Tips on How to Choose the Right DSLR Lens

If you shoot mainly outdoors and stay in the middle of the zoom range, shots from kit lenses are frequently only distinguishable from the more expensive glass at extreme magnification. But experienced photographers don’t shoot in the sweet spot for their lenses, they shoot in wildly variable lighting and in conditions that change fast and are almost guaranteed to find the weak spots in any DSLR lens. So when you outgrow your kit lens, the first question is now what? And that brings us to my personal decision matrix for finding the right DSLR lens.

1. Stick To Your Budget

High-quality zoom lenses are versatile enough to be useful in almost any shooting situation, but the price tag for the best can give sticker shock to anyone. Matching the zoom to your camera, whether it’s Canon, Nikon, Sony, or another brand, is an easy solution if a trust fund covers your photography habit. Paying off thousands of dollars in debt for a camera and lens is financial suicide. Know your budget before you start shopping.

2. What Kind Of Shooting Do You Do?

Your interests as a photographer are most likely to be expressed in your shot selection.

Look back through your pictures and see if any trends emerge. Try to classify your shots into two basic categories: fast-moving and slow-moving. Fast-moving shots are sports and sporting events, weddings, events, and places where you have to shoot fast and move. Slow-moving subjects will include staged shots such as portraits, landscapes, and light paintings.

If you primarily shoot fast-moving scenes and situations, you’ll want to stick with the upgraded zoom to match your camera. Events like weddings move too fast to rely on manual focus and switching lenses in a busy location is usually a non-starter.

If you primarily shoot slow-moving scenes, such as landscapes or portraits, you have more flexibility to consider prime lenses. Manual shooting is fine, even a favorite and you have the time to focus by hand. A good set of prime and kit zoom may be all you really need.

3. Is Video a Part Of Your Portfolio?

More and more DSLR shooters are getting into video work at a time when video shooters are starting to transition back to video cameras like Sony’s FS100. Manual prime lenses may still be a better option than zoom lenses if you shoot a lot of video with your DSLR.

Some new high-end lenses from Canon and Nikon no longer have an aperture ring on the lens, but instead set the aperture from the camera. This will be a difficult adjustment for video shooters and a deal-breaker in the realm of a professional video where de-clicked cine lenses calibrated in T-stops are the norm.

4. Do You Have a Business Case For a New Lens?

If I’m going to be shooting weddings all summer long as a second shooter, I have a business case for investing in a Canon or Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. If I’m going to be shooting staged stock or food photography in a studio, I have a business case for the 85mm Bower f/1.4, Nikkor AFS 50mm f/1.4, or Zeiss 50mm f/1.4, depending on my budget.

How can we help you?

OVX India is one of India’s Largest Online Marketplace which you can access from almost anywhere. Just Log on to OVX India and buy a DSLR Lens listed on our platform. Choose out the option that best suits you.

If you liked this article, check out our post-5 Things to Know Before Buying a DSLR Camera