Help on lens

[Jackal]

Good day fellas, was wandering if the old birds can teach me a thing or two about lens.

Example like whats with the 30mm-300mm or the figures written on the lens itself and what does different lens do, what effect it creates and how to achieve it. thanks

 

[justarius]

The 30-300mm thingy on the lens refer to the focal length. Focal length on 35mm cameras can be roughly be divided into 3 categories: wide angle, standard, telephoto.

The standard lens is normally one whose focal length is from 40 to 60mm. They are typically easier to manufacture and most manufacturers used to include a 50mm prime as part of the standard kit when buying cameras, thus the term standard lens.

The wide angle is one whose focal length is less than the standard lens. Wide angles have a wider field of view than standard lens, ie standing at the same spot, you will be able to capture more of a scene than a standard lens.

The telephoto is one whose focal length is greater than the standard lens. With a telephoto, you have a narrower field of view and objects seems 'magnified', enabling you to reach out to distant objects.

See this link for examples here

 

[Jackal]

The 30-300mm thingy on the lens refer to the focal length. Focal length on 35mm cameras can be roughly be divided into 3 categories: wide angle, standard, telephoto.

The standard lens is normally one whose focal length is from 40 to 60mm. They are typically easier to manufacture and most manufacturers used to include a 50mm prime as part of the standard kit when buying cameras, thus the term standard lens.

The wide angle is one whose focal length is less than the standard lens. Wide angles have a wider field of view than standard lens, ie standing at the same spot, you will be able to capture more of a scene than a standard lens.

The telephoto is one whose focal length is greater than the standard lens. With a telephoto, you have a narrower field of view and objects seems 'magnified', enabling you to reach out to distant objects.

See this link for examples here

thanks ! I also heard of people combining lens together. In doing so does that create a combination of all the specific len's effect ?

 

[dbcs]

thanks ! I also heard of people combining lens together. In doing so does that create a combination of all the specific len's effect ?

Not sure what you are referring to but what comes to mind are Extenders and Convertors - they basically multiply or divide the focal length of the existing lens by a certain factor (common factors are 0.7x, 1.4x and 2.0x)

The other thing that comes to mind are filters like polarisors etc. which are used for specific effects - from reducing reflections, enhancing certain colours, soft-focus to special effects like "star" flaring and IR photography.