Types of Camera Lenses: Explained

Sure, you can buy the most expensive DSLR camera on the market. But if you don’t have the right lens to go along with it, your photos will never look as good as they could. That’s why it’s important to know about the different types of camera lenses available, and how to choose the right one for your needs.

There are three main types of camera lenses: prime lenses, zoom lenses, and wide-angle lenses. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right type of lens for the type of photography you want to do.

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at each type of camera lens and what it’s best used for. But first, let’s understand the basics of a camera lens.

Basics of a camera lens

A camera lens is basically a piece of glass (or plastic) that helps to focus the light coming into the camera. The size and shape of the lens will determine how much light it can let in and how wide or narrow the field of view will be.

Focal Length

The focal length is the most important number to look at when choosing a camera lens. This is the measurement (in millimeters) of how far the lens can focus the light coming into the camera. A shorter focal length will have a wider field of view, while a longer focal length will have a narrower field of view.

The focal length is also what determines whether a lens is a prime lens, a zoom lens, or a wide-angle lens (more on that later).

Aperture

The aperture is the second most important number to look at when choosing a camera lens. This is the measurement (also in millimeters) of how much light the lens can let in. The larger the aperture, the more light that can come in.

The aperture also affects the “depth of field.” This is the area in the photo that appears to be in focus. A large aperture will have a shallow depth of field, meaning that only a small area will be in focus. A small aperture will have a deep depth of field, meaning that a large area will be in focus.

For example, f/1.2 is a large aperture while f/22 is a small aperture, and f/5.6 is a medium aperture.

Depth of field

Depth of field is the area in the photo that appears to be in focus. A large aperture will have a shallow depth of field, meaning that only a small area will be in focus. A small aperture will have a deep depth of field, meaning that a large area will be in focus.

Types of Camera Lenses

Prime Lenses

A prime lens is a camera lens with a fixed focal length. In other words, you can’t zoom in or out with a prime lens. Prime lenses are typically faster and sharper than zoom lenses, and they’re also usually smaller and lighter.

Prime lenses are best for portraiture, low-light photography, and street photography.

Zoom Lenses

A zoom lens is a camera lens with a variable focal length. This means that you can zoom in and out with a zoom lens.

Zoom lenses are typically slower and less sharp than prime lenses, but they’re more versatile because you can change the focal length. Zoom lenses are best for landscapes, action photography, and events.

Wide-Angle Lenses

A wide-angle lens is a camera lens with a short focal length. This means that it has a wider field of view than a prime lens or a zoom lens. Wide-angle lenses are best for landscape photography, architecture photography, and interiors. Furthermore, using a wide-angle lens can help to make your photos look more dramatic.

Macro lenses

A macro lens is a camera lens that can take close-up photos of small objects. Macro lenses are best for close-up photography of nature, insects, and any smaller object. These lenses typically have a longer focal length and allow you to get close to your subject while still being able to focus.

Moreover, a few lenses offer true 1:1 macro reproduction, meaning that the size of the object in the photo is the same as the size of the object in real life.

Telephoto Lenses

A telephoto lens is a camera lens with a long focal length. This means that it has a narrow field of view and can be used to zoom in on distant objects. Telephoto lenses are best for wildlife photography, sports photography, and nature photography.

These types of lenses typically have a large aperture, which means that they can let in more light. This is important for low-light photography and for taking photos of fast-moving objects.

Lens Sizes (mm)

Other than the name of the lens, what else matters is the size of the lens. This is represented by a number, usually in millimeters (mm). The smaller the number, the smaller the lens.

The most common sizes for camera lenses are:

• 24mm
• 35mm
• 50mm
• 85mm

These are all “standard” or “normal” lenses. They are called this because they have a field of view that is similar to the human eye.

16MM Lens

• Angle of view – Very wide
• Depth of field – Objects are in focus, too difficult to have a shallow depth of field.
• Distortion of space – Things appear to be far away.

24mm Lens

• Angle of view – Wide
• Depth of field – Things are in focus, but you can still have a shallow depth of field.
• Distortion of space – Things appear to be normal or a little bit further away.

35mm Lens

• Angle of view – Normal
• Depth of field – Things are in focus, but you can still have a shallow depth of field.
• Distortion of space – Things appear to be close up.

50mm Lens

• Angle of view – Narrow
• Depth of field – Things are in focus, and it is easy to have a shallow depth of field.
• Distortion of space – Things appear to be close up.

85mm Lens

• Angle of view – Very narrow
• Depth of field – Things are in focus, and it is very easy to have a shallow depth of field.
• Distortion of space – Things appear to be very close up.

These are the most common sizes for camera lenses, but there are many other sizes as well, such as 100mm, 200mm, and 400mm, these are telephoto lenses. The size of the lens affects the angle of view, depth of field, and distortion of space.

Wrapping Up

Now that you know the basics of camera lenses, it’s time to start shopping for the right one for you. Keep in mind the type of photography you want to do, as well as the budget you have to work with.

There are many different types of camera lenses on the market, so take your time and find the perfect one for your needs. Do you have any questions about camera lenses? Let us know in the comments below.