Choosing Lenses

When it comes to making a decision about photography equipment, more often than not, people base the bulk of their decision on the camera body and the camera body alone. But anecdotal evidence shows that the bulk of digital SLR camera purchases are made for the short term, with little thinking given to the future and what equipment changes or upgrades may need to be made at a later date. In fact more consideration should be given to the future use of the camera.

Prior to your next camera body purchase, significant consideration should be given to the role equipment will play later in the life of the camera. This may be as simple as deciding whether, into the future, you will want to use a macro flash or a speedlite flash is as complex as you want to get. However, the decision can get a lot more complex as well. Just stop for a second and consider the road range of SLR lenses which are available. Everything from different focal lengths, varying apertures and so forth. When you throw these two factors alone into the equation, the decision over what DSLR cameras you should even begin to consider, let alone look at purchasing, becomes infinitely harder.

It is worth remembering, that the range of camera bodies is far surpassed by the range of camera lenses available. From Canon, to Panasonic, to Sony, to Olympus, to Leica, to Tamron, to Pentax, the list just goes on. Then there are the different options amongst them all, from macro lenses, to telephoto lenses, to a fish eye lens, to wide angle lenses and tilt shift lenses the list goes on. This is why selecting a camera body which will do justice to the lens is of integral importance. If the camera body is of average quality and lacks the ability to take advantage of the full power of the lens you want to buy, then you will potentially need to look at a new camera as well as a lens, something not everyone can afford to do.

But let's assume you have the right DSLR camera body and are now looking to select a new lens for your camera. How do you choose what you need? A few questions you can ask yourself are;

What do you intend to use the lenses for? If you are looking to travel, then perhaps an 18-200mm lens is best as it has the versatility to accommodate most any type of shot on your trip whilst being easy enough to take with you. Canon and Nikon both offer lenses in this range.

Or perhaps you are into bird watching and want a lens that will allow you to capture birds in their natural habitat. In this case you may want to look at an 80-400mm lens which will allow you to capture the birds up close and personally without impacting them in their habitat.

In summary, whether you are trying to compare digital cameras, and aren't sure what factors to consider, or even if you are just in the market for new equipment for your camera, make sure you research your options carefully. A little legwork now will save you time and money into the future, and that money and time can be spent out taking better photos. One last thing, don't assume that you yourself has to know everything about DSLR's or lenses or anything else. If you are even slightly confused, sometimes it is better to speak to a professional who can assist you and answer most, if not all of your questions.

About the Author

Michiel Van Kets writes about a website providing the finest assortment of SLR lenses for sale for sale as well as quality dslr cameras from the most famous brands currently on the market such as Sony and Nikon. Cameras Direct is the shop for you who are looking to buy video cameras and digital cameras which are in a high quality, letting you get the chance to compare digital cameras, choosing which one that fill fit perfectly for you.