What factors should you consider when comparing lenses?
One of the most common questions asked once you have purchased your first DSLR is ‘what lenses should I look at buying?’. That, as you can imagine, is a pretty big question, so this article aims to give you a number of factors to take into consideration when buying lenses.
The number one lesson you learn when starting on the great adventure that is photography is that you should try spend more money on lenses than on camera bodies. For me that is an incredibly difficult thing to do, but it honestly pays off when it comes to perfecting different types of photography.
In my opinion the first factor you need to consider the TYPE of photography you plan on doing. If there is a specific type of image you would prefer to be able to take, and narrow it down from there. Below I will go through a few types of shots, and discuss the relevant and appropriate options available to you.
TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Did you buy your camera because you travel to really interesting places and want to keep a record of those memories? Or did you buy it because you adore taking pictures of your kids, friends, interesting people you meet? Is your main type of work to take pictures of small details in the interesting things around you?
If you’re a frequent traveller, ideally you want to keep you kit versatile and light. It is probably a good idea to consider a multi-purpose ‘walk-around’ lens. This lens would be something like an 18-135mm, or a 70-200mm lens. Something with a wide enough range to get a decent scenic shot, but with enough of a zoom to concentrate on details.
I personally would always consider having a fixed focal 50mm in my bag, which is incredibly lightweight, but effective for narrow depth of field images, or shooting in low light situations.
If your main photographic ideal is to take landscapes, a telephoto zoom code be the right choice as it can give very dramatic depth in your scene. Or your choice could run to a wide angle lens, but that creates a very specific type of image and is not hugely versatile.
For portrait photography there are two fairly important factors to consider, one is speed as people move constantly. If you are taking pictures of your kids or candid shots of friends or family, you would like something that operates fairly quickly. The second consideration is depth of field. There is nothing more beautiful than a pin sharp portrait, with a gorgeous blurred background.
And lastly, what if your preference is macro photography? For capturing those exquisite details in every day objects. Your priority there is a lens with a very small minimum focussing distance, so the lens can get in really close and still focus effectively.
Obviously lens manufacturers design and build lenses to each of these very specific fields, but if you had to buy one lens for each requirement your photography is bound to become too expensive to enjoy.
ENVIRONMENT
Another consideration that will prove to be important is the predominate environment you shoot in. Do you shoot mostly indoors, in low light situations, or are you more an outdoor shooter where the elements may play a role in your decision. If a lot of indoor shots make up your portfolio of work, your priority will be the speed of the lens. You’ll need something fast or that has a wide aperture. But the body need not be as sturdy or need to be moisture or freeze proof.
If however your work takes you into wet, or extreme cold the weather proofing of a lens becomes and important factor. You’ll need to choose a lens that is sturdier, and it will probably tend to be a more professional level lens. One that has been sealed against the elements. The fastest way to ruin a lens is to allow moisture to get between the elements, so keep in mind your shooting environment.
PRICE
Price is the next factor. It used to be that price determined whether you would go with Canon or Nikon lens specific to your camera body. If you couldn’t afford it you would then look at brands that were compatible, like Tamaron or Sigma. However these days Tamaron and Sigma create lenses that are on a par with the body makers in price and quality. Your consideration of price now extends to the level of lens you are able to purchase.
You are able to purchase entry level lenses with a wide number of uses – but the more multi-purpose a lens is, the more likely you are to sacrifice on sharpness and clarity in that category. If your priority is that absolute clarity and the multi-purpose is less important you could consider fixed focal length lenses. Canon has a fairly inexpensive 50mm 1.4 which is tack sharp, but you have to move closer or further away from your subject.
Obviously if your price is not an issue, then you should jump in from the get go and look at the top of the range lenses from all the makers. These lenses will offer speed, versatility, clarity and performance, but they come at a price. However, these lenses are also likely to last longer and be adjustable through the ranges as you upgrade your camera bodies.
OTHER OPTIONS
The last point I would like to make is that there are other options available to you. The two most common are the option to purchase lenses second hand. Research in your area for reliable second hand camera merchants. They will be able to advice you on stock availability, price and comparisons to newer models. When considering second hand lenses it is very important to take your camera body with you. Check the lens barrel for scratches or dents, attach the lens to your body to ensure all the motorised functions are operating properly and do some research about reviews on that lens to see what problems may exist with it.
The last option available to see if the lens you are considering matches your requirements and needs is to rent the lens for a time period. Find a reputable rental company and take the lens for a week to test out the functions, speed and most importantly whether it fulfills your needs. Once you have had the chance to work with a lens you’ll soon be able to determine whether the price tag attached is worth it for your work. But whilst using the rental lens keep in mind all of these considerations.
I hope this has helped and been informative.
