Writer and ALC contributor Frank Walker notes that photographers need to choose their new lenses carefully, so they can fully realize their creative vision. "Savvy shooters are well aware that the greatest advantage of shooting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera is the ability to change lenses. It allows [shooters] to pick the precise type of lenses that best suit the type of subjects [they want to shoot] and [their] distinctive style -- everything from fish-eyes and ultra-wide angles to super telephotos, wide-aperture prime lenses for capturing pictorial effects, and anything in-between," he writes.
Walker goes on to suggest an array of lenses that can help photographers expand their shooting range, enhance photo-taking experience, and ultimately, translate their creative vision into fully realized photographs.
A Two-Lens Outfit to Complement the First Lens
Most popularly, the short zoom (also known as a normal or standard zoom) is the first lens photographers buy together with a DSLR. A prime example is the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens offered by all major camera makers with their APS-C-format DSLR starter kits. The 18-55mm and its equivalent lenses are particularly favored because they are compact, lightweight, and affordable. They also provide wide-angle to medium telephoto coverage and a 3X zoom ratio.
To complement the 18-55mm, Walker suggests a two-lens outfit for greater shooting versatility. Moreover, the second lens does not have to be a zoom that complements the normal zoom by extending its focal-length range at the wide-angle or telephoto end.
For Nikon users, Walker recommends the Nikon D3300 two-lens kit, which has a normal zoom DXVR II Nikon 18-55mm f/3.6-5.6 lens, a compact DXVR II Nikon 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 telephoto zoom, plus accessories. These specs deliver a non-overlapping zoom range from 18-200mm, covering an equivalent range from 28mm wide angle (suitable for indoor shots and vistas) to 300mm super telephoto (suitable for sports and nature pictures).
Alternatives to First Lens
A popular alternative for photographers who are looking for versatile lenses is to skip the mid-range zoom entirely. Instead, photographers should equip their camera bodies with long-range wide-to-telephoto zoom with macro capability. Lenses that fall under this category include the Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Zoom and the Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro.
The Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Zoom, made for Canon EOS mounts, incorporates double-sided aspheric elements and a thermally stable composite barrel. This lens focuses down to 13.8 inches at all focal lengths. Meanwhile, the Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro lens, used exclusively by APS-C size SLR cameras, focuses down to 18 inches over the entire zoom range, and provides a macro magnification of 1:3.7 at the 200mm setting.
Experienced shooters who are looking for lenses that cover the full-frame format and provide even greater reach forgo the wide-angle focal lengths and opt for high-performance ultra-telephoto-zoom lenses instead. These lenses are great for shooting in dusty and harsh environments where lens changing can cause sensor contamination.
Canon EOS photographers who are looking for high-performance ultra-telephoto-zoom lenses should consider the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-5.6 APO DG OS HSM, which incorporates an optical stabilizer that delivers a 4-stop advantage in handheld shooting. Other notable features include APO color correction and 4 SLD elements that ensure outstanding image quality.
Ultra-Wide-to-Wide Angle Zoom Lenses for Tight Spaces, Group Photos
Ultra-wide-to-wide-angle zoom lenses are ideal for taking pictures in tight spaces. They work equally well when squeezing large groups of people into a picture. The Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for APS-C-format DSLRs with 16-32mm equivalent coverage is an ideal second lens for Canon EOS users. Another great option is the Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.6 DI-II LD Aspherical. This lens is equivalent to a 16-37mm and focuses down to 10 inches at all focal lengths.
Long Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Greater Precision
Long telephoto zoom lenses help photographers capture the heat of the action in situations where getting really close is either impossible or inadvisable (think wildlife and sports photography). The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM works on full-frame DSLRs and delivers the equivalent of a 109mm medium telephoto to a 465mm ultra-telephoto on APS-C format cameras.
The lens' remarkable versatility makes it equally suitable for portrait, wildlife, and sports photography. Furthermore, its image stabilization feature makes it ideal for handheld shooting, as shake-induced blurs are minimized.
Walker also recommends the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD and the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary for photographers who want to shoot great action photography. The Tamron, made for Canon EOS mounts, works with full-frame and APS-C format cameras, and has VC (vibration compensation) image stabilization. This innovative ultra-telephoto lens also has state-of-the-art eBAND (extended bandwidth and angular dependency) coating, which significantly reduces unwanted light reflections that cause flare and ghosting.
The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary, meanwhile, has a new zoom lock with manual override switches, and an upgraded optical stabilizer with an accelerometer for improved horizontal and vertical panning.
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