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Lots of customers migrating from a Compact Point & Shoot to a DSLR would regularly be baffled as to which lens to purchase. While purchasing a DSLR they might be enticed to purchase the kits lens supplied with the camera. Unaware of what a kit lens is, or what type of lens they need, they may even buy it only to realise after that it was a bad investment. Should you be looking to purchase a brand new DSLR, the following DSLR tips can allow you to choose your native lens.

Focal length
A kit lens is one which comes bundled together with a camera as an offer from the manufacturer. Usually an entry level DSLR would have a 18-55mm lens. 18mm and 55mm are the two extreme focal lengths within which the lens can shoot photos. It doesn't have anything to do with the amount of the lens. Small the amount the wider is the field of view that it may get (technically any lens less than 50-mm is actually a wide-angle). Again, the higher the amount the more optical zoom range the lens has. Normally, the eye has a focal length of about 50mm that's why, a lot of street photography enthusiasts favor shooting with a 50mm prime lens. More on prime lenses later. If you are interested in everyday shooting only, then the 18 55mm kit lens is going to be sufficient for you. But in the event you really choose to shoot wildlife then you will need a bigger focal length, something like a 55-300mm. in case you're a landscape photographer or shoot architecture, then you definitely will need a wider lens something like a 1755mm .

Appropriate lenses from other manufacturers
In case you are shopping for a Digital SLR, you really have the option to buy it along with a kit lens, or request the store keeper to bundle the camera with another lens of your choice. There are no solid rules you will need to purchase the kit lens. Professional photographers prefer purchasing a camera body-only and then use a lens of the choice. Buying just the body lets you the choice to even mount a suitable lens from a particular manufacturer. There are tons of other compatible lenses available in the market. Should you be buying a Nikon or a Canon DSLR, then the option is rather broad DSLR tips.

Using lenses via an adapter ring
One can even use lenses which are not directly compatible, via an adapter ring. However it is relevant to note that should you use a lens via an adapter ring you will likely lose out on the Car-Focusing (AF) abilities.

Prime lenses and zoom lenses
A prime lens is a fixed focal length lens. Being fixed in its focal length means manufacturers have less amount of moving lens elements to cope with and will concentrate on the optical characteristics of the lens rather. Prime lenses are normally faster since they have a wider maximum aperture and offer photographers the option to choose a faster shutter speed. Wider aperture is good for capturing fast motion or in low-light conditions.

Zoom lenses in the other hand have a varying focal length and might be adjusted to focus on a subject by turning a focusing ring on the lens body. There are several moving elements inside a zoom lens body and thus the lens is often heavier. Also, the most aperture is a little smaller when compared to a prime lens.

Image stabilisation system
When buying a lens it's relevant to notice whether the lens has some form of image stabilisation system assembled in or not. Image stabilisation system is referred to by different names by different makers, nonetheless they basically do precisely the same. They counter for the camera shake once the picture has been taken. There are tiny gyro sensors mounted in the lens body which can detect vertical and horizontal movements of the camera and compensates for this by moving unique lens elements to create the picture to the right focal plane. If you intend to shoot hand holding all the times, then you definitely need to have image stabilisation system in your lenses.



Revision: r1 - 2013-10-09 - 14:18:52 - WilbUr324

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