For many of us, today, our first experience with a camera is with the camera on our smartphones or tablet. No wonder that we get confused when someone hands us over a camera with interchangeable lenses. Smartphones usually come with a simplified lens without digital zoom and no options for changing the aperture. The question of “what lens do I use?” can be overwhelming for someone using a mirrorless or DSLR camera for the first time. Let’s get down to some basics first. Lenses can be prime or zoom. A prime lens will have a fixed focal length, whereas zoom lenses will have variable focal lengths. In other words, with a prime lens, you need to get closer or further away from your subject to get a different size for your subject in the frame. A prime lens can be a good incentive for creativity since it will require the photographer or videographer to physically move around and look for shots. A zoom lens will, on the other hand, be more convenient for someone, for instance, covering an event since it will allow them to zoom in to different subjects at different distances. Another consideration about lenses is their actual focal length. A great lens to start with is a 50mm lens. The 50mm is considered a go-to for portrait photography and is a jack of all trades. Its main characteristic is how it maintains the proportion of your subjects. On the other side of the spectrum, a 24mm lens would distort the subject by slightly enlarging them. A 210mm lens would make a subject appear thinner than reality. In practical terms, a 24mm lens would have an advantage for indoor and landscape, and a 210mm lens would carry some advantages for use at events such as weddings and sporting events. Any lens with a focal length smaller than 50mm is usually considered a wide-angle lens since it captures wider perspectives. Check out amazing photos and get great tips and tricks for a 24mm lens from Jason Vong’s video.
Now that you know some basics about their focal length, go and try out a few different lenses. The next step is to learn the difference between focal length and focal distance so you can take your video skills to the next level.
