The Different Types of Lenses and What to Choose

Ever wonder, “What lens was used to take that photo?”

Even if you don’t realize you are asking yourself that question, all of us photographers wonder this at some point or another. You see a beautiful and stunning image and would like to replicate it. Many photographers pin images on Pinterest, but may have difficulty re-creating that image if you cannot identify the lens used in the photo. Not everyone has the gift of being able to discern the lens used in an image right away, however, after using a variety of focal lengths and apertures (see my previous posting on How to Use Your DSLR Camera if you need a refresher on these two terms), it may be easy to pick out the lens used on an image.

All of the lenses I’ve recommended below can produce beautiful images. But if you don’t know how to properly use the lenses, they won’t be able to help you. In other words, an expensive lens is not going to make you a better photographer, just like a pair of Air Jordans will not make you a good basketball player. Lenses are a tool that can help you to take better images, along with the knowledge you already have on lighting, composition, editing, camera settings, etc.

What are the different types of lenses?

To start, you can choose between a fixed focal length lens (prime) or a zoom lens. A prime lens has only one focal length and a zoom can go within a set range of focal lengths. If a lens has just one focal length written on it, it’s a prime lens. If it has two numbers (like the one shown in the photo above), it is a zoom lens. Simple, right?

Additionally, aperture is a factor when choosing a lens. Most zoom lenses on the market have a low aperture limit of f/2.8, however there are several prime lenses out there that go to f/1.2. On many zoom lenses, the aperture will change the more you zoom in. For instance, at the shortest focal length, the aperture can be set as low as f/3.5, however as soon as you zoom it in all the way, the lowest the aperture can go is now f/5.6. You can, however, pay lots of money for a zoom lens that will stay at the same low aperture no matter what your focal length is. Also, some will argue that zoom lenses are not as sharp as prime lenses (I would be one of those people). Depending on the lens, you may be sacrificing aperture and sharpness if you opt to have the flexibility of a zoom lens.

Here is a list of the different types of lenses to choose from. There may be more out there, but these are the ones I have used and heard of:

• Wide-angle zoom
• Wide-angle prime
• Standard zoom
• Normal (prime)
• Medium telephoto (prime)
• Telephoto zoom
• Telephoto (prime)
• Super telephoto (prime)
• Macro
• Tilt-shift and other distortion lenses

I will cover all of these lenses below, except for the super telephoto and the tilt-shift. The super telephoto lens is great for sports and wildlife photography, since the focal lengths start at 400mm. The tilt-shift is a creative and artsy lens that gives a fantastic effect to the image. Honestly, I have never used one, but from the images I have seen taken with a tilt-shift, the effect is stunning.

Keep in mind that I am using a full-frame camera with all of the photos I have posted below. On a crop sensor camera, the same lenses would look completely different due to the crop factor. I have recommended below specific lenses that will work only on crop-sensor cameras.

Wide-angle lenses

I love this type of lens. Technically speaking, a wide-angle lens is a lens that is at or below 35mm focal length. 35mm is at the bottom threshold of how the naked eye would see the same scene: any lower you are getting distortion. You may still get some distortion at 35mm, depending on your angle and distance from your subject.

You can get a really unique look from your image when this type of lens is used properly. A wide-angle lens is good for situations when you have to be close to your subject, and you do not have much room to move around. Or, if you are in a small room and want to get as much as you can into that one image. Or, if you just want to play around and have fun! The one thing you need to be aware of with this lens is it can distort people’s faces and make certain features larger and others smaller. For instance, in the image below, see how the boy’s head looks?  For reference, this little boy was inches away from my camera lens, so I was going to get the maximum effect out of the lens.

Here are a couple more examples of photos taken with wide-angle prime lenses. The first one is with a Canon 24mm (which I sold a few years ago) with a deep depth of field. The 2nd one is with my Canon 35mm with a shallow depth of field.

I’ve posted my recommendations for wide-angle zoom and wide-angle prime lenses for you below:

Different Lens Choices	Canon	Nikon
Zoom Option	16-35mm f/2.8 II	14-24mm f/2.8G or 17-35mm f/2.8D
Prime Option	24mm f/1.4 or 35mm f/1.4	35mm f/1.4G
Crop-Sensor	EFS 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5	10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G DX
Budget Zoom	17-40mm f/4	18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G
Budget Prime	28mm f/1.8 or 24mm f/2.8	Sigma 20mm f/1.8 (for Nikon) or 35mm f/1.8G
Budget Crop-Sensor	Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 (for Canon)	10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 or Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 (for Nikon)
Something Unique	Sigma 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye (for Canon)	Sigma 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye (for Nikon)

Standard or normal lenses

A normal lens is a lens that captures things similar to how the naked eye sees it. Focal lengths in this lens category range from 40mm – 60mm. A standard zoom lens will cover the normal focal length within its range. A common standard zoom lens for portrait photographers is the 24-70mm. The most common normal prime lens used in the portrait industry would be the 50mm, and you can choose between several aperture options depending on your budget.

I have a few images posted below that I have taken with my 50mm f/1.2 lens.

I had to go digging for images from my old 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. These were from a wedding I shot in 2008! I sold this lens, because I felt like I could get more sharpness out of a prime lens. I did and haven’t looked back. Some, however, like the versatility of this lens, but I prefer sharpness over the zoom.

Different Lens Choices	Canon	Nikon
Zoom Option	24-70mm f/2.8 II	24-70mm f/2.8G
Prime Option	50mm f/1.2	50mm f/1.4G
Crop-Sensor	17-55mm f/2.8	17-55mm f/2.8G
Budget Zoom	Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (for Canon)	Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (for Nikon)
Budget Prime	50mm f/1.4 or 50mm f/1.8	50mm f/1.8G
Budget Crop-Sensor	Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 (for Canon) or Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (for Canon)	Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 (for Nikon) or Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (for Nikon)
Something Unique	Tilt-shift 45mm f/2.8	Perspective Control 45mm f/2.8D

Telephoto Lenses

Telephoto lenses make fantastic portrait lenses. It separates the subject from its background, keeps the subject’s features from being distorted, and gives a nice lens blur to the image. I have both a zoom (70-200mm f/2.8II) and prime (85mm f/1.8) telephoto lenses. My go-to lens is usually my 70-200, for both portraits and weddings, however the 85mm serves its purpose every now and then.

I have posted a few examples of photos taken with both of my telephoto lenses.

 

Different Lens Choices	Canon	Nikon
Zoom Option	70-200mm f/2.8 II	70-200mm f/2.8G
Prime Option	85mm f/1.2 or 135mm f/2 or	85mm f/1.4G or 135mm f/2
Crop-Sensor	50mm f/1.2 or 85mm f/1.8 or 135mm f/2	50mm f/1.4G or 85mm f/1.4G or 135mm f/2
Budget Zoom	Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 (for Canon)	Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 (for Nikon)
Budget Prime	85mm f/1.8	85mm f/1.8G
Budget Crop-Sensor	50mm f/1.4 or 100mm f/2	50mm f/1.8G or 105mm f/2D
Something Unique	Tilt-shift 90mm f/2.8	Perspective Control 85mm f/2.8D

Macro Lenses

Maybe one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a friend who worked at a local camera store when I was first starting out my photography business. He suggested the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens for portraiture. A macro lens? Really?? It turned out be my favorite lens for individual portraits. I have since upgraded to the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS Macro lens (which makes it easier to shoot indoors or with less lighting), but either one of these lenses are a great option. Here are some of the different photos I’ve taken with my macro lens.

Different Lens Choices	Canon	Nikon
Macro Option	100mm f/2.8 IS Macro	105mm f/2.8G Macro
Budget Macro	100mm f/2.8 Macro	Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Crop-Sensor Macro	60mm f/2.8 EF-S Macro	60mm f/2.8G Macro
Budget Crop-Sensor Macro	50mm f/2.5 EF-S Macro	85mm f/3.5G Macro

How do I choose between all of these lenses?

Ultimately, your lens choice should depend on the following factors:

• Photography specialties
• Your style
• Camera body (full frame or crop sensor)
• Budget
• Lenses you currently own

Without knowing these 5 factors, it will make it difficult to select your next lens. But, I can assure you that once you do know, this lens guide will help to steer you in the right direction.

What’s your favorite lens?

What’s your favorite lens? What do you like the most about that lens? What would be your dream lens if you could afford any lens?

Up Next…

How to maximize your Bokeh!

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