A Quality Lens Will Last...Cameras Come and Go! - An Introduction to Camera Lenses

Don't be fooled by the looks of a lens, it is the quality of the glass that really counts! As well as certain features such as the ability to switch to manual focus and operating in a smooth, sturdy manner.

Think of it like this. You buy an expensive pair of designer glasses, but put cheap, non-prescription glass into the frame. They look good, but don't do the job they are supposed to do.

What camera lens or lenses should I start out with ?

This animation shows the range of camera lenses from 16mm to 400mm. Bear in mind that the camera was digital and had a crop factor of 1.6. If used on full frame 35mm cameras, each picture would be slightly wider. Click on the picture to see the photos in strip form. As a guide, 50mm is the focal length that the human eye sees things.

If you are serious about photography as a hobby or profession, I cannot stress enough, that the choice of lens/s you make now will stand you in good stead for a long time. In fact, the only time you should need to change them, is if you change the make of CAMERA that you use.

Most semi/pro's go for either Canon or Nikon kits, and once they have made the choice, rarely do they change it. The reason? It's because they have spent years building a great lens collection covering the focal range from ultra-wide angle (16mm or below) to long-range telephoto (500mm and above).

It is a lot cheaper to trade in your camera every few years than to trade in all those lenses!

"I don't have the money!"

Don't panic! You don't have to spend a fortune to get decent glass on the front of your camera. Use this page to learn about lenses, and this guide should lead you in the right direction for choosing your starter kit for now and/or your pro kit for later on.

• Does quality matter?
• What lenses do I need? - Wide Angle, Telephoto, Zoom, Standard, Prime
• "Walk around camera lenses"
• "How many" do I need?
• "How much" will they cost and where can I buy them?
• "Is it safe to buy online?"