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Home » Photography Equipment » camera lenses explained
Camera Lenses Explained – How to Choose the Right Lens For the Job

Camera Lenses Explained – How to Choose the Right Lens For the Job

by Darlene Hildebrandt | Last Updated: October 14, 2019

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In this article, we’re going to look at what different types of camera lenses do, as well as when and why you’d choose one over another to get the image you desire.

You will find this really helpful if you are considering buying another lens, and may help you decide what to get. You’ll also gain some insight into using the ones you already own more to your advantage.

Can you relate to this?

Have you ever been at a great location, taken some images you are really excited about, only to get home to be disappointed once you’ve taken a closer look? Have you ever said to yourself (or out loud):

That’s just NOT how it looked to me when I was there!

If you’ve ever said that, then it’s possible that your lens selection could be the culprit.

Choosing the right lens is NOT as simple as: put on a wide-angle to fit in more crap especially if you’re in a small room, and use a long lens if the thing you’re photographing is far away.

Granted sometimes those are the correct choices, however, there is a lot more to choosing camera lenses based on how much space you’ve got and how far away the subject is.

Camera Lenses Explained: What do different lenses do?

Wide-angle lenses

Wide-angle lenses have an inclusive effect and enhance perspective.

Let me repeat that:

Wide angle lenses have an inclusive effect and enhance perspective

They expand lines and make objects appear farther away. They add a feeling of depth because they “include” everything.

So when you want someone to view your image and feel like they were actually there, a wide-angle lens will give you that more so than a long lens. Often you feel you can step right into an image created with a wide lens. Here are a few examples.

wide angle camera lenses can make a photo of a mule driver and his mule in New Orleans appear with a humorous perspective
Using a wide-angle lens can make for a humorous photo, like this one of a mule driver being kissed by his mule.
a wide angle lens example showing how the subject appears farther away and smaller than normal
The wide lens here makes him seems real far away and small
a wide angle lens makes this photo of new york city bridge look distorted and the city smaller
The lens selection here, super-wide 15mm, gives a distorted look and makes the city look small.
this photograph of deer with a wide angle lens makes them seem like they're right in your face
Look how the deer seem to be right in your face like you can reach out and touch them.
a fun portrait example of a child on a swing taken with a wide angle lens
In this image of my nephew I was lying under the swing and using my wide angle camera lens, he literally seems to be jumping out at me.
a new york city street scene using a wide angle lens to fit in more subjects
Do you feel like are on this street in the crowd? That happens with a wide lens. I took this image from the hip as I walked and no one even know I took a photo.

Long Lenses / Telephoto Lenses

Long or telephoto lenses isolate and compress perspective.

What that means is that your subject will appear isolated, or separated from the background.

Objects far away will seem nearer, and lines will seem shortened and less three dimensional.

Long or telephoto lenses isolate and compress perspective.

When we view images taken with really long lenses it almost gives us a voyeuristic feeling like we’re spying on something. We do not feel a part of the image, and the subject (if there is a distance between them) does not feel part of the background.

In the case of a portrait, that’s actually desired.

You do not want your person to blend in with the scenery, you want them to jump out. Using a longer lens will help you do that.

Here are some examples of how longer lenses compress and isolate.

with a long camera lens, the look and feel of the deer subject looks completely different.
Compare this image of the deer to the one above. Notice how the look and feel of the image is completely different, same subject.
with long camera lenses, it's possible to photography people from a distance without them knowing, like this image of a man on a bench in New Orleans
Now compare this image to the one about of the man and the horse. This one seems much more voyeuristic, and he actually gave me the finger after I took it.
Portrait photo of a man at standing on the corner park in Winslow Arizona showing how long camera lenses make good shots
Another comparison. Same subject – my husband and the Standing on the Corner Park in Winslow, AZ – different treatment. Neither is right or wrong, they’re just different.
compare this long lens photo of the child on the swing with the wide angle lens previously to spot the difference camera lenses make
Last comparison, same kid, longer lens. Which one feels like you’re more of an observer?
using long camera lenses can create a feeling of isolation like this headstone, which appears isolated from the others
Long lens – isolation. Does the one headstone that’s sharp not feel sort of lonely?
This sea turtle looks isolated from the rest of his friends by using a long telephoto lens
Another example of isolation of the subject. I have other images of this sea turtle and the other 7 that were on the beach. Again just different. I wanted to focus on his face, more like a portrait for this one so the longer lens was the right choice.

How lens choice affects photos of people

What camera lenses you choose when photographing people can completely change the look of your images, and the person!

None is right or wrong, but knowing the effect each lens will have on your image will allow you to make the appropriate choice for the look you wish to achieve.

Here is a series of images taken with the subject in exactly the same spot. The only thing I have changed from one image to the next is the lens and my distance to her.

Each time I changed to a longer lens, I needed to back up to keep her the same size in the photograph.

4 photos comparing camera lenses from 16mm wide angle through 150mm telephoto lens
A comparisson of camera lenses from 16mm wide angle lens through a 150mm telephoto lens

Let’s look at the two extremes a little larger!

First, the one was taken with the 16mm and the last one done with the 150mm. What differences do you notice?

a portrait of a young girl taken with a 16mm camera lens to compare with a long telephoto lens portrait
16mm lens
The same young girl portrait taken with a 150mm lens to show comparrison to the shorter lens
150mm lens

Differences the Lens Choice Makes

Did you notice the differences between the two images?

The Face

The first thing you notice is her head.

In the wide angle image her face is all distorted and sort of bulbous, almost cartoon looking.

For photos of kids, or if you’re trying to make a powerful statement, such as achieving a comical look, then a wide lens might be a good choice. Like the image of the man and his horse above, it works. However, is that the look you’d want if you were being photographed? Probably not so much.

The Background

Next, take a look at the background in the two images, keeping in mind she is sitting in exactly the same spot in both, and they are both take with the same aperture, F5.6.

The one with the longer lens has a much narrower field of view so you see very little of what’s behind her.

Think of a horse with blinders on, and the blinders turned inward so the horse can only see directly in front of him.

So if you want to show perspective and the environment around your subject, then you’d want to choose a wider lens. But if you want to simplify and make it be more about the person and less about the background, then you may want to consider a longer lens.

Also notice how much softer and out of focus the background is in the shot done with the 150mm lens.

Remember she’s in exactly the same spot and both were shot at f5.6! Amazing hey!?

long leading lines in a hallway created with a wide angle lens of 17mm
Long leading lines, a hallway that seems to go on forever? 17mm lens.
A classic wedding photo portrait of bride and groom using a 150mm long lens gives a soft background where the people are featured
Classic portrait, soft background, the people are featured. 150mm lens.

The right lens for the job

Like I said earlier there is no such thing as the right or wrong lens.

What is important, is knowing the look you want to achieve with our image, and then selecting the appropriate lens to do so.

With this knowledge, do you feel better prepared to do that?

Related: How to Achieve Blurred Backgrounds in Portraits.

Learn how to choose the camera lenses you'll need for the type of photography you'd like to achieve. A wide camera lens is good for creative family photos, while a long telephoto lens is best for classic portrait photos or family pictures.

This week’s challenge

My challenge to you is to use this new information and go take two photos.

First, use a wide angle lens to its advantage, using its properties of enhancing perspective and inclusion. Then create an image using a telephoto or long zoom (100mm or longer), using it to isolate a subject, and compress perspective. Please share your images with us in the comments section below.

If this sort of photography information on camera lenses was helpful to you, I would encourage you to join our free Photography Basics course, in which you’ll learn a new photography concept every day, covering the basics of photography like iso, shutter speed, aperture, understanding light, lens choices like you learned here and more.

Even More Challenges

You can also sign up to get email notices of all new articles, upcoming events and if you really want to push yourself creatively, download my free ebook 10 Challenges to Improve your Photography.

The challenges are designed to get you thinking outside the box while learning new principles and then putting them into practice. Share your images in our Facebook group along with everyone else. Get constructive criticism back if you request it.

Until then

Cheers,
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About Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene is an educator who teaches aspiring amateurs and hobbyists how to improve their skills through her articles here on Digital Photo Mentor, her beginner photography course, and private tutoring lessons. To help you at whatever level you're at she has two email mini-courses. Sign up for her free beginner OR portrait photography email mini-course. Or get both, no charge!

Digital Photo Mentor is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate Digital Photo Mentor earns from qualifying purchases.

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