Camera lenses - what types are there?

Different lenses for the SLR camera are essential. In this overview we will show you which types are available.

The focal length - the primary criterion for your camera lens

The focal length of a lens defines the angle of view of a photo. The larger the focal length, the smaller the image section that you can capture; the smaller, the wider the angle you can capture on a photo. So most lenses can be categorized well.

• Standard zoom lenses: Normally, a lens is supplied with your DSLR that covers a certain area thanks to the zoom function (changing the focal length). These standard lenses usually move around the focal length of the human eye by 50 mm, which ensures a natural image display.
• Telephoto zoom: Lenses with a larger focal length from approx. 70 mm are telephoto lenses that are particularly suitable for zooming in on distant subjects. The focal lengths range from approx. 70 to 300 mm. These lenses tend to be relatively large and heavy.
• Wide-angle zoom: On the other hand, a wide-angle lens that covers focal lengths from 15 to 35 mm is suitable for narrow spaces. Image distortion is greater here, but you can keep the distance between the camera and the subject fairly small.

Other lens types for special applications

Regardless of the focal length, there are still some specifications that differentiate lenses.

• Fixed focal lengths: While zoom lenses with a variable focal length are normally assumed, lenses with a fixed focal length at 35 mm, 50 mm or even 70 mm are also justified. Thanks to the omission of moving parts, they are equipped with larger lenses and are therefore more powerful: For example, you can take better or brighter photos in dim light. The light intensity is given in the maximum aperture - the smaller the value, the better. So good 50 mm prime lenses have a value around 1.4 - in the official spelling often stated with "50mm / 1: 1.4" or "50mm / f: 1.4".
• Fisheye lenses: Extreme wide-angle lenses are also called fisheye. Here the image distortion due to a convex lens is extreme and is therefore deliberately used as a stylistic device. With fisheye lenses, angles of view of 180 degrees are possible, but this is only interesting in scenarios such as sports action photography.

If your picture does not work despite a suitable camera lens, we will show you in another practical tip how to correct lens errors with Photoshop.