Though good photography is not just about having the right gear, the right lens is imperative for any photographer to realize his vision. And so, to speak, many talented photographers over the past and current are making lens trends similar to purse trends. Different photographers use different types of lenses suited for certain conditions. They both rely on specific lenses. So, without further ado, let’s see the best camera lenses commonly used and how they are suited to their functioning.
Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses
Here are two of the best telephoto zoom lenses you can currently get for you lens collection.
1. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
The pro-grade L-series features a 70-300milimeters zoom lens and comes along with weather seals. Featuring amongst our best camera lenses, it comes with an additional tripod mounting ring to support and steady your shots. Further, these latest lenses are sharp, light-weighted, and cheaper.
Again, an innovative Nano USM autofocus device comes in handy when capturing fast-moving targets. Still, it provides seamless focus changes during video shooting. Additionally, the lens has a useful LCD monitor that can reveal focal distance, focus depth, and synchronization data.
View On AmazonLens type
Telephoto zoom
Pros
- Image production is superb.
- AF system with lightning-quick response
Cons
- Hood is a high-priced ‘bonus.’
- Weather seals aren’t available.
2. Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM
The Canon EF-mount Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens features among our list as versatile telephoto zoom. Its vivid and compact nature distinguished it, making it the best camera lens for portraiture and sporting photography. The fast fixed f/2.8 max aperture suffices in low-light situations while also providing improved depth of position management for isolating objects. A remarkable ten low dispersion components are used in the visual configuration.
As such, it significantly minimizes chromatic aberrations and light splotches for better resolution and contrast adjustment. Again, a Super Inter-Layer is used, which aids in the reduction of ghosting and glare when employed in bright sunlight.
Further, an Intuitive OS device complements the lenses, reducing camera shake for sharper performance. And that comes in handy in handheld filming. In addition to full-time manual focus control, a Hyper Sonic motor seconds a fast and quiet autofocus output.
The lens’s manual configuration also includes many seals to keep moisture out. Again, a fixed revolving tripod collar is also included, and it fits a variety of tripod mount heads.
View On AmazonLens type
Telephoto zoom
Pros
- It has fast autofocus
- Weatherproofed
- Image clarity is excellent.
- The bokeh is excellent.
- It comes at a fair price range
Cons
- It’s not as sharp at 200m as it is at 70mm
- It is heavier compared to other lenses in the market.
Best Ultra-Wide Zoom Lenses
The following two lenses will give you the best experience for capturing those sweet ultra wide shots.
1. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO
There is much similarity between the Olympus and Panasonic as aforementioned. It features a focal distance of 12mm – 28millimeters. And that’s a deep angle. With a constant f/2.8 aperture, Olympus becomes a fast lens in any focal length.
Again, popping up in our best camera lenses, Olympus is made to resist dust and temperature. Although it lacks lens-dependent image stabilization, most Olympus MFT cameras contain in-body stabilization, which compensates for this.
View On AmazonLens type
Ultra-wide-angle
Pros
- Has a fixed aperture of f/2.8.
- Design with an ultra-wide zoom range.
- The concentrate clutch is operated manually.
- Weatherproof.
- Barrels made of metal
Cons
- Some distortion is seen from the widest perspective.
- At f/2.8, the corners get darker.
- It’s a heavy lens
- Filters aren’t supported natively.
- It was Expensive.
2. Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM
Finally, let’s talk about Epic image resolution and excellent build quality. The sigma offers relatively wide angles for viewing. Again, the lens is not super priced as the Canon 11-24mm, but it gets similar and costs less than half as much as the Canon. Also, capturing at fully open apertures of f2.8, the Sigma 14-24mm still offers outstanding sharpness throughout the entire camera frame.
Further, for an ultra-wide lens, irregularities are very low, and color fringing is almost non-existent. The high-performance optics are housed in beautifully designed, completely weather-sealed housing. perfect addition for water proof cameras.
View On AmazonLens type
Ultra-wide lens
Pros
- Built-in a small space as compared to the DSLR edition; it is much lighter. A lot of light Image production is exceptional.
- Image production is exceptional.
- There isn’t any distortion.
- There is almost no vignetting.
- Dust-proof and splash water-proof Configurable quick autofocus button
Cons
- It has no image stabilization
- There are no filter screws
Best Standard Zoom Lenses
For Standard zooming the canon EF 50mm and Panasonic H-HSA12035E should be enough for professional photography.
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
The Canon EF 50millimeters f/1.8 STM is your best camera lenses bet if you’re searching for an inexpensive, flexible Canon lens for portraits or even low light condition shots. It has a 50-millimeter focal distance and a fixed f/1.8 max diameter for full cameras. It has a 50-millimeter focal distance and a fixed f/1.8 max diameter for full cameras. On the other hand, it has an effective 80milimeter focal length on APS-C cameras.
A stepping motor provides fast, quiet autofocus for stills and film. These features make it an excellent platform for everything, starting from portraits to dim condition photography.
View On AmazonLens types
Standard zoom
Pros
- It has a built-in autofocus system
- It has an f/1.0 maximum aperture -> Creates very narrow depth of field results, and supports low-light conditions.
- It’s razor-sharp and contrasted, and it’s in full detail.
Cons
- At every aperture, the lens isn’t especially sharp. Spherochromatism causes a faint veil of color if the image is not in full focus.
- There is a small market volume and high manufacturing costs. It’s prohibitively costly, and you can only find a used one nowadays.
2. Panasonic H-HSA12035E 12-35 mm LUMIX G X VARIO Lens
The Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO camera lens is the obvious progression in the optical variable zoom lens model and construction. The G VARIO is fixed with an F2.8 magnification. And is the best LUMIX G Series for both professionals and adventurers. From vibrant scenery to gallery illuminated figures, you can concentrate on a wide variety of scenes.
Panasonic’s long-standing partnership with LEICA resulted in a unique X Series concept. Further, with the X Series Optics, LUMIX creates a luxury lens range that combines its exclusive broadcast footage and modern mirror-less camera advances. Thus, it’s suited for your advanced studio shooting because it has professional quality exposure in a simple setup.
Still, with the best camera lenses, you get 14 elements in 9 classes making up the LUMIX G X VARIO variable lenses. For instance, the Ultra Extra-Low Dispersion lens reduces image distortion, whereas the Ultra High Refractive lens achieves excellent expressive efficiency from edge to edge.
The X VARIO glass emphasizes delicate features that demand your focus, offering an accurate portrait viewpoint in almost every picture, thanks to its high contrast and clarity across the zoom range. Specialized Focusing occurs since the aperture is surrounded by seven blades, resulting in a pleasing steady blur result for the out of regions. And you can install it on any LUMIX G body for high resolution.
View On AmazonLens type
Zoom lens
Pros
- Sharpness is exceptional, particularly in the center.
- Low levels of distortion
- The structure is weatherproof.
- it’s quick on focusing
- The field of view is fixed at f/2.8
- Stabilization of images is guaranteed
Cons
- Although its price is attributed to f/2.8 zooms, this lens price may bar off many people.
Best Macro Lens
Out of many macro lenses out there we think the Tamro AF 70-300mm really stands out the most. that’s why its our only pick for this category of lenses.
1. Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di
The Macro zoom lenses, with 40-200mm focal distances, are versatile for Digital cameras. And so, to speak, the Tamron lens is the best camera lens for positional photography, precisely nature, biodiversity, games, and portraits, with a focal length of 70-300mm.
Photos would be sharp and intensely concentrated, as in any macro lens, kind of too focused. Also, Close-up shots of bugs and roses are feasible, but that hinges on the object’s scale. Otherwise, you will not be able to catch the whole subject in view.
With the zoom setting, though, further distant objects can be sharply focused and excellently crafted. The lens’s least focus gap is 59 inches when it’s not in macro mode. However, it gets to 37.4 inches when it’s in standard mode.
As a result, it’s a prism that can be used for a wide range of applications. This Tamron is a versatile choice for avid shooters on a budget. Still, there are models designed for Nikon, Canon, and Sony.
View On AmazonLens type
Macro lens
Pros
- They are cheap
- At the lower side of the zoom spectrum, the visual output is decent.
- Its light weighted
Cons
- It has no Correction vibration stabilizer.
- Has poor sharpness in the 250mm-300mm range
- The primary autofocus is extremely slow.
Quick Overview on Lens Types for Beginners
There are 5 main types of lens you should know before going to purchase any lenses on the market. these are described below.
- Telephoto zoom
You will know a telephoto lens the moment you are in contact with one. They are usually longer compared to other lenses. Also, their hugeness is significant and can be compared to the barreled lenses you see on sports touchlines. However, they are typically accustomed to pros, and they cost thousands of dollars.
On the other hand, telephoto lenses do not have to be prohibitively costly, bulky, or big. To supplement a regular zoom lens, shooters using relatively small cameras should use a simple long zoom lens. These lenses usually have narrower f-stops, meaning they’re better seen in overwhelming light, and they are just a few hundred bucks.
Further, to fit an APS-C SLR and a mirrorless camera, search for a lens with a 50-200millimeters or 50-300millimetres focal length. Remember, the cheapest price is void of image stabilization except you use a system with the feature in the camera’s body. And that’s limited to Sony SLRs.
- Ultra-wide zoom
You might be having the 16mm or 18mm for APS-C as well as 24milimeter or 28milimeter for our full-frame camera. They notably offer wide-angle coverage. However, what happens if you want to capture images in tight precincts or even at wider views?
The ultra-wide lens seems to be practical in this situation. They are attractive to shooters with the notion to fit more into the picture. Still, it requires some attention to achieve quality results. Since most large lenses have slights of barrel distortion, it’s the viewpoint that will cause problems.
Thus, it will be best to place the camera straight at the subject as skewed shots spread them out in an unattractive way. And this still holds for distance. Most big lenses will closely focus on individuals. But sticking, you won’t stick the camera on their face as that will devour their projection.
- Standard zoom
The standard starting lens for an APS-C camera is either an 18-55millimeters F3.5-5.6 or a 16-50millimeters F3.5-5.6. The f labels show the amount of light a lens can collect with a fully open aperture. And so, to speak, the smaller the figure, the higher the amount of light the lens can gather. Since the capacity to collect light diminishes when you zoom in, several zoom lenses have two numbers mentioned.
When it comes to tossing out the standard zoom, you have a few options. There are lenses with a broader coverage angle, such as an 18-135millimetres, or a zoom, such as the Tamron 18-400millimeters F3.5-6.3 Di II VC, the widest all-in-one zoom suitable for standard SLRs. However, you won’t see any improvements in low-light shooting.
Still, it enables you to put distant objects into sharper focus and reduce the number of lens adjustments. Thus, it is a great choice for some shooters. Ideally, those surged to capture photographs outdoors in natural light.
- Macro lens
One of the things that surge us towards photography as a hobby is to capture the universe in a human eye imperceptible way. Macro lenses, which concentrate closely enough to reveal even the tiniest details, are a way around this. The focal distance and magnification are the critical aspects of a macro lens. The focal length determines the dynamic range and is similar to most lenses.
Resolving power is a little trickier. It determines the size of an image displayed on the camera sensor in comparison to the actual figure. As such, should you be using a 1:1 macro lens, you will get a life-size image projection onto your camera. But, that’s provided that the image sensor and the lens are centered close to the subject. And for a 1:2 lens, the image will be half size.
Although the zoom level is unaffected by the camera sensor model, compact camera sensors have little surface area. As such, an APS-C sensor that fills the frame with 1:1 focus shoots an 18-by-24milimeters area. On the other hand, a full-frame sensor shoots 24-by-34-millimeter subjects at full size. It’s, therefore, something to think about when you are going for technical photography, such as replication and archiving.
- Portrait lens
Technically a portrait lens can be any lens with the correct focal distance and exposure for taking outstanding portrait images. Basically, any lens may apply to portraits. Suffices to say, the word “portrait lens” is not constrained to a particular lens type.
With that said, a prime, a zoom, or even a telephoto lens may be used. Nonetheless, a qua portrait lenses should have a focal length of 85 to 150mm, a reasonably wide aperture for dim conditions, and shallow, deep fields.
Checking compatibility: Why it’s very Important?
A lens must perfectly fit when attached to a camera frame. It’s like putting together a double-piece puzzle. And so, to speak, the lens must be rightly shaped to slip into place and lock securely.
The electronic links connecting the lens and the camera frame must also match up to be synchronized. That way, the camera can coordinate with the lens system and configure aperture, focus, and zoom settings.
The term used for the system is known as lens mount. Essentially, the lens is mounted on the sensor, and you will realize that the mounts vary with camera producers. Thus, ensure the lens you purchase is matched with your camera. Just like a smartphone’s screen, lenses are designed for a particular camera not to fit when inserted in a different one. However, there are compound lenses’ such as the EF lenses. It fits on both EF and EF-S mounts. But the EF-s lens only matches with the EF lens mount.
Normally, the mount model is specified in the lens’s labels. For instance, the Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS implies an “EF” lens. Thus, you’ll need a Canon EF camera for it.
If you are purchasing your lens from a third-party company like Tamron or Sigma, keep in mind that they normally produce several models. And each of them has a different mount. As a result, please make sure you purchase the correct edition for your camera.
Final Thoughts
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, the best camera lenses today are all about capturing real-life events and images in a way that the human eye cannot perceive. As aforementioned, you will realize that picture quality, stability, and zooming matter greatly when it comes to lenses. However, you still have to ensure that the lens you go for are compatible with your camera and not just your functions. If you are still stuck on the best camera lenses to go for, consider the above.
