As the camera evolves, so do lenses. Though they are the least spoken about, lenses can make or break a shoot, even with the best cameras in the world.
A camera lens consists of several elements each with a different function but working together in harmony. So before you settle on a lens, here are some of the elements to consider.
(i) Focal Length.
This is the measurement of distance(in mm) between the point of convergence of your lens and the sensor recording the image.
The focal length is important because it determines the field of view of the lens. It lets you know how close you need to be in relation to the subject you are capturing.
A short focal length creates a wide field of view while a long focal length creates a narrow field of view.
(ii) Lens Aperture.
The aperture controls the amount of light getting into the camera. It’s important because it determines the amount of light, the depth of field, and the sharpness of a picture.
When choosing a lens, the most important factor is the maximum aperture; the biggest-size aperture is an expression of how ‘bright’ the lens is. Brighter is better.
The Aperture also affects the depth of field; larger openings create a shallower depth of field, while smaller openings make more of the image in focus.
(iii) Depth of Field.
This is the area between the nearest and farthest points from the camera that are acceptably sharp in an image.
It is an important concept to understand and can make your photography stand out. A deep depth of field will give you a photograph with near and far objects all in good focus. A shallow depth of field will emphasize just the importance of the photo that you want to highlight.
So get out, get your camera on and go shooting with this in mind. Remember, brighter is always better.