Buying a Camera Lens

In order to end up with the lens best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of lenses are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a lens.

Research the Market: Camera Lens essentials

The quality of every image you choose to capture is directly dependent upon the lens of your camera. The lens is the eye of the camera and the image it offers to the recording medium will only be as fine as that eye itself.

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the lens market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Type: Camera lenses can be broadly categorized into three types: standard - good for general photos, wide angle - good for covering large subject areas and telephoto - good for long distance, such as sporting events, distant landscape features, and animals in natural settings.

Focal Length: The distance from the optical center of the lens to the focal plane. A higher focal length gives you a narrower viewing angle. A lower focal length gives you a wider viewing angle.

Zoom lens: Lenses have a fixed focal length or a zoom lens. Zoom lenses give you the ability to change the focal length. You can zoom in or out by altering the focal length.

Auto focus or manual focus: Some lenses have both, enabling you to turn auto focus on and off. Manual focus is good for focusing in low light photography situations or when you need to focus in very exact increments, providing more control when shooting.

Aperture: This is the opening which allows light through the camera lens to the focal plane. A smaller aperture number allows more light in, which helps you control the brightness of the exposure.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a lens. For example, will you use the lens only for taking candid shots of family and friends or do you want to photograph wildlife or flowers?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have I used a camera lens before?
	If you have, work out what you did or didn't like about the lens. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient.

What brand or type of camera do I use?
	Some brands require you to use their lenses.

If I have a film camera, what film format do I use?
	The lens must be compatible with the film format.

What type of photographs do I take?
	You might take general photographs, photograph buildings, or landscapes. Perhaps you are a nature photographer - different situations often require different lenses.

Are my subjects close up or at a distance?
	There are different lenses for close up or distance work. You may only need one of these or both.

Do I want a lens that is more specialized?
	Lenses can come with different needs in mind such as a vibration reduction system, auto focus, or a more rugged design. Be sure of what you really need to take the photographs you want, and forget about lenses with fantastic features that don't suit your aims.

How much do I want to spend?
	Lenses can be very affordable but don't forget you may need to purchase a bag and lens cap to keep them safe and filters to enhance your finished work and protect the front element of the lens.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of lenses and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens - User Review
The Canon 50mm lens offers high quality at an affordable price if you want a non-zoom lens. (1m 15s)