For practically any condition a photographer could encounter, there is a variety of camera lenses available. Knowing which lens to use in certain situations will help you become a lot better photographer. Be it shooting from a mobile or a DSLR, knowing the use of each lens is important, as it will determine the final product. In this article we shall look at the 6 different types of camera lenses and when you should use them.
Zoom lens
They are one of the most common types of camera lenses you will see used by photographers. This is true especially if you have just entered into the world of photography. The main reason is the versatility they offer. It has a wide range of focal lengths to adjust. Usually, their focal length is from 70 mm to 200 mm. This means be it photographing someone in the street or going for wildlife photography you can make use of the same lens. There are even zoom lenses that have a range from 18 mm to 270 mm. This is ideal for you who just carry one lens and want to capture it in a variety of scenarios.
Prime lens
Prime lenses have a fixed focal length. The most common ones are 35 mm and 50 mm. As it builds to take photographs for a fixed focal length they lack moving parts. This makes them lighter, more compact, and more precise. Hence a 35 mm prime lens will likely produce a higher quality image than a zoom lens set at 35 mm. But this does come with a drawback. To use a prime lens you should be sure about the environment. Taking a 35 mm lens to shoot nature or objects far in the background would not yield results.
Telephoto lens
If zoom lenses are not enough for you then you can opt for a telephoto camera lens. They have a focal range typically ranging from 100 mm to 600 mm. These lenses are very expensive and heavy. Most of them need their tripod while shooting. This lens is meant for professional wildlife photographers or the ones who shoot night skies.
Wide angle lens
Till now we talked about lenses providing different focal lengths. But if you want to capture many objects present at the same focal length you need a wide angle camera lens. They have a wider focal field. This a great option for capturing large groups of people or if you want to capture an architectural monument from a closeup. Typically they are available in 35 mm and 16 mm focal lengths.
Fisheye lens
A fisheye lens is seen as an improvement over a wide-angle lens, much as a telephoto lens is a more sophisticated version of a zoom lens. Another name for it is an ultrawide angle lens. These are not used for day-to-day photography. Rather they are used for creative purposes. They have had a focal length as low as 8 mm.
Macro lens
Macro photography is a world in itself. It’s all about capturing minuscule objects around us such as incest, water droplets, flowers, etc. To achieve this there are dedicated lenses capable of shooting such tiny objects. Those lenses are referred to as macro lenses. Due to their specialized purpose, they are not versatile. Again this is not the lens for someone who has just begun photography. This is dedicated to someone with experience and someone who wants to enter the world of Macro photography.
In conclusion, different camera lenses assist you to take better photographs based on the environment and object you are shooting. If you are new to the field of photography then I recommend reading our article on basic terminology used in photography.