Selecting the right lens is crucial for any photographer, whether amateur or professional. Each type of photography has its own specific requirements in terms of focal length, aperture and technical characteristics. In this article, we’ll explore the essential lenses for different genres of photography, providing links and references to delve deeper into each topic.
1. portrait photography
prime fixed-focus lens (50mm, 85mm)
Fixed-focus prime lenses, such as the 50mm and 85mm, are ideal for portrait photography. These lenses offer a wide aperture, generally between f/1.2 and f/1.8, enabling shallow depth-of-field and beautiful bokeh.
Popular examples:
- canon ef 50mm f/1.8 stm: canon 50mm f/1.8
- nikon af-s nikkor 85mm f/1.8g: nikon 85mm f/1.8
zoom lens (24-70mm)
The 24-70mm zoom lens is versatile and offers great flexibility for portrait photography, especially outdoors. With a constant f/2.8 aperture, it captures sharp images even in low light.
Popular example:
- tamron sp 24-70mm f/2.8 di vc usd g2: tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
2. landscape photography
wide-angle lens (16-35mm, 10-24mm)
To capture vast landscapes, a wide-angle lens is essential. Focal lengths between 16mm and 35mm (for full-frame sensors) or 10mm and 24mm (for aps-c sensors) allow you to include more of the scene in the frame, while maintaining a great depth of field.
Popular examples:
- canon ef 16-35mm f/4l is usm: canon 16-35mm f/4l
- nikon af-p dx nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6g vr: nikon 10-20mm
ultra-wide-angle lens (14mm, 12-24mm)
For even more immersive landscapes, ultra-wide-angle lenses are perfect. They capture a very wide field of view and are ideal for nature, mountain and starry sky shots.
Popular examples:
- sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 dg hsm art: sigma 14-24mm
- sony fe 12-24mm f/4 g: sony 12-24mm
3. sports and action photography
telephoto lens (70-200mm)
For sports and action photography, a telephoto lens is essential. The 70-200mm is a classic, offering excellent reach and a wide aperture (usually f/2.8) for capturing fast-moving subjects.
Popular examples:
- canon ef 70-200mm f/2.8l is iii usm: canon 70-200mm
- nikon af-s nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8e fl ed vr: nikon 70-200mm
super telephoto lens (300mm, 400mm)
For sporting events where you’re far from the action, a super telephoto lens is a must. These lenses enable you to capture long-distance details in razor-sharp detail.
Popular examples:
- sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 dg os hsm contemporary: sigma 150-600mm
- sony fe 400mm f/2.8 gm oss: sony 400mm
4. macro photography
macro lens (90mm, 100mm)
For macro photography, a specialized lens is needed to capture extremely fine details. Macro lenses from 90mm to 100mm are ideal for photographing flowers, insects and tiny objects.
Popular examples:
- tamron sp 90mm f/2.8 di vc usd macro: tamron 90mm macro
- canon ef 100mm f/2.8l macro is usm: canon 100mm macro
5. street photography
compact prime lens (35mm, 50mm)
Compact fixed-focus lenses, such as 35mm and 50mm, are ideal for street photography. They are discreet, lightweight and offer a perspective close to that of the human eye, making photos more natural.
Popular examples:
- fujifilm xf 35mm f/2 r wr: fujifilm 35mm
- sony fe 50mm f/1.8: sony 50mm
versatile zoom lens (24-105mm)
A versatile zoom lens, such as the 24-105mm, covers a wide range of focal lengths, making it ideal for capturing a variety of subjects and scenes on the street.
Popular example:
- canon ef 24-105mm f/4l is ii usm: canon 24-105mm
Choosing the right lens for each type of photography is crucial to achieving high-quality images. Lenses vary in focal length, aperture and technical characteristics, each with specific advantages for particular photographic genres. By investing in the right lenses, you can dramatically improve your skills and the quality of your photos.