When do I use which lens and for what?

You can quickly learn which lens you should use when and for what. Just think in advance what exactly you want to photograph and then read our tips.

Lens for portrait photography

Your portrait pictures work best if they have been shot openly:

• Optimally you use a fixed focal length of 50mm (eg with the Canon 550D / 600D). With a full frame camera (e.g. Canon 6D) your focal length should be 85mm. Both lenses come very close to the human eye and therefore look very natural.
• You can also use the Canon kit lens (18-55mm). This doesn't have the perfect look, but it is enough for your simple work.
• You can read about how to best use the lenses in our article "Shoot a perfect portrait - the best tips".

Lenses in landscapes

In landscape photography, you should try to choose a large image section.

• An ultra wide-angle lens is particularly suitable for this. Your image is sharp and there are no distortions, but you can photograph a large area.
• If you want to make your image stand out from the crowd, you can use a fish-eye lens. Similar to the ultra wide angle lens, it has a low focal length. However, it has strong distortions, so your picture looks different.
• Tip: Read our landscape photography article.

Event photos - so you get the best picture

Event photography is a special topic in itself. It is not only your lens that is crucial to achieve the best image. Above all, this should be light-sensitive and flexible.

• A fixed focal length is somewhat unwieldy because you cannot adjust the image section depending on the situation, but it has a high aperture and a cool look.
• As a beginner, you should rather use a reasonable zoom lens. You can optimally choose the image section and use a slow shutter speed.
• A strong eTTL flash is particularly necessary for event pictures in clubs and at night.

Take photos at dusk and at night

In dark environments, it is difficult to shoot your subject perfectly. You need a variety of equipment to implement your image.

• A particularly fast lens is half the battle. The more light your lens can capture, the better your pictures will be.
• Make sure that an image stabilizer is integrated, since you often have to extend the exposure time. A tripod also helps to avoid blurring.
• Tip: Pictures at night are particularly successful with our tips from night photography.

Lenses for street, sports and distance shots

You can use similar lenses in all three areas. They are not always at a perfect distance from the subject and must therefore be able to act at short notice.

• A telephoto lens lets you zoom in close to people, but needs a good image stabilizer. We also recommend a one-leg tripod.
• In street photography, the tried-and-true prime lens is suitable for taking closer pictures.
• For macro pictures you need a macro lens or a zoom lens with a small distance for a sharp picture. Make sure you have a tripod with you.

Conclusion: You need these lenses

There is a different, optimal lens for each of your images. Therefore, always think in advance whether your picture will do the work. A real all-rounder is, for example, the 50mm lens from Nikon or Canon. You get a cheap lens with a strong open aperture and a cool look.

$config[ads_text5] not found

You can take very creative pictures with so-called lense babies. However, you need a little experience to do this. So that your lenses defy the bad weather, you should consider the following tips.