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Recommended Lenses for Used Cameras
Choosing the right lens is just as important as selecting the camera body. Below are recommended lenses for different types of photography, focusing on second-hand options that offer the best performance for the price.
1. Budget-Friendly Lenses (Under $500 AUD Used)
For those starting out, a solid prime or zoom lens can drastically improve image quality over kit lenses.
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM – Affordable, sharp, great for portraits and low light ($200 AUD).
- Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G – Similar to the Canon 50mm, excellent for beginners ($250 AUD).
- Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS – Compact, sharp, great for Sony APS-C cameras ($450 AUD).
- Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR – Weather-sealed, fast autofocus, great all-around lens ($500 AUD).
✅ Best for: Budget-conscious photographers looking for sharpness, low-light performance, and versatility.
2. Portrait Photography Lenses (Shallow Depth of Field & Sharpness)
For capturing stunning portraits with blurred backgrounds, a fast prime lens is ideal.
- Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM – Beautiful bokeh, excellent for full-frame and APS-C ($500 AUD).
- Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G – Sharp, great for flattering portraits ($600 AUD).
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 – Best-value portrait lens for Sony full-frame ($750 AUD).
- Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R – Super sharp, professional-quality bokeh ($1,100 AUD used).
✅ Best for: Portrait photographers needing excellent subject separation and background blur.
3. Landscape & Travel Photography Lenses (Wide Angle & Sharpness)
For landscapes, a wide-angle lens with good dynamic range and edge-to-edge sharpness is key.
- Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM – Great sharpness, lightweight ($1,200 AUD used).
- Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G – One of the sharpest ultra-wide lenses ($1,500 AUD).
- Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS – Lightweight, good image stabilisation ($1,400 AUD).
- Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS – Compact, weather-sealed, great for landscapes ($1,000 AUD).
✅ Best for: Capturing wide landscapes with sharp details and great dynamic range.
4. Sports & Wildlife Photography Lenses (Telephoto & Fast Autofocus)
For action shots, a telephoto lens with fast autofocus is essential.
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM – Legendary zoom lens, excellent for sports ($1,800 AUD used).
- Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR – Long reach, great stabilisation ($1,900 AUD).
- Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS – Best telephoto option for Sony ($2,800 AUD).
- Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR – Long range, sharp optics ($2,000 AUD).
✅ Best for: Photographers capturing sports, wildlife, and distant subjects.
5. Video & Content Creation Lenses (Stabilisation & Autofocus)
For video work, lenses with optical stabilisation (OIS/IS/VR) and smooth autofocus are ideal.
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM – Sharp, versatile, good for interviews and cinematic shots ($2,000 AUD).
- Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR – Excellent stabilisation, great for handheld shooting ($2,200 AUD).
- Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS – Stabilised zoom with excellent image quality ($1,500 AUD).
- Panasonic Lumix G 12-35mm f/2.8 II ASPH OIS – Ideal for GH5, lightweight and stabilised ($1,200 AUD).
✅ Best for: Videographers and content creators needing sharp, stabilised footage.
Final Lens Recommendations by Category
- For Budget-Friendly Use: Canon 50mm f/1.8 / Sony 35mm f/1.8
- For Portraits: Sony 85mm f/1.8 / Fujifilm 56mm f/1.2
- For Landscapes: Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 / Sony 16-35mm f/4
- For Sports & Wildlife: Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 / Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6
- For Video & Content Creation: Sony 24-105mm f/4 / Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8
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Recommended Lenses for Used Cameras
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Hi I'm Monique
Personal and business brand photographer and educator, super passionate about empowering business women and men to have a positive self perception, with the right tools and guidance so they can share their gifts with the world.
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Recommended Lenses for Used Cameras
Download PDF version here
Recommended Lenses for Used Cameras
Download
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