The Complete Guide to Camera Lenses

Lenses shape how your photos look as much as the camera does.

Focal length explained

Wide-angle lenses (around 14 to 35 mm on full frame) capture landscapes and interiors. Standard lenses (around 35 to 70 mm) feel natural and suit everyday and street photography. Telephoto lenses (85 mm and longer) compress perspective for portraits, sports and wildlife.

Aperture and low light

A wider maximum aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/1.4, lets in more light and creates softer backgrounds. Zooms with a constant f/2.8 are popular with professionals for consistent exposure across the zoom range.

Prime or zoom

Primes are often sharper, brighter and smaller; zooms are more flexible when you cannot change position. Many photographers carry one versatile zoom and one fast prime.

Check compatibility

Make sure the lens mount matches your camera, and check whether full-frame or crop-sensor coverage is needed before you buy.