HELP!! I'm new to photography and have no idea what lens to buy!!
Most cameras that you purchase come with a kit lens. These are great to snap some photos and learn a little about your camera, but my guess is you want to take your skills to the next level!
When you first enter the world of photography it can be overwhelming figuring out what lens to buy. There are several different focal lengths and they all capture images differently. There are two types of lenses prime and zoom. Now you're probably thinking what the heck is that? Well, I'm here to teach you!
Prime vs Zoom
Choosing the right focal length is super important and one of the first things you should take into consideration. Zoom lenses allow you to stay physically put in your position and zoom in and out on your subjects. Prime lenses on the other hand have a fixed focal length. So you need to physically move closer or further from your subject. Now your probably thinking why the heck would I want to move back and fourth constantly when my zoom lens can do that for me? The answer, aperture!
Umm, I just started photography what the heck is aperture? Have you seen those gorgeous images with the pretty blurry backgrounds? That is called bokeh! The prime lenses provide a wide aperture, example 1.8, 1.4 and even 1.2 which gives your images beautiful bokeh! Also, the wider the aperture the better the lens preforms in low light conditions. Keep in mind the wider the aperture the higher the price, but better image quality. So hey, if your budget allows you, then upgrade!
What lens should I get first??
All the photos you see here were captured with my 50mm 1.8 canon lens. (Nikon has a similar one) As you can see the backgrounds have gorgeous bokeh! I highly recommend that your purchase this lens first. In the photog world this is know as the nifty 50! This lens won't break the budget and provides you with stunning images. This is still one of my favorite lenses to this day! My first year in business this is all I owned and was able to create an amazing portfolio.
Things to consider
What are you going to be photographing? Headshots, families, weddings, etc
Where will you be photographing?
Indoor or outdoors? If you are in a tight space make sure you have enough room to fit everyone in your frame. This cake smash below was captured with my 50, but I had enough space to scoot back and fourth!
Do you have a full frame camera or a crop sensor?
With a crop sensor camera you will lose a little bit of your frame. A full frame camera will provide you with a wider image. In the example below you will see how the same lens performs differently on the two camera bodies.
I hope this is helpful and aids you in deciding what lens to buy! Good luck on your photography journey!
Alexandria Marie Jensen
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