Hello, .
Lenses do a few things.
First, we get exposure through the aperture/f-stop.
The second is providing an angle of view, and the angle of view describes the focal length.
The third thing it does is focus light onto the light recording material such as
film, the digital sensors in a camera, or printing paper in a darkroom.
We divide lenses into categories called wide-angle, normal, or telephoto.
Additionally, a lens is described by its focal length, such as 28mm, 50mm, 8omm, etc.
- 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
We've got fixed focal length lenses, also called "prime" lenses, that provide a single angle of view, such as 28mm, 50mm, 100 mm, etc.
And we've got variable focal length lenses, also called "zoom" lenses.
The other description
for a lens is its aperture or f-stop. An example is a "28mm f/2.8" lens.
The "f/2.8" part describes the maximum exposure the lens gives us.
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
If you want to buy a new or used lens, get one from a reputable dealer and make sure it has a warranty.
Used lenses are a good option. Your local camera store probably has some used lenses, and Adorama, B&H, and KEH are reputable dealers.
Introduction To Photography will teach you how to work your camera in manual exposure mode. Classes are scheduled to start on March 25, March 27 and April 14. Class sizes are limited to 5 participants plus me.
Private in-person or online lessons suited to your schedule are
always an option.
While all my classes will involve you more in how we make pictures, the Introduction To Photography class is the most comprehensive when it comes to getting a good foundation in the basics of photography. If you want to learn to work your camera in a way that'll provide the most creative technique available, the Introduction To Photography group class
is the thing to do..