Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Using Your Lenses
Using Your Lenses
Advice for
every SLR
enthusiast
Technique help
DIY lens care
Wide-angle
to telephoto
How to judge
optical quality
Contents
window light helped
create this pet portrait.
Lens basics
Anatomy of a lens 5
Lens techniques
Understanding depth-of-eld 22
Lens extras
Lens accessories 38
Welcome from Practical Photography editor Andrew James This isnt a buying
Frequently asked questions 40
IF I HAD A 1 FOR every time that lens choice and know-how is guide, just a simple,
someone asked me a question about one of the most confusing subjects, down-to-earth
lenses Id have saved up enough especially when youre just starting explanation of what THIS GUIDE IS BROUGHT
cash to buy that expensive 300mm out in creative SLR photography. TO YOU BY...
lenses are, what they
f/2.8 telephoto Ive always hankered Wide-angle, macro, zoom, telephoto, Using Your Lenses is brought to you by the
after. But this isnt a buying guide, fast, slow... just what does it all mean
do & how you can get Practical Photography team and is published
by EMAP Active.
No part of this booklet can be reproduced
just a simple, down-to-earth and how does having a better the best out of them. without the publishers permission.
For more information about
explanation of what lenses are, what understanding of it all make you a Practical Photography visit:
they do and how you can get the better photographer? Youre about www.practicalphotography.co.uk
best out of them. Theres no question to nd out...
2 | Using your lenses Free with Practical Photography | 3
Anatomy of a lens
Familiarise yourself with your lenses basic layout and get to
grips with every ring, number and removable component.
LENS HOOD
This helps prevents are
and ghosting and generally
protects the lens elements.
Its usually removable for
storage and tting lters.
FOCUS RING
When focusing manually
turn this ring while
looking through the
viewnder to set the
focus. Avoid using this
ring on most lenses
while the autofocus (AF)
mode is selected.
DISTANCE SCALE
Indicates how far away
you are from your chosen
point of focus (in both
metric and imperial
measurements), from the
nearest possible focusing
distance through to
innity, indicated by .
Lens basics
zooms have rubberised body. Treat the mount aperture is controlled via
zoom rings. with care. the camera body.
GUY EDWARDES
and how. Lets start by taking a look at Also on the side of most lenses is a button that allows you to switch between
autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF), which is when you would use the focus ring.
lens types, focal length and sharpness.
?? | Using your digital SLR |5
Lens basics
Wide-angle
The standard zoom lens that comes with most
digital or lm SLRs will usually offer a 28mm focal
length or equivalent wide-angle setting. Although
this is wide enough for many shots you can
expand your view by going even wider, especially
for landscapes and architecture. The shorter the
focal length, the more of the scene youll get in
your shot. Using an ultra wide-angle lens gives
you so much more than just a wider view. As
objects appear very small in the frame you can
get really close to foreground objects to make
them stand out.
Telephoto Macro
Like telescopes, telephoto lenses simply make Youll nd the word macro tagged onto a huge range of lenses,
things appear closer than they really are. They fall especially zooms, to indicate a close focus capability. This can be
into two main groups those with focal lengths a bit of a marketing ploy though, as it should really only be used
from 70-300mm, and the more specialised models on lenses that offer the option of getting in ultra close to your
above 300mm. If youre new to using telephoto subject. Dedicated macro lenses are available from most
lenses stick to the shorter focal lengths, as theyre manufacturers, and most are able to focus close enough to ll
more affordable, lighter and much easier to use. the frame with an object the same size as the lm or sensor that
The high magnication offered by the longer focal you are using. For digital SLR users this means you can ll the
lengths is ideal for getting shots when you cant get frame with a subject measuring just 22x15mm! This capability is
close to your subject. Theyre expensive, heavy and known as life-size reproduction or 1:1, and its something to look
can be tricky to use though. for if youre serious about macro photography.
Common terms Ultra-wide Wide Standard Short telephoto Long telephoto Youll often hear people say that different
Lenses come in a massive range of
focal lengths and zoom ranges, but
tip lenses alter the perspective of the image.
They dont perspective is purely down to
they all fall roughly into ve your viewpoint, not the lens that you are
categories. This chart shows the using. The focal length of the lens just affects the
most common magnication of your image, so if you stand in the
names given to the Film 35mm same place youll get the same perspective from any
focal lengths for Full-frame 8mm 24mm 40mm 60mm 200mm+ lens. Try it for yourself. Take a picture on the widest
both APS-C sized setting of your zoom and another at the longest from
cameras and full- APS-C the same spot. It will be exactly the same, just cropped.
sensor 6mm 15mm 25mm 38mm 125mm+
frame models.
E Angle-of-view
very lens has a different focal length or lengths expressed in As the name implies, these lenses can only be used on Each manufacturer uses letters or numbers to
millimetres. A scientic explanation of how this is measured needs these digital cameras as the image they produce isnt differentiate these from their general lenses. Go to
The image below shows how the focal
more space than is available here, but what you really need to know length of the lens affects the amount big enough to cover the larger sensor or 35mm lm. If page 41 for an explanation of these abbreviations.
is how focal length affects your angle-of-view. For example, a 50mm lens of the scene you can include. The
gives roughly the same magnication as the human eye, so its called a whole image is the view youd get
standard lens. Any lens with a focal length smaller than 50mm makes using a 28mm wide-angle lens on a DIGITAL CONVERSION TABLE
objects appear smaller and gives a wider angle-of-view. A focal length full-frame or 35mm camera.
Sensor/ Cropping Extreme Wide-angle Standard Short Long
longer than 50mm magnies objects and gives a narrower view. lm size factor wide-angle telephoto telephoto
35mm or full- 1x 20mm 28mm 50mm 100mm 300mm
frame sensor
lenses
T
he aperture of the lens is like
A wide aperture of the iris in your eye. It opens
f/3.5 was used to
and closes to control the TILT/SHIFT
shoot this portrait of This lens is designed to solve the
a folk singer in low amount of light that is let through
problem when you point your
light conditions. to the lm or sensor.
camera upwards to include the top
Apertures are calculated by a of the building and it looks like its
mathematical formula and are falling over. This lens uses a
expressed as a number, such as f/4, mechanism to shift the lens on the
f/5.6 and so on. Although these camera to allow you to keep the
numbers dont really make a lot of camera level but include much more
of the building.
sense at rst, there is a sequence Very few manufacturers produce
that is commonly used: these lenses and at
around 900 you
need to be pretty
keen on architecture
to make them
f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 worthwhile. WITH TILT/SHIFT LENS
Wide aperture Small aperture
(more light) (less light)
tip camera youll end up with just a one major advantage over most zoom lenses
(otherwise known as fast lenses) can be bright viewnder
circular image in the middle of the though the maximum aperture of a prime lens
expensive and heavy. If you want to shoot image of a wide
frame. This is great is usually wide (f/4 or f/2.8) so they are great
the occasional picture in lowlight you can aperture lens also
for special effects, for lowlight and limited depth-of-eld shots.
simply increase the ISO setting on your digital camera helped when
but used too often They also tend to be smaller and lighter than
(or load a faster lm) to get around this. Changing from composing this
the novelty can many zoom lenses. However, a zoom will
ISO 200 to 400 gives a one-stop increase in the lowlight Thames
soon wear off. obviously prove more versatile than a prime.
sensitivity, the same as changing from f/4 to f/2.8, bridge image.
allowing you to use a faster shutter speed.
Sharp results
For most people this is the most camera shake, so if youre in any
important factor when doubt whether you can hold the
considering lens quality, and camera still enough, try to use a
rightly so. If your results arent tripod. If possible use the self-
sharp theres nothing you can timer or a remote release to re
really do to improve them. the shutter, as even pressing the
Even the best quality lenses button can cause camera shake.
give their sharpest results at the Its not always convenient, but
centre of the frame. If you look the quality of the results,
closely at the detail at the edge especially from long telephoto
of the frame youll see that its lenses, is worth it.
often slightly blurred, especially if So what can you do if youve
you use the lens at the maximum tried this and still cant get the
aperture. The best way to results you want? It may sound
minimize this is to shoot 2 or 3 obvious, but make sure your
stops down from the maximum lenses are clean. A lens covered
aperture of the lens, usually f/8 in ngerprints, dust and dirt wont
or f/11. This is usually the setting produce the best results, so check
that gives the sharpest results. out page 18 to nd out how to
The other main cause of blur is clean your lens correctly.
A
lthough the front of your lens is made from glass, you cant brush (a hard brush will damage the soft brush, a microbre
treat them the same as you do your windows at home. Just lens) or air blower is perfect. cloth and a cleaning spray
a little bit of dust or grime on your optics can cause all sorts (designed for coated lenses).
of nasty problems. Strong light will show up dust and dirt, while Buy a quality microbre lens cloth
general grime on your optics will affect the sharpness of your and keep it clean (which means not Get rid of dust and grit
images so its essential that you look after your lenses. keeping it loose in your lint-lled before you use the lens cloth
Here we look at how to care for your lenses to get the pockets). And never use your T-shirt or you risk scratching the
best out of them to give your lenses a wipe. lens as you try to clean it.
When you take a lens off your Just as you set aside time
camera always try to replace the to clean your car regularly,
front and rear lens caps you need to take some time
immediately, so as to prevent extra every now and then to clean
It has cost you lots of money, so take care dust from getting on the optics. your lenses.
of it. Before wiping gently with a soft lens
cloth, make sure you have brushed or Dont forget to make sure you
blown any grit from the front or you regularly clean the whole of the Invest in a skylight
tip
could scratch the glass as you clean it.
lens, ensuring that the external lter for each of your
Keep your camera bag clean too,
or every time you store a lens moving parts are free from dust and lenses. Theyre much
it will just gather dirt. dirt, particularly sand which will cheaper to replace
cause lots of problems. than a whole lens if
you accidentally
scratch it.
If you have a lens hood, use it!
While it obviously helps prevent lens
glare, it can also protect the front
element against impact damage. See page
38 for more
lens accessories
OUTDOOR PROTECTION
Like your dentist always says, super high quality duster. Its great
prevention is better than a cure, and for wiping moisture and muck off
the same is true for lenses... your kit and if you sling it over the
top of your lens it can even keep
your gear dry in light rain. Bike and
DIY masterclass
car photographers often throw a
This is the classic do-it-yourself chamois leather over camera and
solution just rip a hole in the lens to protect them from ying dirt.
bottom of a plastic bag and slip it
over the lens and camera. Hey presto,
Hot and cold
instant rain cover. If you really want
Be careful of rushing straight out of
to be extravagant, hold it in place
with a couple of elastic bands! the cold into a warm place, as it
could cause the internal lens
elements to fog. Try to slowly
Microbre towel acclimatise your kit, at the very least
A useful addition to your kit is a open your camera bag, and dont
microbre towel, which is basically a place it near a heat source.
Lens
techniques
If you think that wide-angle lenses are just
for landscapes, telephotos just for wildlife
and macro lenses just for close-ups, youd
only be half right. Heres the full story...
depth-of-eld
but this doesnt mean that
theyre infallible. Most models
default to focusing on the
centre of the frame, but thats
not always the point that you
L
enses and how you use them play an important f/4 want to be in focus. Many
part in how much of your image is sharp. The cameras offer the option of
distance in front of and behind the subject that selecting alternative focus
points around the frame, so
is in focus is known as the depth-of-eld, and is you can adjust the area that
controlled by your distance from the subject, the the camera focuses on. This is
focal length of your lens and the aperture used. ideal when your subject is
Lets deal with these three key factors in turn: positioned on one of these
points, but what if you want
another point to be in focus?
Subject distance You can switch to manual
focus and then use the control
Although not strictly down to the lens that you on the lens to carefully adjust
choose, your distance from your subject plays a the focus to your desired point,
massive part in the depth-of-eld you get. The closer or use the focus-lock facility
you are to the subject the smaller the depth-of-eld, offered by most cameras. The
exact procedure varies slightly
which is particularly noticeable if shooting close-ups.
between different cameras, but
for most models the camera
needs to be set to single-shot
Aperture autofocus mode to use this
As well as controlling the amount of light, the facility. You then position the
aperture you use also affects depth-of-eld. The active focusing point over the
subject and half-press the
smaller the aperture you set on your lens the greater shutter release until you get a
the depth-of-eld and vice versa. So if you want only conrmation light in the
a limited part of your scene to be sharp, set a wide viewnder. Keep the shutter
aperture such as f/4 or f/2.8. For maximum depth-of- f/8 f/4 half-pressed, re-frame your
eld use a small aperture such as f/11 or f/16. Turn Using a wide aperture such as shot and press the release fully
to take the picture.
to page 10 for more on lens aperture. f/4 and focusing on the owers
in the foreground throws the
background out of focus.
Focal length HANDHOLDING
You can control the depth-of-eld by choosing a f/8 Choosing the right aperture for the
different focal length lens. If the aperture and subject depth-of-eld will also affect the
Using a mid-range aperture such
distance remain constant, use a longer focal length shutter speed you can use. Using a
as f/8 is a good compromise small aperture for maximum
lens for less depth-of-eld and a shorter one for more.
between keeping plenty of the depth-of-eld means youll need a
shot sharp and still being able to slow shutter speed, so how do you
handhold the camera. know if you can still hold the
How to get limited depth-of-eld: camera steady? A rule of thumb is to
Use a wide aperture use 1/focal length as the slowest
Use a telephoto lens f/16 safe shutter speed without having to
Get closer to your subject For maximum depth-of-eld support the camera, so if youre
shooting with a 200mm lens youll
you need to set a small
How to get larger depth-of-eld aperture like f/16. Even
need a shutter speed of at least 1/200sec.
Use a small aperture With D-SLRs with APS-C sized sensors its
though we focused on the worth rounding this up by a stop to 1/400sec
Use a wide-angle lens
Get further away from your subject foreground, the trees in the to account for the focal length conversion.
background are sharp as well.
Lenses for
landscapes
Wide-angle
The wide angle-of-view offered by
wide-angle lenses is the ideal choice for
capturing landscapes. These allow you to
include as much of the scene as possible
in your frame for a broad view of the
whole area. Because objects appear
smaller in the frame when using wide-
angle lenses, its easy for everything in
your shot to look distant and empty. The
best way to combat this is to use
foreground interest to add a sense of scale
to your images. Rocks, plants or water
make ideal subjects to use, but always
look out for suitable objects. The wider
the lens you use, the closer youll need to
be to the object for it to appear the same
size in the frame. Also look for objects to
use as lead-in lines to add a feeling of
depth to your wide-angle images.
A wide-angle zoom is
the most exible for
landscapes. How wide
you go is up to you,
but a lens such as
Sigmas 17-35mm
zoom is the sort of
range to consider.
Remember the digital
conversion factor too.
You may want to consider a lens wider
than 17mm when using a D-SLR thats
less than full-frame.
tip
The eroded rocks on the The seaweed on the foreground Using a 28mm wide-angle lens means that the
can often cause problems with
shore add a sense of rocks adds interest and colour to shoreline and the cliffs can be included in the
are. This can be seen as an overall
depth to the image. With the image. Shooting with a 28mm image. We chose this focal length as a wider
haziness or lowering of contrast,
lines leading from the lens meant that the closest of lens would have made the headland on the
or as visible spots of light (right). To minimise
foreground, use a low these were only a couple of feet horizon appear much smaller in the frame.
the effect make sure your lenses and lters are
viewpoint to maximise away from the lens.
spotlessly clean, as even the tiniest bit of dirt
their effect.
or water droplet can cause this problem to
occur. Even while youre out shooting check the
lens periodically, especially if youre shooting
in rainy conditions or by the sea. Turn the page for
more landscape
ideas and lenses to use
24 | Using your lenses | 25
Lens techniques
Use an
upright format
Using an upright rather
than a horizontal format
means you can use even
more foreground interest
or dramatic sky. For this
picture the upright
format allowed us to
utilise more of the
stream in the foreground
as a lead-in line than a
horizontal format would
have allowed.
To make the most of the wide-angle lens, look for different Shooting landscapes with a telephoto lens is all about
looking for interesting details. The magnication of the
tip landscapes with wide-
angle lenses its easy for
viewpoints for your shots. By pointing the camera upwards, lens allows you to isolate these elements, and because the sky to look washed
objects such as trees take on a whole new look. Youll you are shooting from a distance the perspective appears out and uninteresting. You can darken
emphasise the towering height by getting in close to the base compressed. In the image above, the mountain behind blue skies and increase the colour
of the tree and using the widest setting on the lens. Okay, the the trees looks closer than it really was. saturation by tting a polarising lter.
trees may look like theyre leaning, but thats part of the effect.
Environmental portraits
To tell a story, set a scene or reveal the personality of your
subject, you may need to include more than just their face. Try
taking a step back to include more of the environment around
them this may give the viewer a better insight into the shot.
A word of warning though backgrounds can be cluttered,
messy and distracting. Be selective about what you include in
the shot and be prepared to move around your subject to
avoid certain objects, or even move to a better location.
Lenses for
close-ups
Macro
If you want to take good pictures of small subjects,
such as owers and insects, then a true macro lens
should be in your kit. You can adapt other lenses by
use of lters and tubes, but for ultimate exibility
and ease-of-use invest in a macro lens. Youll be
able to focus on your subject at life-size. In other
words, it gives you 1:1 magnication. Typically,
prime macro lenses start at 50mm and go up to
around 180mm. A good focal length is around
100mm, and if buying for a D-SLR, remember to
factor in the extension effect of your sensor.
Using a macro lens often comes as a revelation to
a new owner. Looking at small details at life-size
reveals a whole world of new potential that has
been previously hidden. But because of the small
scale of the subject your technique must be spot-on.
Focusing is certainly one of the most difcult aspects
due to the limited depth-of-eld you get even at
narrow apertures (f/11 onwards). Switch off the
autofocus and focus manually or your lens will spend
most of the time hunting for a point of focus and
this is irritating beyond belief. Where possible use a
tripod too. But while this is often okay for a xed
subject, if you are shooting insects that move, you
may nd it impossible. In such cases, a beanbag or
your elbows are an excellent compromise.
Macro photography is tough at the best of times
but on very windy days it is virtually impossible to
achieve sharp results unless you are photographing
unmovable objects, so pick your days and subjects
carefully. Vary your aperture on each subject too, as
the difference between the maximum front-to-back
sharpness you can get or, indeed, the most limited,
can make a difference. Neither one is right or wrong,
so experiment and review your results carefully.
tip
In many cases, focusing
approximately on the subject,
then moving your body, camera
MAIN POINT
OF FOCUS
The largest dewdrop on
the leaf has engulfed a
SHALLOW FOCUS
Shot at this macros
widest aperture of f/2.8,
this image has a very
Turn the
page for
information
A prime macro lens, like this 105mm and lens gently forwards or tiny yellow petal fallen shallow focus for on using a
optic from Sigma, is a lovely lens. This backwards until you bring your subject into from a nearby ower. creative effect. The macro lens
focal length is almost perfect, allowing sharp focus will often prove the best option This splash of colour undulating surface of the
you stand a reasonable distance back for sharp images (if not using a tripod). This has been used as the leaf dips in and out of
from your subject. Being a prime lens, method certainly isnt foolproof, so shoot main point of focus. focus, depending on
it offers a fast maximum aperture too plenty of images to ensure you get absolute how close each part is to
which is great for portraiture. sharpness where you want it. the central dewdrop.
tip
300mm focal length and a wide Working with a long lens gives you As with any human portrait,
accessory but many wildlife enthusiasts and
aperture of f/5.6 has thrown all the the opportunity to ensure your when photographing an animal
professionals swear by them for certain situations.
attention on the animal itself. wildlife subject is clearly visible by like this, its usually best to ensure
When handholding or setting up a tripod are
rendering the background out of that the main point of focus is on
If youre a serious enthusiast and impractical (if youre in a car or shooting really low, for example),
focus. In the case of this captive wolf, the eyes. In this case, the lens also
low light or extreme conditions are a then a beanbag can be slung over the window sill or plonked on
it also ensured that enclosure fences benetted from image stabilisation
the ground allowing you to rest your telephoto lens on it. Its
genuine concern, then you could were not visible on the photo. to help ensure the picture is sharp.
actually amazing just how much extra
always consider investing in an image stability this will give you. You can
stabilised model. Perfect for buy ready-made beanbags or
combating camera shake, Canon, alternatively you could try
Nikon and Sigma all offer models in to make your own.
the 80-400mm/100-400mm range, For anyone getting into wildlife Dry beans (pinto
photography where there really is no beans are often
with prices starting around 900. substitute for a long lens, a 70-300mm recommended) can
Theyre expensive but make the task telephoto zoom is a good compromise be used to ll the
of shooting sharp images much easier. to a whole range of expensive fast bag itself.
prime telephoto lenses.
Lens extras
Filters, cleaning cloths, pouches... what else
do you need for the perfect kit bag? And
what do those strange letters and numbers
on the side of your lenses mean? Lets take
Optical cleaning
a look at those little extras...
cloth from 2.99
One of the most essential
A
s with everything in this expensive
hobby we love so much, lenses need a
helping hand to make sure everything
runs smoothly. Sure, they cost a bit of money
but investing in a cost-effective skylight lter
is nothing compared to having to replace a
damaged lens. Heres a quick look at the Polariser from 16.99
most essential lens accessories you need... If youre just getting started and love
*Some models may vary in price. the great outdoors, the rst lter you
should buy is a polariser. Perfect for
Skylight and UV increased colour saturation, stronger
lters from 7.97 each blues and reduced reections.
In the interests of protecting your
valuable lenses, always invest in a
skylight or ultra violet (UV) lter for
each one you own. Be warned that
lters for lenses with larger lter Lens cleaning pen 8.99
threads 77mm and above can The LensPen is a nice addition to your
prove expensive. basic kit as it features a retractable soft
brush at one end and a unique soft
cleaning tip at the other.