the proper use of lenses
TRANSCRIPT
The Proper Use of Lensesby
William Lulow
All material and text presented herein is ©2010 by William Lulow
and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.
Lenses
There are three basic lens types:
Wide Angle
Normal
Telephoto
Digital Cameras with digital sensors
The size of a digital camera’s sensor
determines the relative focal length of any lens added to the system.
Most 35mm-type DSLRs have sensors which are smaller than the size of a piece
of 35mm film. Therefore, the image produced by certain lenses is larger.
Wide Angle Lenses
• Range from 8mm to 35mm for a 35mm size camera
• Designed to incorporate views from roughly 150 degrees to 100 degrees
• Yields greatest depth of field• Use when you want great coverage• Sometimes distorts image
Wide Angle LensField of View Chart
100 - 1500
Normal Lenses
• Range from 45mm to 55mm for a 35mm type camera
• Designed to include most of the scene or a full-length person from about 12 feet away
• Includes adequate depth of field on SLR type cameras at smaller apertures.
• Makes scenes and people look “normal”• Little visual distortion
Normal Lens Field of View Chart
90 - 650
Telephoto Lenses• Range from 60mm to 400mm + for a
35mm-type camera• Designed for close-ups or to bring objects
closer.• Also designed to fill the frame with a
person’s head.• Offers very little depth of field• Use when shooting portraits or when you
cannot get close to an object.
Telephoto LensField of View Chart
40 - 200
Collection of LensesSuggested for Digital SLRs
15 – 35mm zoom lens60mm macro lens for portraits
180mm telephoto
Collection of Fixed FocalLength Lenses
• 24mm wide angle• 36mm wide angle• 55mm normal• 85mm telephoto (portraits)• 135mm telephoto (med. Telephoto)• 200mm telephoto (long)• 600mm telephoto (extra long)
Professional Arsenal of Lenses
28mm, 35mm, 55mm(macro),85mm, 135mm, 200mm
Multi Focal Length Lens(zoom)
Portrait shot with 60mm Macro Lens on a DSLR
Portrait shot with 17mm-35mm multi-focal length lens on a DSLR
Image made with 17mm-35mm multi-focal length lens
Image made with telephoto, fixed focal length lens
Correct Use of Lenses
• Each lens does a specific job• Decide what you want to include in the
scene• Choose the lens that will accomplish what
you want• Do not invest in a lens unless you have a
specific use for it.• Get the fastest lens you can afford.
Written by
William Lulow© 2010 by William Lulow
May not be reproduced without written consent from the author.
www.williamlulow.comemail: [email protected]
914-263-6213