Understanding The Names Of Professional Camera Lenses

When it comes to professional camera lenses, there are a few types that are considered big. The first is the telephoto lens, which has a focal length ranging from 85mm to upwards of 300mm. These lenses are commonly used by sports and wildlife photographers, as they offer an incredible level of magnification, allowing photographers to capture close-up shots of faraway subjects. Another type of big lens is the super-telephoto lens, which has a focal length of 300mm or more. These lenses are even larger and heavier than telephoto lenses and are often used in astrophotography to capture intricate details of distant galaxies and nebulae. Additionally, macro lenses, which are used for extreme close-ups, can also be quite large, with focal lengths ranging from 35mm to 200mm.

Zoom lenses

When choosing a zoom lens, it is important to consider the aperture, which refers to the adjustable hole in the lens that lets light pass through. The bigger the aperture, the more light can get through. Aperture has a relational effect on shutter speed and ISO. For astrophotography, it is generally recommended to go for a lens with the biggest aperture available to you.

Another feature to consider is image stabilisation, which can help to reduce blur caused by shaking. This feature is particularly useful for handheld shooting but is less essential for astrophotography, where the camera will always be on a tripod.

It is also worth noting that zoom lenses tend to be bulkier and heavier than prime lenses, and they often come with a higher price tag. Additionally, all zoom lenses suffer from at least a slight loss of image resolution at their maximum aperture, especially at the extremes of their focal length range. This effect is most noticeable in the corners of the image when displayed in a large format or high resolution.

Despite these compromises, zoom lenses remain a popular choice due to their convenience and versatility.

Prime lenses

The main advantage of prime lenses is that they produce higher-quality images than zoom lenses. This is because they have fewer moving parts, fewer optical aberration issues, and are optimised for one particular focal length. Prime lenses also tend to have wider maximum apertures, allowing for photography in lower light, and shallower depths of field. They are also usually lighter, smaller, and more affordable than zoom lenses.

The most popular prime lenses include the 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm lenses, which are available in a range of aperture speeds. The 50mm prime lens, also known as the Nifty Fifty, is particularly good for portraits, as its focal length is similar to human eyesight. The 35mm prime lens, on the other hand, is often used for landscape photography.

Telephoto lenses

One of the key advantages of telephoto lenses is their ability to emphasise blurred backgrounds. When coupled with a wider aperture, the longer lens shrinks the subject in the foreground while maintaining the background. This blurred background effect can effectively highlight the subject and attract viewers' eyes.

While telephoto lenses offer many advantages, they also have some drawbacks. They tend to be bulky and may require a tripod for support, making them less practical than standard zoom lenses. They can also be expensive, especially for amateurs working with a limited budget.

Wide-angle lenses

There are three main types of wide-angle lenses: fisheye, rectilinear, and tilt-shift. Fisheye lenses have an angle of view of about 180 degrees, capturing a full hemisphere, while rectilinear lenses are any wide-angle lenses that are not fisheye and produce straighter lines. Tilt-shift lenses are the most expensive and popular among professional architectural photographers as they can make converging lines parallel or vice versa.

However, one must be cautious when photographing people with a wide-angle lens, as facial features can become distorted and unflattering. Additionally, it is easy to fall into the trap of trying to capture too much in a single image, leading to a lack of clear subjects or an overly busy composition.

When using a wide-angle lens, it is important to get close to the subject and experiment with different techniques to organise the subject matter and achieve clear compositions.

Super-telephoto lenses

When choosing a super-telephoto lens, it is important to consider the sensor size, as APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras have inherent crop factors that will effectively extend the equivalent focal length. This makes these smaller sensor cameras useful for sports and wildlife photography, as they provide more reach and are more lightweight.

Another key feature of super-telephoto lenses is the aperture. Extremely fast apertures are less common in these lenses, and the fastest options are often larger and more expensive. For example, an f/2.8 lens is significantly larger and heavier than an f/4 lens.

Some popular super-telephoto lenses include the Canon RF 600mm f/11 and RF 800mm f/11 IS STM, the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS and FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS, and the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport. These lenses offer incredible reach, image stabilization, and premium optics that can produce premium results.

Frequently asked questions