The Proper Use of Lensesby

William Lulow

All material and text presented herein is ©2010 by William Lulow

and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Lenses

There are three basic lens types:

Wide Angle

Normal

Telephoto

Digital Cameras with digital sensors

The size of a digital camera’s sensor

determines the relative focal length of any lens added to the system.

Most 35mm-type DSLRs have sensors which are smaller than the size of a piece

of 35mm film. Therefore, the image produced by certain lenses is larger.

Wide Angle Lenses

• Range from 8mm to 35mm for a 35mm size camera

• Designed to incorporate views from roughly 150 degrees to 100 degrees

• Yields greatest depth of field• Use when you want great coverage• Sometimes distorts image

Wide Angle LensField of View Chart

100 - 1500

Normal Lenses

• Range from 45mm to 55mm for a 35mm type camera

• Designed to include most of the scene or a full-length person from about 12 feet away

• Includes adequate depth of field on SLR type cameras at smaller apertures.

• Makes scenes and people look “normal”• Little visual distortion

Normal Lens Field of View Chart

90 - 650

Telephoto Lenses• Range from 60mm to 400mm + for a

35mm-type camera• Designed for close-ups or to bring objects

closer.• Also designed to fill the frame with a

person’s head.• Offers very little depth of field• Use when shooting portraits or when you

cannot get close to an object.

Telephoto LensField of View Chart

40 - 200

Collection of LensesSuggested for Digital SLRs

15 – 35mm zoom lens60mm macro lens for portraits

180mm telephoto

Collection of Fixed FocalLength Lenses

• 24mm wide angle• 36mm wide angle• 55mm normal• 85mm telephoto (portraits)• 135mm telephoto (med. Telephoto)• 200mm telephoto (long)• 600mm telephoto (extra long)

Professional Arsenal of Lenses

28mm, 35mm, 55mm(macro),85mm, 135mm, 200mm

Multi Focal Length Lens(zoom)

Portrait shot with 60mm Macro Lens on a DSLR

Portrait shot with 17mm-35mm multi-focal length lens on a DSLR

Image made with 17mm-35mm multi-focal length lens

Image made with telephoto, fixed focal length lens

Correct Use of Lenses

• Each lens does a specific job• Decide what you want to include in the

scene• Choose the lens that will accomplish what

you want• Do not invest in a lens unless you have a

specific use for it.• Get the fastest lens you can afford.

Written by

William Lulow© 2010 by William Lulow

May not be reproduced without written consent from the author.

www.williamlulow.comemail: william@williamlulow.com

914-263-6213