here means that they will have the same field of view, but what ...
SoftMemes's user avatar
  • 1,715
4 votes
5 answers
2k views

Will a lens upgrade from the kit lens give me better colors on my backpacking travels?

I currently have the Nikon D5300 along with the kit lenses (18 - 55mm). I use it for my backpacking travels to make better shots than with the smartphone, but what I've noticed is that the photos are ...
khernik's user avatar
  • 161
3 votes
1 answer
6k views

Can I control the aperture of a F-mount lens with aperture ring from the camera body?

If I buy a lens with a manual aperture ring like the Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8D, then does that mean that I can only control the aperture on the lens? Or can the camera control it too? I want one with ...
Da Monster's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
10k views

Does an APS-C lens label itself with effective or true focal length? [duplicate]

I'm not sure if I've phrased this correctly, but I've just purchased two prime lenses: Nikkor 50mm f1.8/G (FX) Nikkor 35mm f1.8/G (DX) I know that the effective focal length of the 50mm FX lens is ...
armadadrive's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
15k 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?
Aquarius_Girl's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

How to lock aperture using Reverse ring with Canon 600D?

Is there anyone using reverse ring and know how to lock the aperture. I tried doing the techniques provided on youtube. First connecting the lens on original positions then lock the aperture by ...
arslion's user avatar
  • 113
0 votes
5 answers
4k views

What Canon lens would be good for shooting high school/college sports? [duplicate]

I take a lot of pictures of my sons playing High school baseball (and at times lacrosse and soccer). And a lot of my sons' travel baseball games. I have a Canon Rebel EOS XSi (450D) which of course ...
Gamecockinnc's user avatar
43 votes
10 answers
51k views

What can a fisheye lens be useful for?

I have a variety of lenses in my camera kit. One that I do not have, and has me curious, is a fisheye lens. I mostly understand what it does: it captures an image with distortion similar to what you ...
Grant Palin's user avatar
  • 3,109
38 votes
3 answers
5k views

When you zoom in with a lens on an SLR why does the lens go in then out?

I guess this is more a question of optics than photography but I just got an SLR with a basic 18-55 lens. I noticed that when going from 18 to 55 or 55 to 18 the lens physically comes back in and ...
zgirod's user avatar
  • 523
32 votes
3 answers
17k views

What is a zone plate?

I was looking into alternative methods of photography and I happened upon something called a 'zone plate.' Three questions: What is a zone plate? How does it work? What can I do with it?
Jay Lance Photography's user avatar
30 votes
5 answers
26k 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 ...
xpda's user avatar
  • 492
27 votes
17 answers
75k views

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?
Joost's user avatar
  • 379
18 votes
2 answers
42k views

What's the difference between a regular lens and a macro lens? [duplicate]

What is the difference between a 100mm lens and 100mm macro, or 50mm and 50mm macro? Can we use a macro lens to shot portraits? If yes, what focal length is the best? Please suggest a Canon macro ...
PRK's user avatar
  • 481
18 votes
8 answers
9k views

Will using a lens at max aperture ("wide open") result in poor images?

I’m looking to add a second lens to my kit lens I got with my Nikon D7000. I have read several reviews on both the 35 and 50 mm lenses made by Nikon in particular that said using either lens at the ...
kacalapy's user avatar
  • 7,896
16 votes
5 answers
75k views

What is USM, and what are its pros and cons?

My Canon lenses have the designation USM on them, which I assume is for the same reason that they say "Ultrasonic". What does this mean, and why or why do I not want it?
dpollitt's user avatar
  • 46.4k
16 votes
4 answers
4k views

What is a parfocal lens and how beneficial is it to photography?

I heard someone say that after using a parfocal lens for the first time, they would never switch back. What is a parfocal lens, how is it different from any other lens, and what are the advantages and ...
dpollitt's user avatar
  • 46.4k
14 votes
6 answers
5k views

Does an ultra-wide lens perform well in landscape photography?

I own a DSLR for less than a year, currently shooting with my Nikon D90 and 18-70mm DX lens. Since the beginning of it, I am deeply in love with shooting landscapes photography: seascapes, skyscapes, ...
Trav L's user avatar
  • 916
14 votes
5 answers
752 views

Is it possible to adapt lens from one brand into another brand's body? [duplicate]

I'm thinking about buying my first DSLR (I have no experience) and was thinking about the lens brand issue. I'm thinking I should buy a Pentax Kx because of it's cost-effective value, but I'm ...
Salsa's user avatar
  • 243
14 votes
9 answers
35k views

Would the 40mm pancake or 50mm prime be better for street photography with a Canon APS-C camera?

I have a Canon EOS 600D, and I already have 18-55mm,55-250mm. I plan to buy a new lens for street photography. I already have picked out one of the following lenses: 40mm STM(pan cake). EF 50mm f/...
Vinoth Kumar's user avatar
13 votes
6 answers
4k views

What size lens is recommended for flying bird photography?

My wife has a Canon 450D and a 70-300 lens for long distance shots. I am considering a present or two and good advice from jrista suggests possible upgrade of camera to a Canon 7D and of lens to a ...
Dennis's user avatar
  • 965
12 votes
5 answers
6k views

Really? Why does a Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 cost almost $2,000?

I am trying to price out a 35mm f/1.4 lens for my Nikon D7000, and I am shocked to find that B&H sells them for almost $2,000, whereas the f/1.8 sells for a couple hundred. Am I looking at the ...
kacalapy's user avatar
  • 7,896
12 votes
4 answers
4k views

How close can a lens focus?

From my understanding, if you want to do some macro photography it is better to have a lens that can focus when it is really close to the subject. Sometimes people buy extension tubes to help them ...
Tom's user avatar
  • 3,139
11 votes
4 answers
7k views

How many optical aberration types are there in lenses? And what are they?

Everyone hears something about chromatic aberration but are there any other types? What causes them?
spinodal's user avatar
  • 753
11 votes
1 answer
6k 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 lenses,...
goldenmean's user avatar
  • 1,219
8 votes
6 answers
13k views

Is the camera sensor or the lens the limit to resolution?

I have a pretty high res sensor on my camera, but sometimes I have the feeling my lens doesn't even get to this resolution. How can I tell if my camera sensor has not enough resolution or if the lens ...
Benedikt's user avatar
  • 183
7 votes
3 answers
26k views

Would it be better to use a 35mm prime instead of a 50mm prime on a cropped sensor body?

It's said that 50mm is close to what the human eye sees and is a very versatile focal length in general, especially good for street photography which is what I'm most interested in. That being the ...
Raheel K.'s user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
22k views

Lens with small scratches on the front element - how do they affect IQ?

I am looking to buy a CANON 28mm 1.8 EF lens. I found an offer, significantly discounted, of a lens with small scratches on the front element. The offer is very tempting. Here is a photo posted by ...
Jakub Kaleta's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
509 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 ...
nmc's user avatar
  • 247
5 votes
1 answer
716 views

Do lenses have focal planes or focal spheres/ellipsoids?

The title says it pretty much all. I'm asking this because I find myself always using the focus point in the center, and after I focused, I rotate my camera to make the framing right. However, if ...
Martijn Courteaux's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
17k views

Can I use the lens from Canon AE-1 on a Canon EOS DSLR, with an adaptor maybe?

I have a Canon AE-1 (film) and I bought a digital slr camera Canon EOS 60D. I have lenses from the AE-1 camera, but I don't know if there are some adaptors to use so they fit in the 60D camera... any ...
Marlen's user avatar
  • 51
4 votes
3 answers
449 views

What to look for in a wide angle lens?

My girlfriend owns a D5100 and I own a D7000 for which we both share lenses (or try to when appropriate). I own the 18-55 kit lens, a Nikkor 50mm 1.8g (I may consider buying the inexpensive 50mm 1.8d ...
Jorge Córdoba's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
49k views

Should I buy a Canon 55-250mm lens or 70-300mm for my Rebel T3i? [closed]

Should I buy a Canon 55-250mm lens or 70-300mm for my Rebel T3i? I have the basic 18-55mm lens that came with my camera but I need a next step up that's not too expensive. What are the most common ...
Kait's user avatar
  • 41
3 votes
3 answers
11k views

STM vs Non STM lenses for still photography?

If I am looking for a lens for still photography , then does an STM lens have a benefit over non-STM lenses?
Shubham Rohini's user avatar
3 votes
6 answers
19k views

Looking for a good, cheap entry-level telephoto lens for Nikon D5100

I currently own a Nikon D5100 with the 18-55mm kit and am looking for a good, cheap entry-level telephoto lens. I'm a beginner, and plan to do wildlife, nature and landscape photography with an ...
Parampreet Dhatt's user avatar
3 votes
6 answers
2k views

Will there be any difference in photos taken using full frame and crop lenses on a crop camera?

I see a lot of questions comparing full frame (e.g EF for Canon, FX for Nikon) and crop lenses (e.g. EF-S for Canon, DX for Nikon) but I can't find the answer to what would be the differences between ...
BeowulfNode42's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Possible to lock focal length on zoom lens? (SELP1650)

(This could turn out to be a bone, practical, product-specific query, but this is the internet so the worst that could happen is a 0 rather than a 1.) Anyhoo: is it possible to lock a zoomable lens ...
yellow-saint's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
779 views

Lens cleaning pen - disappointed by results, is this working right?

I just got one of these for the first time, a lot of threads on here recommend them and they seem like a great idea. Bought a Nikon one from amazon for $8 and while I really like the brush it seems ...
trying_hal9000's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
2k views

Do lens hoods need to be matched to focal length?

Is it true that not all generic lens hoods work on all lenses (provided the filter diameter matches, of course)? I read that the focal length plays a role in it - but I cannot find such readings on ...
user41058's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
4k views

How can one use a reversing ring with Nikon G lenses?

So, this blog (credit to mattdm for pointing it out) says: Firstly, when you turn the lens around you obviously lose the CPU connection between the lens and the camera, so say goodbye to autofocus, ...
Aquarius_Girl's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
3k views

How can I remove scratches from a lens?

How can I clean a lens (fisheye) scratches? I heard about peanut butter rubbing alcohol car paint scratch removal solution any other? like an abrasive tool etc
Adrian Ber's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
1k views

I changed my camera lens while my camera was on [duplicate]

I changed my camera lens while it was switched on. It was my first time doing this because I usually switch off my camera and change the lens but this has been the first time I've changed the lens ...
Ayeh's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
3 answers
8k views

70-200mm lens: Canon or Sigma? f/2.8 or f/4?

I was thinking of buying a Canon EF 70-200m f2.8 mk1 (I would love to buy mk2 but here's a noticable difference in price, at least in my country), but after awhile I came to the conclusion that this ...
user17977's user avatar

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