Buying a Lens for a Camera 

 If you’re considering buying a lens for your camera, ensure you have a basic understanding of lenses,  how and where to buy a lens for your camera, and then choose wisely.

Before Buying a Lens for a Camera, Know What a Lens Does

The lens of a camera does a few things. 

And, of course, understanding what a lens does, is essential for buying a lens for our camera. 

One of the things a lens does is provide exposure through the variable size of the aperture/f-stop. 

The second thing it does is provide us with an angle of view. Specifically, the angle of view describes the focal length. You’ll see a lens described as 28mm, 50mm, 8omm, etc. 

And the third thing it does is focus light on whatever light recording material, film, digital, paper (in the case of an enlarger), etc., we’re using.

How We Describe Lenses

Another thing we should know when buying a lens for our camera is that we generally describe lenses as wide-angle (a fish-eye lens is an extreme wide-angle lens), normal, or telephoto. This part of the description describes the focal length or angle of view that the lens provides.

• A normal lens is considered to be 50mm.
• A wide-angle lens is considered to be anything under 50mm
• A telephoto lens is considered to be anything over 50mm

The other description for a lens is its aperture or f-stop. This part of the description lets us know the most amount of exposure we can get through the lens. Of course, most lenses have a range of apertures.

For example, my go-to lens is a 28mm f/2.8 lens. The range of the apertures is f/2.8-f/16

I’ve also got a zoom lens. Specifically, it’s a 35-70mm f2.8 lens. 
A zoom lens is simply a variable focal length lens. And on many zoom lenses, the effective aperture changes when changing the focal length (zooming in and out). And when the effective aperture changes, we need to adjust the shutter speed and ISO to make up for the difference in exposure if we want to hold our preferred tonality.

Before Buying a Lens for a Camera, Set a Budget

Buying a lens for our camera involves setting a budget for the purchase. Lenses can cost a lot of money. So it helps to set a budget. And don’t think that you need to buy a new lens. There are used lenses in excellent condition that you can purchase for less than new prices. Additionally, some third-party manufacturers make excellent lenses that are compatible with our cameras. However, I would NEVER buy used lenses from an individual selling their equipment online.

Where To Buy a Lens

I’d recommend purchasing the lens from a reputable dealer, and only if the lens came with a warranty. Your local camera store probably has some used lenses in stock, and Adorama, B&H,  and KEH are reputable dealers. And now that you have a better idea of what to consider when buying a lens for a camera, you’ll be sure that you’ll get the right lens for your needs.

Best Regards and make thoughtful photographs,

Available Ways to Learn Photography With Sam

In-Person or Online One-on-One Private Instruction

Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced photographer, I can work with you in-person or online on a one-on-one basis. This format allows me to help you improve your photography with custom-tailored instruction. You can use anything from a DSLR to the camera on your phone. Bring whatever you have in equipment and skill level, and I'll help you make more thoughtfully composed photographs. Please be fully vaccinated if we meet in person and follow all CDC and local guidelines.

Online Live Group Classes

Study and practice photography with me from wherever you are. Online group classes are effective and, when considering COVID, a safe way to learn photography. 

---Getting To Know Your Camera

This one meeting two-hour class will familiarize you with your camera's most important functions. We'll cover exposure, focusing, and metering methods. You'll be working more thoughtfully and creating intentional compositions. And you'll leave this class working on your camera in aperture and shutter priority modes. This class is also a prerequisite to the online Introduction To Photography group class. 

---Introduction To Photography

A four meeting 8-hour class that meets once a week for two hours will get you working your camera in manual exposure mode. The Getting to Know Your Camera class is a prerequisite for taking this class online. 

Recorded, Learn at Your Own Pace Classes/Webinars Available on Sam's Online Learning Platform for Photographers

---Getting To Know Your Camera

This class will familiarize you with your camera's most critical functions. We'll cover exposure modes, focusing modes, and metering modes. This class aims to get you working on your camera in aperture and shutter priority modes. Working your camera in this manner will get you working more thoughtfully and creating intentional compositions. This class is also a prerequisite to the online Introduction To Photography group class. 

---Learn To Think Like A Photographer

While all my instruction involves teaching camera operation and thought process, this introductory class teaches thought process and camera operation by using the camera on your phone. However, I wouldn't consider this a "phone photography class" because this is a composition class that teaches a thought/compositional process that can be carried over into any camera. 

Study and Practice with Sam on His Online Learning Platform for Photographers

When you study and practice photography with me via my online learning platform, you'll not only have access to the classes and webinars available there (see directly above), but you'll also get to ask me questions and get answers. You'll also get monthly assignments to keep you thinking about photography and a live online monthly meeting. This is an excellent standalone way to learn about photography or can be used as a supplement to the other methods of working with me. The monthly fee is $25.00, and you can start and stop whenever you'd like.

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Please get in touch with me if you have any questions.