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Choosing the Right Digital Camera Lens

Every owner of an interchangeable-Lens Camera is faced with the pleasant dilemma of picking the most appropriate lenses to buy, then deciding which to use. However, there are no rules to go by; much depends on your personal style and what you already own. To help you decide which lenses to buy and how best to use them, we offer the following.

Normal lenses: Today, many 35mm photographers opt for a short zoom instead of a 50mm, but both have their virtues. If you need a fast, general-purpose lens in the f/1.4-f/2 range for available-light work, nothing can beat a 50mm. Positives: Usually more compact, lighter than a short zoom; often less costly; generally very sharp; provides brighter viewing image. Negatives: No zooming; you must compose by moving the camera.

Short zooms offer framing flexibility, often in a package not much larger than a 50mm lens. A 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 is usually the smallest and least expensive, but a 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 is more useful for shooting interiors, vistas, and cramped quarters because it gets down to 28mm. If you shoot portraits, nature, or sports at close range, consider a compact 35-105mm or a 35-135mm zoom. Normal zoom positives: Equivalent to two or more single focal length lenses in a handy, responsive package, it provides intermediate focal lengths; there's less need to switch lenses. Normal zoom negatives: Moderate aperture (typically f/3.5-4.5) limits low-light shooting and focusing precision with Manual Focus, affects viewing brightness. Zooms tend to be larger, heavier, more expensive than 50mm lenses.

Wide-angle lenses: They range from 24mm (bordering on ultrawide) to 35mm (bordering on semiwide). As with normals, the choice is between very compact, single-focal-length lenses of relatively wide aperture (f/2-f/2.8, a few f/1.4s) and moderate-aperture zooms (around f/3.5-4.5), which provide superior framing flexibility. For positives and negatives on both types, see normal-lens section above.
Many wide zooms, such as 24-50mm, 25-50mm, 28-50mm, etc., encompass normal as well as wide-angle focal lengths, which is an advantage. A few (for example, 21-35mm, 18-28mm) combine ultrawide (21mm and below) and wide focal lengths (see ultrawide section below). Many are not much larger or heavier than a 50mm. Although 25-50mm or 21 -35mm may not sound as impressive, it's the zoom ratio (long divided by short focal length) that counts. If you need a really fast wide-angle (for example, 35mm f/1.4, 28mm f/2, 24mm f/2) for available light or shooting handheld with slow film, stick to single focal lengths.

Ultrawide-angle lenses: With focal lengths of 21mm and below in 35mm format, they provide extreme angular coverage of 90 degrees or more. Positives: Ultrawides, by virtue of low image magnification, provide great depth of field; more likely to yield sharp-looking images when handheld at slow shutter speeds. These are excellent for expanding tight interior spaces, capturing vistas; for intimate photojournalism, street photography. Negatives: Apparent perspective distortion, though useful for dramatic or comic effects, is problematic in portraiture. Avoid placing subjects near edges of the frame or prominent features, such as noses, in the foreground.

Medium tele lenses: Sometimes called portrait lenses, this optics in the 85-135mm range are fine for portraiture, minimize apparent perspective distortion, and provide convenient working distance when shooting faces close up. Many tele zooms work well in this range, but they're heavier, longer, and slower than single focal length lenses. If you shoot a large percentage of portraits, you should consider getting an 85mm f/2, 100mm f/2, or 105mm f/2.5, even if you own a tele. Positives: They allow discreet photography of people without the perspective-flattening effect of long teles; single focal length type combines fast aperture, bright viewing image, good image quality. Negative: For zooms, see above; for single focal length, fairly specialized.

Long tele lenses: Traditionally, any lens over 135mm for 35mm photography is a long tele. Today, the most popular by far are zooms in the 80-200mm or 70-210mm range. Unless you need a lens that's very fast and very long (such as the optically superb but large, heavy, and very expensive 300mm and 400mm f/2.8s used by professional sports photographers), a Tele Zoom is the most flexible and economical choice. For many photographers, a 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 (especially one with macro) is the only long tele they'll need. Positives: Reasonable size, weight, and price, wide range of uses?nature, sports, people, portraits, scenics. Negatives: Moderate and variable aperture; mediocre performance unless stopped way down. A number of suprisingly compact 100-300mm f/5.6s are now offered for those who need a bit more reach, and there are a few fine 200-500mm f/5.6s for those who need really long teles for such things as long-distance sports close-ups. Long tele zoom negatives: larger size and weight.

How to Find Quality Cameras and Lenses Online

Shopping online for a camera is the best way to locate detailed descriptions of all the camera and lens options available. Then you will be able to make your choices based on these descriptions. Whether you are an amateur or professional photographer, there are many places on the Web to look for the camera you want.

What Camera Do You Need?

First of all, you must decide what type of camera will meet your needs. You may only need a simple point and shoot for family photos. These cameras will be less expensive and uncomplicated to operate. You can get automatic actions such as zoom and flash or automatic advancement in 35mm cameras. They are usually compact and simple to use, which makes it easy for anyone to take pictures.

However, there are limitations with those cameras in the control of exposure and focusing. For someone who is more involved in amateur photography, added manual control may be beneficial. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to change lenses to get a better zoom picture. Sporting events and vacation photos will be more pleasing to look at when taken with the right types of lenses.

The serious and professional photographers will want the best cameras with the features that suit their needs. This would include manual focus to give the clearest and sharpest pictures. Also, there are several different size lenses to get a good picture from a greater distance.

Different Camera Styles

There are basically four different kinds of cameras to choose from. The first, usually cheapest and easiest to handle, is the point and shoot. The second is the 35mm SLR that allows more variety in lenses and focus. The third is the Medium Format, which is larger and gives a larger negative to work with. It is completely manual but supplies a high-quality photograph. The fourth is the Large Format camera used by the professionals. It is larger and harder to use but provides stunning photographs from the larger size prints.

Shop Online for Cameras and Lenses

When you have decided the type of camera you need, you are ready to shop online. To get started, you simply type in your key words on a search engine. Once you know what you are looking for the task will be much simpler. There are many sites that offer cameras at wholesale or discount prices. They usually offer all the well-known brands such as Leica, Minolta, Canon, Horizon, Contax, Olympus, Mamiya, Nikon, Hasselblad, Pentax, and Noblex.

Some sites sell used products that have been gently used or refurbished. Purchasing these cameras would save you some money and will usually still come with a warranty. There are sites with online catalogs where you can look for the brand or style you want. They also provide search features so you can shop by key word or brand name.

Compare Before Buying

It is a good idea to shop around and compare prices and shipping costs before buying a camera. Remember to include the shipping costs when calculating the total price of a camera or lenses. Don't buy a camera at a discount price just because it is a good deal. To be sure you are satisfied with your purchase, look for the key features and quality you want. Buy a camera based on your needs and you'll enjoy taking fabulous photographs with it for years to come!

Renting Camera Lenses Online

Whenever I am talking to photographers and mention ""online lens rental"" or ""camera rental by mail,"" most look at me with blank faces, while a few knowingly smile. Being an owner of an online camera lens rental store has been an unexpected adventure in educating people.

When we first started the company we thought the biggest challenge would be to convince people to rent lenses from us and have their lens rental sent to them by mail. However, we neglected to recognize the preliminary first step to that goal and that was to educate that online camera lens rentals actually exist.

To most people the camera or camera lens rental experience traditionally began and ended with a trip to their local camera store. They would drive over, chat with the (usually unfriendly) camera rental associate and then drive home. By the way, can somebody e-mail and tell me why most camera stores employees you meet are so grumpy? It seems like whenever you come up to them to ask a question and you confuse a 1.4 aperture lens with a 1.8 one, they start feeling like it's no longer worth their time to talk to you? But I digress?

In any case, as I was mentioning before, it looks like most photographers have not realized that online camera lens rentals are possible. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since before Netflix hit the scene, borrowing movies through mail was unthinkable or before BagBorrowSteal.com opened, you couldn't dream of getting a $1000 bag through the mail (unless you buy it, of course).

The lens rental process is quite straightforward: you simply log onto the website, select the lenses or cameras you want to rent (most places primarily do Nikon or Canon Lens rentals), put in your delivery address and the camera equipment you rented shows up at your door a few days later. Inside is a prepaid stamp that you post over the original and drop it off with your carrier. Beats driving across town and dealing with the grumpy camera store dude, doesn't it?

Happy Lens Rentals!

Quality Camera Case Protects Expensive Lenses

For any level of photographer, it is essential to keep gear protected. M-Rock has developed a compact line of camera cases to suit any photography need. The wide range of styles and sizes of camera cases comes equipped with some vital features for protecting expensive camera accessories.

Water Resistance. Weather and water can be public enemy number one to an active photographer. M-Rock has gone great lengths to ensure their camera cases can withstand the elements. The M-Rock triple protection system on every case consists of a rain-flap, zipper and front buckle. And if that?s not enough, all cases come with a protective weather jacket that serves as a dry bad in inclement weather.

Rigid Structure. Delicate photography materials cannot stand heavy pressure. M-Rock camera cases are constructed with water resistant material, plastic paneling, and thick closed cell foam. The result is a rigid structure that protects all the gear inside.

U Shaped Cradle. A large problem for photographers can be space restrictions and placement of lens within the camera case. Unlike competitors, M-Rock components are universal and can be placed in just about any imaginable combination. Larger M-Rock camera cases come with a rigid foam U-shaped cradle to hold lens while in transit. The U-shaped cradle can be placed on any of the camera case walls to perfectly hold any size lens.

Quality photography relies on quality gear and components. Great lenses are an investment for photographers that should be protected with quality camera cases. M-Rock has thought of all the essentials in their line of camera cases to Protect Your lenses and keep you shooting.