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What lenses are best for different types of photography
Choosing the right lens for photography depends on the type of photography you’re doing, the focal length, and the aperture of the lens. Here’s a guide to the best types of lenses for different kinds of photography.
1. Portrait Photography
Best Lenses: 50mm, 85mm, 135mm (f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8)
- Why:
- 50mm is a classic portrait lens, often called the “nifty fifty.” It provides a natural perspective and great bokeh at wide apertures (e.g., f/1.8 or f/1.4), perfect for creating a blurred background.
- 85mm is a popular choice for portrait photographers because of its ability to create a flattering compression effect. It provides a good working distance and renders pleasing background blur (bokeh) at wide apertures.
- 135mm is great for tighter, more compressed portraits, especially when you want to shoot from a distance, like outdoor or candid portraits.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM (affordable, sharp)
- Nikon 85mm f/1.4G (premium portrait lens)
- Sony 85mm f/1.8 (ideal for portraits on mirrorless cameras)
2. Landscape Photography
Best Lenses: 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 24mm Prime (f/2.8, f/4)
- Why:
- Wide-angle lenses are ideal for capturing expansive scenes like landscapes. The 16-35mm zoom lens is versatile and great for wide landscapes, while a 24mm prime lens can provide exceptional sharpness and clarity.
- A 24-70mm zoom lens is also fantastic, giving you flexibility in framing wide vistas and tighter shots. f/2.8 or f/4 apertures provide a good balance between light gathering and sharpness.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS USM (affordable, sharp)
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR (great all-around lens for landscapes)
- Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM (premium lens for sharpness)
3. Wedding Photography
Best Lenses: 24-70mm, 50mm, 70-200mm (f/2.8, f/1.8)
- Why:
- 24-70mm f/2.8 is a workhorse lens for wedding photographers. It’s versatile, covering wide to medium telephoto focal lengths, making it great for candid shots, group portraits, and everything in between.
- 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 gives you beautiful background blur for portraits, and its wide aperture helps in low-light situations (e.g., during the ceremony).
- 70-200mm is a fantastic lens for capturing candid moments from a distance, such as emotional expressions during the ceremony or reception.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM (go-to wedding lens)
- Nikon 50mm f/1.4G (sharp, low-light portrait lens)
- Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM (perfect for candid moments)
4. Street Photography
Best Lenses: 35mm, 50mm, 24mm (f/1.4, f/1.8)
- Why:
- A 35mm lens is the sweet spot for street photography. It’s wide enough to capture scenes but still has a natural perspective, allowing you to get close to your subject without distorting them.
- The 50mm is also a popular choice, offering a more “real-world” field of view that feels familiar. It’s excellent for quick street shots and is great in low light due to its wide aperture.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 35mm f/2 IS USM (compact, fast)
- Nikon 50mm f/1.8G (light, affordable, sharp)
- Sony 35mm f/1.4 ZA (fast, sharp, good for low light)
5. Sports Photography
Best Lenses: 70-200mm, 100-400mm, 24-70mm (f/2.8, f/4)
- Why:
- Telephoto zoom lenses, like the 70-200mm f/2.8, are perfect for capturing fast-moving subjects in sports. The long focal length lets you get closer to the action, while the wide aperture helps you isolate subjects with beautiful background blur (bokeh).
- A 100-400mm lens is great for even longer distances, like when shooting outdoor sports from the sidelines.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM (professional-quality sports lens)
- Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR (fast, sharp)
- Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS (for outdoor sports and wildlife)
6. Macro Photography
Best Lenses: 100mm, 180mm, 50mm Macro (f/2.8)
- Why:
- Macro lenses allow you to capture incredibly detailed close-ups of small subjects like insects, flowers, or textures. A 100mm macro lens is a standard choice, offering a good working distance to avoid disturbing the subject.
- The 180mm provides even more working distance, which is especially useful when photographing delicate subjects like bugs.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro (sharp, versatile)
- Nikon 105mm f/2.8G VR Micro (great for detail)
- Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (fast, sharp)
7. Architectural/Real Estate Photography
Best Lenses: 14-24mm, 16-35mm, 24mm Prime (f/2.8, f/4)
- Why:
- Wide-angle lenses are ideal for capturing expansive interior and exterior shots in architectural photography. A 14-24mm or 16-35mm zoom lens is perfect for tight spaces or large structures.
- Prime lenses like a 24mm f/1.4 are also great for sharper details and low-light performance (though not commonly used for large interiors).
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS USM (sharp, stable)
- Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED (extremely wide, sharp)
- Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM (perfect for interior/exterior shots)
8. Travel Photography
Best Lenses: 24-70mm, 18-55mm, 16-80mm (f/3.5-5.6, f/2.8)
- Why:
- Zoom lenses like the 24-70mm or 16-80mm are ideal for travel photography because they cover a wide range of focal lengths, from wide-angle to short telephoto, allowing you to capture landscapes, portraits, and street scenes without changing lenses constantly.
- A wide-angle lens (16mm or 18mm) is also helpful for tight spaces or expansive landscapes.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM (versatile, high-quality)
- Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (light and compact)
- Sony 16-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar (great for travel zoom)
9. Night Photography (Astrophotography)
Best Lenses: 14mm, 24mm, 20mm Prime (f/2.8, f/1.4)
- Why:
- For astrophotography, you need a fast, wide-angle lens with a large aperture (f/2.8 or wider) to capture enough light from the stars. A 14mm or 24mm prime lens allows you to capture wide expanses of the night sky while keeping the stars sharp.
- Example Lenses:
- Canon 14mm f/2.8L II USM (wide, fast)
- Nikon 20mm f/1.8G (excellent low light, sharp)
- Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM (versatile for stars and landscapes)
Conclusion
- Prime Lenses (fixed focal lengths) often provide better image quality, faster apertures (great for low
light and achieving a shallow depth of field), and sharper results, but they are less flexible in terms of composition.
- Zoom Lenses provide versatility and convenience, especially when you need to quickly change focal lengths without swapping lenses.
Each lens type plays a specific role depending on your style of photography. Whether you’re capturing the wide vistas of a landscape, the intricate details of macro subjects, or the candid moments in street photography, selecting the right lens is key to achieving the results you want.
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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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What lenses are best for what photography
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