Choose your DSLR Camera Lens

There are many types and kinds DSLR camera lens. Besides different kinds or types, the price difference was very striking, ranging from less than one million to hundreds of millions of dollars. This can confuse those who are planning to buy a DSLR camera lens or add to the collection. When in the last article we have presented ways to assess the quality of a DSLR lens, we now present a guide in choosing a DSLR lens. Happy reading.

Guide that we put this time is general and simple, unlike the previous manual devoted to Canon and Nikon lenses only. In this article we classify DSLR lenses in a variety of major groups, based on its diameter, by type and by opening the diaphragm.

Diameter Lens

First, based on the diameter of the lens, now there are two general categories, namely:

• full-frame lenses (35mm)

• crop sensor lens

For full-frame lens, optical diameter larger than the crop sensor lenses. This is because the lens is designed for full-frame can be used on full-frame DSLR and 35mm film SLR. In the market, we need to recognize the code that shows full-frame lenses, such as Canon EF, Nikon FX for, DG for Sigma etc..

While the crop sensor lenses are smaller, designed for a DSLR with a sensor smaller than full-frame sensor, the sensor is APS-C (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony) and the Four Thirds sensor (Olympus). This lens has a smaller diameter than the lens full-frame, but still has the same mounting design. That is, we can just put this lens on a crop sensor DSLR full frame, but in the picture there will be a circle on the outside of the image (vignetting) due to the larger sensor size than the diameter of the lens. Crop sensor lens is recognizable from the code as Canon EF-S, DX for Nikon, DC for Sigma, Pentax DA for etc..

The picture on the left shows the difference in size between APS-C and full-frame 35mm sensor. The red circle shows the diameter of a full-frame lens and a green circle indicates the diameter of the lens crop. It appears that the diameter of the lens has been designed to match crop field size APS-C sensor which is smaller than 35mm sensor.Sometimes owners of APS-C cameras instead of full frame lenses. This is due to the professional needs of many available lenses are full-frame lens. For example, for the needs of professionals, the EOS 7D camera users will choose EF 70-200mm lens.

Type focal lens

Judging from the type of lens, there are two main groups primes (prime) and a zoom lens. Very simple, fixed lens means has only one focal length value, being able to change the zoom lens of focal shortest to longest. Zoom lens itself is divided into several focal range, such wide zoom, normal zoom and a telephoto zoom. There's also a broom lens universe, aka can play zooming from wide to tele practical for travel. This time we describe the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options:

Lens prime / fix

Pentax 70mm f/1.4

Prime lens is a lens that only has one focal values, such as 35mm, 50mm, 100mm and so on. Lenses of this type generally has a large maximum aperture, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8 making it suitable for use at low light. Although there are many different choices of focal prime lens on the market, but the most popular is because it has a 50mm lens with a focal normal perspective.
The attraction of the fixed lens include:

• relatively inexpensive

• Small size and lightweight

• the images are very sharp

• because it has a large aperture, can produce thin DOF

• because it has a large opening, can be relied upon to low light

The thing that is less fun than prime lens is a lens can not be changed so as to change the focal focal position we have to go forward or backward to the object.

Wide zoom lens

Sony SAL DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6

Wide zoom lens is a zoom lens that has a focal range from 10mm wideangle to 30mm, making it suitable for landscape and architecture but less suitable for portraiture because of the distortion.

The appeal of such wide zoom lens:

• capable of producing images with a wide angle with the impression and dramatic

• suited to the needs of professional and commercial

However, wide zoom lens sold at a high price because of the high level of difficulty in designing the lens. In the market, these lenses are sold at a price range of 6 million to 12 million dollars.

Examples wide zoom lens:

• Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5

• Nikon AF-S 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

• Pentax DA 12-24mm f / 4

• Sony SAL-11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 DT

• Olympus Zuiko 9-18mm f/4-5.6

• Recommendations for 3rd party: Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8

Zoom lens normal / standard (general-purpose)

Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5

Is a zoom lens that has a focal range that is considered to meet the needs of wide to telephoto usual. Such 

lenses are able to accommodate normal focal range in 50mm range so as to produce a low distortion, and produce the same perspective as what is seen by the human eye. Normal zoom lens will be more costly if you have large openings, especially if has a constant f/2.8 aperture belonging to professional grade.

Examples of high-class normal zoom lens:

• 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens

• 17-55mm f/2.8 Lens

While the normal zoom lens economical include:

• Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6

• Nikon AF-S 16-85 f/3.5-5.6

• Pentax DA 17-70mm f / 4

• Sony SAL DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6

• Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5

• Recommended 3rd party: Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4

Telephoto zoom lens

Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

Telephoto zoom lens is a lens into the favorite of many people because of its ability to be used photographing distant objects, plus the price is quite affordable. Not to mention a telephoto lens can produce images with nice bokeh (DOF thin), you could say almost equal to the results obtained with prime lenses.

But keep in mind that the zoom lens at telephoto focal range above 100mm telephoto, making it vulnerable to shake due to hand-shake. For that professionals prefer large aperture telephoto lens stabilizer and added features, so a telephoto lens can still be used at low light conditions.

Telephoto zoom lens is divided into two groups, professionals and ordinary group.

For professional telephoto zoom includes:

• Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8

• Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 (pictured above)

• Pentax DA 60-250mm f / 4

• Sony SAL 70-200mm f/2.8

• Olympus Zuiko 90-250mm f/2.8

• Recommended 3rd party: Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6

For regular tele zoom, generally there is a choice 70-300mm (picture above) which is quite a long telephoto focal and 55-250mm (picture below) is more economical. Note that economical telephoto lens has a variable aperture (f/4-5.6 example), so the opening will get smaller as the lens to zoom up. So it's kind of telephoto lens is avoided by professionals because it's hard when you need dependable high speed.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6

However, such an economical telephoto lens is selling well because it's cheap and the picture is in a pretty light still very good. Be the lens of this kind of favorite lenses for daily needs and for hobbyists.

All-round zoom lens / super zoom / broom universe

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-5.6 VC

Is the term for a zoom lens with the ability to cover a wide range of up to extreme telephoto, this lens is able to replace some sort of lens that is used practically anywhere. Generally, this lens has a focal range of 18-200mm, although some are able to reach the 18-270mm (see picture above). A few things to consider before choosing a lens of this type:

• This lens is practical but relatively expensive

• These lenses are only available for this type of variable aperture only

• Optical capabilities of the lens is quite a mediocre (due to the large optical elements in it)

• Try to choose a lens of this type are equipped with optical stabilizer

Selection of the lens to be adjusted to the photo category we want. This category could be based on:

• Photos are most often we take, or

• Job demands

For understanding this photo category, we can define the criteria of the lens that we need. Make it easier to understand, for example, as follows:

• Paparazzi and sports journalists often take photos from a distance and speed of response necessary in order not to miss the moment, so need a telephoto lens with a focal distance (over 200 mm) equipped with an image stabilizer and ultrasonic motors

• Photo studio with lighting products in a limited, need a lens with a shorter focal length (between 18 and 50 mm), can shoot from close range (macro) and aperture width

• Photo stage / show requires a lens capable of shooting in low-light conditions (wide aperture / fast lens), fast response (ultrasonic motor or the like), and focus far (200 mm or more)

• For photojournalism, travel, human interest, what is needed is flexibility and foresight to capture the moment. Vario lens with a wide range (broom universe) and light weight best suited to meet these needs, eg 18-135 mm or 18-200 mm

After knowing the criteria lenses we need, then we can look for a lens that suits needs and budget.