Building a DSLR lens system
- considerations for the selection of lenses:- Camera Sensor size: Full Frame (35mm equiv.), APS-C, Four Thirds
- Focal lengths – a range of options:
- Wide angle prime / zoom (mid-range & extreme)
- Standard prime / standard zoom (kit lenses)
- Telephoto prime / zoom (mid-range & extreme)
- Universal zoom ("all-in-one" / "travel zoom")
- Macro lens (prime / zoom with macro setting)
- Specialty lenses (shift lens, mirror / reflex lens, etc.)
Zooms vs. Prime Lenses- Quality:
- Glass quality and optical technology for colour and focus correction
- multi-coating front lens surface
- Rounded diaphragm blades for a desirable bokeh (out-of-focus image elements)
- dirt repellent coating
- material and construction (i.e. metal mount vs. plastic)
- Speed: large max. aperture / continuous large aperture
- Moisture and dust proof construction
- Image stabilization (when not using cameras with body-side image stabilization - i.e. Canon and Nikon)
- Internal focusing mechanism (constant length of lens, non-rotating front element (filter does not rotate) during focusing. Important for polarizing filter.
The Creative Eye
- P1 - Building a DSLR Lens System
- P2 - Considerations for ... lenses
- P3 - Lens Properties
- P4 - Perspective
- P5 - Lens Technology
- * "pdf" version available on the OCC Forum (members only)