Updated: 02/28/2019 Oleg Lazhechnikov

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With lenses everything is somewhat simpler than with cameras, there are much fewer parameters and everything is much simpler. There is a focal length measured in millimeters, aperture ratio, and the presence/absence of a stabilizer. I'll tell you about everything in more detail.

Focal length

You don't really need to know what it means physically. It’s easier to remember that the more millimeters, the closer the object will be to you, or they often say that the angle will be narrower. This is true; when you zoom in on an object, you kind of cut off the frame at the edges and it doesn’t include anything that could fit into the field of view of a wide-angle lens. After using your first lens a little, you will immediately understand what focal length you need to use. Therefore, at first, do not buy many lenses; one is enough to focus on, for example, the cheap kit Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, which comes with many budget Canon cameras.

There are fixed lenses (they are called primes), and there are zooms. For the former, the focal length does not change in any way, for the latter, it can be changed manually by turning the ring on the lens. If you are just starting out, then most likely you do not need prime lenses, because they are bought for maximum quality and good aperture, and the price will be appropriate. Moreover, when you take photographs, it is much more convenient to be able to quickly zoom in or out of an object, otherwise you will need to change one lens to another, which takes much longer, and if this happens often, it really gets boring.

Crop factor

Next, I simply have to tell you that there is also such a thing as the crop factor, which in some way tells us about the size of the matrix of our camera compared to others. The matrix of a full-frame camera is taken as one (the cheapest full-frame ones are Canon 6d and Nikon d600), and other cameras have crop factors, which mean how many times the diagonal of the matrix is ​​smaller than that of the full frame. For example, 1.6 (Canon 650d, Canon 60d, Canon 7d), 1.5 (Nikon d300, d7000), 2.5 and more for different point-and-shoot cameras. The numbers mentioned (1.6, 1.5, 2.5, etc.) are the crop factor. I think it is clear that the larger the matrix, the better quality of the resulting image, and if the price of the carcass did not increase sharply as a result, then everyone would only be walking around with full-frame cameras and there would be no need to write about the crop factor.

Okay, screw it with the diagonal, what is more important is that the crop factor conditionally increases the focal length, that is, the larger the crop factor, the closer the object will be. For example, for a Canon 5d mark (crop factor 1) the standard lens will be 24-70 mm, and for a Canon 60d (crop factor 1.6) it will be 17-55 mm. That is, looking through the viewfinder of both cameras with the above-mentioned lenses, the objects will be visually at the same distances, although the millimeters are different. The crop factor is also sometimes called the focal length multiplier. For cropped bodies, you need to recalculate the focal length to get real numbers. That is, we take a 17-55 lens mounted on a cropped camera and multiply it by a crop factor of 1.6 (for all amateur DSLRs) and get 27-88 mm (17*1.6=27 and 55*1.6=88), that is, almost the same the same as a 24-70 lens for full frame. This is why we see equally close objects on these two cameras with these lenses. Remember that millimeters on all lenses are always indicated for the full frame, regardless of what camera the lens is intended for.

If the above seemed complicated to you, then don’t worry, by and large it’s not that important. You will put this or that lens on your cropped camera and get used to the millimeters that will be indicated on the lens body and you will operate with these numbers without any recalculation. And only if you suddenly switch to full frame, only then will you have to get used to the “new” millimeters again.

Aperture

It is designated as 1:4 or 1:1.2 and is indicated on the edges around the front lens. In fact, aperture is how much light is attenuated when passing through the lens; the aperture value depends only on the lens itself and nothing else. But in common parlance, aperture refers to the maximum open aperture that we can set on a camera with this lens. That is, if we don’t go into theory and talk about practical application, then the number after one is simply important for us (in this example, f4 and f1.2). The lower the number, the faster the lens. Typically, lenses with a value of somewhere around 1.2-2.8 are considered such, and they are very convenient for shooting in the dark or. But not only this is their advantage, but also their shallow depth of field (depth of field). Surely you have seen photographs where foreground a clear person, and the background is beautifully blurred, and so such things are done due to open apertures and, accordingly, fast lenses. Of course, you can do this with a regular aperture (for example, f5.6), but I will write about this in the next article.

Some nuances

• If you buy a lens for Canon, then it will not fit the mount (connector) for Nikon, and vice versa. There are also other companies that make lenses (as a rule, they are cheaper) for all cameras and mounts - Tokina, Sigma, Tamron. I would also like to mention the inexpensive high-aperture Samyang primes; they are highly praised, but they do not have autofocus, which is not suitable for everyone.
• There are adapter rings for attaching lenses that are not your own mount, but I have never used them.
• Each lens has a glass diameter (also measured in millimeters), which you will need to know if you buy a filter. The really necessary one is the CIR-PL polarizing filter. You can also purchase ultraviolet UV, which is essentially ordinary transparent glass and is needed only to protect expensive optics from scratches and shocks. But there are different opinions on this matter, and some say that it is of no use.
• The larger the zoom (focal length range), the worse the image quality. Usually this is really noticeable at large zooms, such as 18-135 mm or 18-200 mm, and manifests itself in the form of distortion, poor sharpness, aberration, etc. You need to look at pictures of a particular lens for these distortions and decide whether they suit you or not.
• A wide-angle lens (shirik) is somewhere around 10-15 mm for crop, and 15-20 for full frame. There is also a lens called a fish eye. Despite the ultra-wide angle, it is not an analogue of the wide angle, because they break out the picture in a peculiar way, sticking it out.
• A portrait lens is usually called 85 mm for full frame and 50 mm for crop.
• Before buying a lens, always read reviews about it and look at pictures already taken by other people, all of this is available on the Internet.
• Once again, the Canon EF-S 18-55 kit lens is a good thing and will definitely be enough for you for the first time, if you don’t know anything yet. When you buy a camera with this lens right away, you overpay literally 1-2 thousand rubles, that is, you get it almost for nothing (if you buy it separately, it is more expensive). True, there are other sets that will have a different lens.

• To shoot landscapes and architecture, you will need a zoom whose focal lengths start from 17-18 mm (for crop) and from 24-25 mm (for full frame).
• For shooting in a narrow space or a starry sky, a wide-angle lens, 10-15 mm (crop) and 15-20 (full frame), is useful.
• For reportage shooting, it is convenient to be able to bring a person closer, which means you need a zoom with a far end of about 100-150 mm. There are more (70-200 or 70-300), but then the near end will be too narrow and not suitable for anything other than reporting from afar.
• Lenses like 70-200 and 70-300 are usually used in landscape photography to zoom in on some piece of nature or to photograph animals and birds. It can also be used for macro.
• There are special macro lenses for shooting flowers and flies. But, if you don’t really need a strong approximation, then zooms are quite suitable, as I wrote above.
• To shoot portraits, it is best to buy a 50mm (crop) or 85 (full frame) prime lens, then you will have beautiful bokeh, a perfectly blurred background, and good aperture. But this is all in the case if you just want to shoot portraits, often and with a pretense of professionalism. Otherwise, a regular zoom will do. By the way, prime lenses come in different aperture ratios, so don’t go for the most expensive ones at first. For example, Canon 50 f1.8 will be enough for you, instead of Canon 50 f1.4 (twice as expensive). And I’m generally silent about the Canon 50 f1.2; it’s clearly not for beginners.
• If you are not picky about image quality, then for travel photography it will be best for you to take a large zoom (18-135 or 18-200), then you will cover all focal lengths and will not have to constantly change lenses. A sort of universal lens. In addition, the photo bag you take with you will be quite small from such a set, which is important for those trips where weight is important.

If we somehow summarize the choice of a lens for travel, then in most cases you will need a line of lenses, or one universal one with focal lengths somewhere from 17 to 100 mm, they are most often used, we are talking about crop. Naturally, this is in my opinion. When traveling (and at home too), a line of two lenses with a total focal length of 11-105 (Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 wide + standard Canon EF 24-105 f/4 zoom) is more than enough for me. Moreover, if I didn’t like photographs taken wide, then I could have done without the wide; after all, 11 mm is rarely needed in ordinary life. True, then 24 mm would be too narrow in tight spaces. That is why I wrote that it is best to have a ruler starting from ~17-18 mm (for crop).

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Now it’s time to decide on a specific model. Choosing a Canon portrait lens is quite easy if you clearly understand the differences between many lenses. This article discusses Canon lenses that are suitable specifically for use in portrait photography. The list is sorted in ascending order of cost.

Canon 50mm f/1.8

This is an ideal choice for those new to the genre. portrait photography. Great for crop sensor cameras and becomes a true portrait lens (80mm equivalent focal length). At the same time, this lens is fast (f/1.8 - 8 times more light capture than the Canon EF 18-55), which provides good background blur in portrait shots. The lens is classified as a low-budget solution and is usually purchased to replace or in addition to a “kit” lens (18-55).

The average price of a lens is 6,500 rubles.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

Another ideal portrait lens for crop sensor cameras. It is more expensive and this is explained by the fact that there is a larger aperture (1.4 versus 1.8), and it consists of more blades (8 versus 5) - this provides softer and more pleasant blur in the defocus zone. The lens is sharper open aperture, as well as those who like manual focusing will find it more convenient to focus on the subject here. Also here you get an ultrasonic focusing system (faster and quieter than in the Canon EF 50 1.8) and higher quality body materials.

This Canon portrait lens is classified as inexpensive and high-quality. If your budget allows, then it’s definitely worth overpaying for it.

The average price of a lens is 20,000 rubles.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

This is a classic portrait lens for cameras with a crop sensor, as well as with a 35 mm format sensor. (full frame). A longer focal length allows you to be a little further from your subject (than with a 50mm lens) and also blurs the background. The aperture of 1.8 is sufficient for strong and effective background blur, and the USM ultrasonic focusing system is very fast and quiet. This is Canon's most affordable portrait lens with a large aperture and stunning image quality.

The average price of a lens is 23,000 rubles.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM

Great for portrait and sports photography, both outdoors and in large rooms. The lens is very similar to the Canon 85 f/1.8, the difference between them is a slightly longer focal length and a slightly smaller aperture. Fast, accurate and quiet focusing is ensured by the USM ultrasonic motor. The lens, like the 85 1.8, has 8 aperture blades for more pleasant bokeh. For full frame, choosing it or 85 mm is a matter of personal preference, because... the lenses are direct brothers with only a small difference. When used on a crop camera, it would be preferable to choose 85 mm due to its shorter and more convenient focal length.

The average price of a lens is 29,000 rubles.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

This lens is only suitable for APS-C format cameras (as the name contains the EF-S marking). On such cameras, its equivalent focal length is 27-88 mm. - ideal for photographing groups and individual portraits. The f/2.8 aperture is not as fast as on lenses with a fixed focal length, but it is still enough to obtain good background blur. There is an optical image stabilizer here, which helps avoid loss of sharpness and blurring when shooting at 55 millimeters. A great lens for wedding photographers with crop-top cameras. The lens is quite expensive, but its price is absolutely justified.

The average price of a lens is 55,000 rubles.

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

A very sharp and very fast lens that allows you to take portraits with heavily blurred backgrounds. Requires appropriate training for work, because is quite long (135 mm) and not everyone will like it. But once you adjust to this focal length, you'll start to get some amazing portraits. A large aperture ratio for such a focal length will allow you to obtain excellent sharp images in low light conditions. It is one of the cheapest lenses in the L series, but at the same time it is one of the best, if not the best, Canon portrait lens.

The average price of a lens is 58,000 rubles.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

50mm is a very popular focal length among photographers of all stripes and levels of shooting. Beginners go for the 50 f/1.8, amateurs go for the 50 f/1.4, and professionals go for the 50 f/1.2. This is a truly legendary lens found only in the Canon system. The precision manufacturing of optics made it possible to create a lens with a uniquely large aperture ratio of 1.2. This allows you to take photos with a highly blurred background in any situation. Every photo from this lens will look interesting. This focal length is interesting from the point of view of the perspective of the frame and it corresponds to how the human eye sees (it’s not for nothing that you can find an overwhelming number of prize-winning photographs at various exhibitions taken with a 50 mm lens). This lens is used as a standard lens on full frame, i.e. it is almost never removed from the camera unless there is a specific setting for the focal length. Like all L series lenses, it is weather sealed, greatly enhancing its usability.

The average price of a lens is 95,000 rubles.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

A living legend in the world of portrait photography, the Canon 85 f/1.2 portrait lens, which received an update in March 2006 (index II), has become even more interesting for all connoisseurs of creative portrait photography. The unique aperture ratio for this focal length guarantees unrivaled bokeh quality and minimal depth of field. The lens delivers stunning portrait quality in all shooting conditions. It has the only significant disadvantage besides the price - slow focusing on the object, which does not allow it to be used with full efficiency for shooting dynamic scenes. Otherwise, it’s just a fairy tale, not a lens!

The average price of a lens is 110,000 rubles.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

The best professional full-frame reportage lens from Canon. Thanks to its large constant aperture of f/2.8, it is very often used for portrait photography. The presence of a stabilizer allows you to forget about blurring of frames due to “movement” (shaking of the photographer’s hands). It has very soft and pleasant bokeh at an open aperture. Autofocus is very fast (about 1.5-2 times faster than 85 f/1.2). Completely protected from moisture and dust. There is support for extenders 1.4 and 2.0, allowing you to increase the focal length to 100-280 mm and 140-400 mm, respectively. The downside of this lens is its heavy weight (1.5 kg) and price, although it is fully justified.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

This lens can almost always be found in the equipment of professional portrait and wedding photographers. At the moment it is more popular than ever, due to the release of an updated model with the II index in the name. This is what we will talk about now. The focal length of the lens is very convenient for full-frame cameras and allows you to cover a wide angle for taking group photos, but also a narrow angle for personal portraits. The lens also works great on cameras with a crop sensor if a wide angle is not so important. The aperture of 2.8 is not as high as on inexpensive portrait primes, but still, at 70 mm there should be no problems with background blur. The lens is very sharp, which is achieved using extremely high-quality coated optics. Fully protected from moisture and dust getting inside the case. The disadvantages include the large diameter for installing filters (82 mm), as well as the lack of a built-in optical stabilizer for such a price (although Canon offers a 24-70 option with a stabilizer, but it is slower with f/4.0, which is less suitable for portrait photography and shooting in low light). The lens is classified as professional and expensive.

The average price of a lens is 130,000 rubles.

When sold, all modern cameras are equipped with simple kit lenses. But, unfortunately, they do not have sufficient aperture and high-quality optics, but they allow amateurs to experiment with the most different genres. As they master this art, novice photographers develop a taste for it, and they have a desire to get richer and sharper photographs. A completely logical question naturally arises: how to choose the best universal lens for Canon? Today we will try to answer it.

Where to begin?

Important! Before you start comparing models, decide on the range of tasks that you would like to see in the camera. And then we present to your attention.

The first step is to decide on your genre preferences:

• To create portraits, it is better to use optics with a fixed focal length.
• Macro lenses are used for photographing insects.
• For sporting events or wildlife - long-focus devices.

Important! Canon produces dozens of models for each type of shooting, ranging from budget ones to expensive professional optics, which are quite expensive.

But, regardless of the price, there are more and less suitable models, their range of lenses is updated regularly. A little later we will present a rating of Canon lenses that were able to gain recognition among photographers.

Which companies make lenses for Canon?

Today, many companies produce photographic lenses suitable for the Canon line. But we tried to highlight best companies, based on user reviews and quality characteristics of the equipment:

• Canon. This company employs several thousand people, thanks to whose efforts and work it was able to be one of the first to enter the world market and offer fans of SLR digital technology relatively inexpensive models.

Important! The flagship representatives of this manufacturer are considered a model scientific achievements, because they allow you to create simply gorgeous, amazing photographs.

• Sigma. This is relative small company, which produces equipment for a wide variety of purposes. Tripods, flashes, protective filters and much more. But special attention is paid to the lenses. Thanks to this, the products of this company were able to enter the ranking of the best.
• Samyang. This is the youngest Korean company engaged in the production of photographic accessories. Specializing exclusively in photographic equipment, she managed to move even the world's giants and occupy her own cell. And all this thanks to our own unique developments.

Important! The company designs lenses for mounts from the most popular manufacturers, offering customers high-quality equipment. Undoubtedly, having a camera, you need to take care of additional components. For example, we recommend studying.

Standard prime lenses

Any professional photographer has a technique with a fixed focal length. High-aperture optics allow you to take pictures without a flash, even in poorly lit rooms, and create a pleasant background blur effect. Standard devices convey an image that is more familiar to the human eye and do not distort the geometry.

Important! Their only drawback is the lack of zoom, so in order to remove or zoom in on an object, you need to come closer to it or move further away.

Now we will look at the most popular models in this category.

Canon EF 40MM F/2.8 STM

This is the best semi-professional model, leading the rating of lenses for Canon, which is affordable. The undeniable advantage of this lens is its versatility. Professionals may not agree with this opinion, but it is true.

Yes, this is not a device for creating portraits, but it is quite a decent wide-angle. With such characteristics, a slight distortion of space is inevitable, but in practice it is not noticeable. A sufficient focal length allows you to turn around in small rooms, shoot portraits and landscapes on the street.

Important! Consumers and experts, in turn, note good build quality, which cannot be called typical for budget models of this kind. Also, do not forget that a high-quality photo can only be obtained if you have a decent level of optics and.

Main advantages of the model:

• Framing the mount in a metal ring.
• High quality plastic with rubber inserts.
• Compact and lightweight lens.
• Pleasant impression from the pictures.
• Smooth color transitions, close to pastel shades.
• Tenacious autofocus.

Of course, achieving a perfect result without a flash is difficult, because you only have to use daylight. Loud engine noise spoils the sound. The device is adapted for video shooting, and the manufacturer promises smooth focusing.

Important! For plots, this is not the best optics.

Canon EF 50MM F/1.4 USM

This is the most popular standard lens. Offers the perfect combination of quality and price. He doesn't stay on display for long.

Important! Despite the low cost, the quality of the optics is still sufficient for shooting portraits.

Advantages of the model:

• Externally, the device looks quite solid.
• The design itself is heavy, but at the same time creates a good impression.
• This classic lens delivers dramatic background blur and sharp images.
• It is one of the brightest models, and it is a pleasure to work with it even without a flash in dark rooms.

But, according to users, opening aperture 1.4 is not enough for work, since the picture quality drops and chromatic aberrations appear. Autofocus has an ultrasonic motor that works silently and quickly, but, unfortunately, the automation often misses.

Important! The disadvantages of this model include the unreliability of the design, because the manual focus ring is made of plastic, which requires delicate handling.

Standard varifocal models

Any novice amateur photographer will find a zoom lens quite comfortable. Scrolling the zoom ring lets you zoom in and out without moving. Digital soap dishes have the same function, so there should be no problems with it. But, unfortunately, such versatility affects the quality of the images. Genre optics with the same settings give a higher quality picture.

It is important to understand that moving objects farther and closer allows you to simultaneously change the viewing angle and the filling of the frame. Whale models with a focal length of 18-55 turn into portraits at maximum focusing values, and into wide-angles at minimum ones.

Important! The capabilities of such kits are limited, so fans of reportage photography and travel should better pay attention to models with coated optics and a wider range of photons.

Canon EF-S 17-55MM F/2.8 IS USM

This is an ideal replacement for a kit lens for cameras with incomplete frames. It is considered the most expensive in its line. But such a high price dictates the highest demands on the quality of optics. Users respond the best way about it, confirm that their expectations are met by glass.

Advantages of the model:

• The narrow range allows you to achieve decent optical efficiency; sharp shots are obtained at any focal length.
• Unlike budget options, this device is equipped with a working three-stage stabilizer, which allows you to shoot comfortably without a tripod at short shutter speeds.
• The bright lens is suitable for shooting indoors near a window without flash.
• Amateur photographers note distortion and vignetting, but pillows and barrels remain weakly expressed.

Important! One big minus is the unreliable case. The weighty proboscis becomes loose during prolonged use and begins to fall out due to its own gravity.

Canon EF-S 18-135 MM F/3.5-5.6 IS STM

Despite the low cost, according to many consumers, this is the best universal lens for Canon.

Pros of the model:

• Outwardly, it looks solid and has impressive weight.
• According to its main characteristics, it is similar to the whale one, which is sold complete with cameras. But it benefits greatly due to the increased range of focal lengths.
• Photographers call tenacious automatic focusing one of its advantages. The stabilizer is not particularly surprising, but, nevertheless, it works. Its motor is quite quiet and fully adapted to video shooting.

We presented to you best lenses for “Canon” in the most popular categories, now the choice is yours. The main thing is to remember that you cannot be guided solely by the cost of the devices, because more important factors when choosing are the main purpose of the lens, quality characteristics, focal length and expected conditions for future shooting.

The best inexpensive lens is not a myth. And you don’t have to break the bank to buy a quality lens. In this article, we've selected some of the best budget lenses and found out what makes them worth your consideration.

Best Budget Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 remains one of the best deals for all camera owners Canon EOS.

This is an inexpensive full-frame lens that provides an angle of view comparable to classic lenses on full-frame cameras, and on crop cameras Canon APS-C format – equivalent to an 80mm lens.

Of course, this makes it not very convenient for everyday use on crop cameras due to the small viewing angle. But this lens is great for portrait photography! 80 mm is generally recognized as one of the optimal “portrait” focal lengths, minimally distorting the perspective - for the best results, and f/1.8 will allow you to get it at an open aperture.

For fans of the portrait genre who have Canon crop cameras, purchasing this lens will probably be one of the most profitable purchases.

Best Budget Lens: Lensbaby Spark

Lensbaby Spark as far from modern digital lenses as you can imagine! It consists of a regular glass lens mounted on a flexible tube so that you can physically move the lens to change the focal length. Additionally, you can tilt the lens relative to the camera to achieve tilt-shift and selective defocus effects.

The whole design is so primitive that there is nowhere else to go. The lens aperture is also fixed, so you'll have to master the skill of shooting with manual shutter speed. Essentially, Lensbaby Spark gives you the opportunity to experience the art of photography in its purest form.

Lensbaby Spark's optical effects won't be to everyone's taste, but if you crave the effect of classic, low-tech lenses and don't mind experimenting, then Lensbaby Spark will give your photos special style, inaccessible to modern lenses.

Best Budget Lens: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 II

Modern digital cameras are notable for their size - take, for example, even a tinyCanon EOS 100D or slightly larger. However, the problem is that the lenses are stillremain quite large.

In this regard, the Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM stands out from other lenses. It's only 22.8mm long, so it's unlikely to protrude further than the handgrip on the side of the camera.

The Canon 40mm f/2.8 is equipped with a new silent STM autofocus drive. This means that on top of that, you'll get smooth and quiet video shooting.

Thus, if you are looking for a middle ground between photographic quality and small dimensions of the Canon 40mm f/2.8 lens, this is your choice.

Best Budget Lens: Samyang 8mm f/3.5 fisheye

Have you been tempted by the idea of ​​purchasing a lens with a fisheye effect, but was the cost stopping you? Then the acquisition of Samyang 8 mm f/3.5 fisheye will be a great purchase for you!

At half the cost of other major manufacturers, you get a full-fledged fisheye lens, with full frame coverage on crop cameras (this lens is not designed for full-frame DSLRs) and an amazing 180-degree diagonal viewing angle.

This lens gives you the ability to achieve breathtaking perspective effects, especially when your subject is in the foreground and very close to the camera. Its ultra-short focal length allows you to achieve maximum depth of field even at wide open apertures. The only possible negative is the lack of autofocus, so you will need to get used to manually controlling the lens.

Samyang 8 mm f/3.5 fisheye is available with various types bayonet mount for compatibility with cameras from major photographic equipment manufacturers, including: Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, etc.

Best Budget Lens: Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G

Once upon a time, cameras were sold with standard 50mm f/1.8 lenses, and many modern photographers would like to return to those wonderful times.

Nowadays, in most SLR cameras a crop sensor is used, so in modern realities these old 50 mm lenses actually become equivalent to a 75 mm lens, which, you see, is quite a lot for a “standard” lens.

In light of this problem, the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 seems to be the ideal solution for owners of crop Nikon cameras. When paired with crop cameras, the Nikkor becomes the equivalent of a 52.5mm f/1.8 lens, giving it every right be called a "classic standard" lens. In addition, it is 2 stops faster than a whale zoom, and most importantly, it is significantly cheaper.

Since the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G is a G-type lens, it is compatible with all Nikon cameras, including those without an autofocus drive.

Best Budget Lens: Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G

– a rather complex and technically demanding area of ​​photography. Macro lenses are designed with much to a greater extent shifting the focus to ensure the closest possible proximity to the subject. And their optical design is designed to produce the best results when photographing at ultra-close distances.

Macro lenses are very specialized and not intended for daily use, in addition, they are all very expensive.

The Nikon 40mm f/2.8 is designed specifically for crop Nikon DX format cameras (it is not intended for full-frame cameras) and is offered to customers at a surprisingly low price for a specialized lens from a leading manufacturer.

Nikon 40mm f/2.8 is equipped with a Nikon AF-S autofocus drive, which makes focusing fast and silent, and also ensures its operation on cameras without a built-in autofocus drive.

It's also very compact, so you can easily use it as an everyday lens, as it would be equivalent to a 60mm f/2.8 lens on a crop camera.

Best Budget Lens: DIANA Buildable Lens

IN modern world photography has become an overly technological hobby; it seems to have lost part of its soul.

This state of affairs has given rise to a whole retro movement, the goal of which is to return the imperfections of old, inexpensive cameras and non-digital quality to photography.

If you are interested in this direction, then you are unlikely to be able to find anything cheaper than the kit for self-assembly of the DIANA lens offered by the website www.lomography.com. To build your own DIANA lens, you start by choosing a mount (you can choose from Canon or Nikon) and then add the lens you would like to use, such as a 20mm fisheye, 38mm, 55mm wide/macro, 75mm or 110mm telephoto lens.

The soft, dreamy images this lens produces are a far cry from the high-precision, high-contrast images of today's digital lenses. Sure, you'll have to roll up your sleeves and wrestle with the manual controls of your camera, but you'll be rewarded with an invaluable back-to-the-roots experience of photography.

The bayonet mount will cost you $12, and the most expensive lens is only $49.

Best Budget Lens: Tamron SP AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

Most DSLR camera owners choose a telephoto zoom as their first secondary lens. This type of lens is good for sports photography or wildlife photography, but for other types of shooting, you’ll be better off with a completely different lens – an ultra-wide-angle zoom.

Ultra-wide-angle zooms have both practical and creative value. They are ideal for photography in tight spaces as they provide a wide angle of view in cramped interiors or city streets.

These properties make them ideal for travel and architectural photography. In addition, ultra-wide-angle zooms have a large creative potential. They allow you to achieve interesting effects, for example, perspective distortion between foreground and background objects, or the closure of vertical and horizontal lines (for example, high-rise buildings or road surfaces).

Ultra-wide-angle zooms produced by camera manufacturers are quite expensive, so the Tamron 10-24mm lens is a great buy.

When using a pinhole, the exposure time will be quite long because the "aperture" of your "lens" is simply tiny. And the image quality will not be the same as what you are used to using digital SLR cameras.

But the specific design of pinhole photographs, as well as the fact that they were taken without any lens, gives them an additional special charm.

Shooting with a pinhole eliminates the need for focusing since the depth of field is practically infinity. The “focal length” of your pinhole is determined by the distance from the pinhole opening to the camera sensor. .

Lenses, unlike cameras, do not become obsolete over the years or even decades. Unfortunately, the best of them are inaccessible to ordinary amateur photographers. But there is always a compromise between cost and quality level. Moreover, it can be very successful, like, for example, the best Canon EF lenses for the Canon EOS family of digital cameras.

We say: “Camera”, we mean Canon

If, when pronouncing the word “car”, the Mercedes brand immediately comes to mind for many, then the word “camera” is just as easily associated with the Canon brand.

In October 2011, this world-famous Japanese manufacturer of office and photographic equipment announced that it had produced its 70 millionth Canon EF lens, and a little earlier it announced the production of its 50 millionth EOS series SLR camera.

What is Canon EOS?

This abbreviation means “electro-optical system”, in which the control of the position of the optical elements of the lens for autofocusing (in lenses with a fixed focal length, the so-called primes) or changing the focal length (in the so-called zooms), as well as for controlling the aperture, is performed by mini-electric drives , built into the lens itself. Previously, such drives were placed inside the camera itself, and between it and the lens elements there were movable mechanical connections. Canon abandoned this principle and replaced it with the EOS system, which turned out to be absolutely correct, judging by the sales volumes of its products.

Canon EF lenses

To set the mini-electric drives of such a lens in motion, they must be powered by the camera itself, which has a built-in battery. Canon solved the problem of electrical communication between the camera and the lens by developing a special bayonet mount (or simply bayonet mount) for the lens, which is designated by the abbreviation EF and stands for “electric focus”.

As you know, a bayonet is a special unit for mechanically fastening two detachable parts. Canon has also added detachable electrical connections to it.

On the camera side, the EF mount has a number of electrical contacts located along the arc of the hole in the camera, to which the power supply circuits for the lens drives are connected. The lens for Canon has the same number of electrical contacts, which, when connected to the camera, fit tightly to its contacts, providing continuous electrical power circuits for the lens drives.

EF lenses for full frames and crops

As you know, SLR digital cameras differ in the size of their light-sensitive matrices. So, largest size have matrices of so-called full-format cameras (or full frames). Matrices corresponding to the APS-C or APS-H format are somewhat smaller in size.

Canon EF-S lenses, released in 2003, such as the popular Canon 18-55 mm zoom lens, are specifically designed for cameras with APS-C format sensors. EF lenses are also suitable for such small-format (in terms of matrix size) cameras (crop cameras in photographers' slang). But the EF-S lens will not work with full frames. The fact is that, with the same outer diameter, it is slightly longer than EF. If you try to install it in a full frame camera, its mirror, rising during shooting, will hit the back of the lens. Therefore, it is better not to do this.

In fact, the EF-S type lens for Canon is a budget option for beginners. Those who are planning to purchase a full-format camera in the future should initially focus on EF.

Both types of lenses are distinguished by a special marking symbol: EF is marked with a red circle, and EF-S is marked with a white square.

"Fifty dollars" from Canon

This is what photographers call the Canon 50mm lens, i.e., it has a fixed focal length of 50 mm. They usually have fairly large aperture openings. Thus, a number of “fifty kopecks” from Canon include lenses with aperture numbers (or f-numbers): f/1.8, f/1.4 and f/1.2. As you know, the smaller the number in the denominator of such a fraction, the larger the minimum aperture opening and the greater the light flux incident on the camera matrix during the exposure time of the image, i.e. the lens aperture increases. Its price increases significantly as the denominator of the fraction decreases. The fact is that the high aperture of the lens allows you to take photographs in poor lighting.

“Fifty kopecks” were popular in the era of film cameras, but did not lose their position in the era of digital cameras.

Canon USM lenses

EF lenses that use piezoelectric (aka ultrasonic) electric motors (US-Motor) are used as an autofocus drive are additionally marked USM. No autofocus system works without a motor that moves the lenses. Not only the quality of focusing, but also the durability of the camera’s batteries depends on its speed and accuracy.

In the first models of USM lenses (for example, the Canon EF 50 f/1.4), the force from the US-Motor shaft was transmitted through a gearbox, which reduced the efficiency of the drive and increased its noise. Subsequently, the company developed the US-Motor, in which lenses moved during autofocus were inserted into a rotor ring. Such a motor provides direct (gearless) drive with an arbitrarily low rotation speed, and it is almost silent.

How the autofocus drive works in Canon EF lenses

The motor stator is a thin ring of piezoelectric material, on the flat end surface of which a thicker ring of elastic material with teeth is applied. At a short distance from the tops of these teeth, a disk (ring) rotor is fixed to the axis.

When an ultrasonic frequency voltage is applied to the piezoelectric stator ring, mechanical vibrations arise in it, having the nature of deformation waves moving along the ring in a certain direction. Under the influence of these waves, the rotor teeth perform periodic oscillations, extending in the direction of the rotor. At the same time, they rub against it and, as it were, push it in the direction of movement of the deformation wave, as a result of which it begins to rotate.

Luxury EF lenses

Canon L-lenses (from the English luxury - “luxury”), according to their labeling, belong to elite and, accordingly, expensive models. With excellent optics and a rugged body, they can withstand harsh conditions external factors, being in constant use. Their latest models are dust and splash proof, which makes them even more popular in a professional environment.

It should be noted that Canon is the only one among the world’s photo brands that mass-produces an autofocus high-aperture “fix-fifty” lens with an aperture number of f/1.2 in the L-class. True, today it costs about 100 thousand rubles, although a couple of years ago it could be purchased for half that price.

How are Canon L lenses different from regular EF lenses?

In addition to the reinforced housing design, they are distinguished by a significantly more advanced optical design. Typically, a lens for Canon in the L-series contains fluorite lenses combined with ground glass aspherical elements. It is known that fluorite (otherwise known as fluorspar) has a much better ability than optical glass to transmit light without an iris along the edges of objects, and aspherical lenses provide a clear image over the entire area of ​​the frame. But their presence in the lens is not a sufficient condition for classifying it as L-class, since such optical elements are also found in conventional EF lenses. L lenses are most often equipped with US motors and an optical stabilization system to compensate for the harmful effect of “shake” at long shutter speeds. At focal lengths of 200 mm and above they usually have White color instead of the usual black.

L lenses have a red ring on the body and the letter L after the aperture number in the designation.

The main criterion for choosing a lens for portrait photography

In the classical sense, a photographic portrait is a photograph of an object against a blurry (unsharp) background. This effect can be easily achieved if you choose the right lens for photography. The secret to getting background blur is to use a fast lens with a large aperture and, accordingly, a small f-number.

The diaphragm is a powerful control tool artistic expression in photography. By choosing a lens with the required aperture opening range, the photographer gets a means of highlighting the desired object in the picture on which he would like to focus the attention of the viewer, whose gaze is involuntarily drawn to what the photographer wanted to emphasize.

With large openings the apertures work very well close-ups flowers, insects, human portraits against a blurred background or standing out against the background of surrounding people. On the contrary, with minimal aperture openings, group shots, city streets or landscape shots are obtained well, where blur is unacceptable and all the details need to be displayed.

Fast lenses have a low minimum f-number. Of the number of lenses suitable for portrait photography, the Canon 2.8 lens has the maximum allowable number. All other models with lower f-numbers from 2.0 to 1.2 will also be suitable for this purpose. By decreasing the f-number of the lens, you can achieve increasingly blurred background in a portrait photo.

Fast lenses capture a greater luminous flux during the exposure time, which allows them to shoot in concerts and theater halls, clubs, churches, etc.

It just so happens that fifty-kopeck primes are often used as portrait lenses. And the modern lineup from Canon quite deservedly justifies this choice of the photo community.

Now Canon offers users four “fifty dollars”: a lens with an f/1.8 aperture starts the line, models with f/1.4 and f/1.2 continue, and a special macro lens with an f/2.5 aperture stands out.

On crop cameras with APS-C format, the image from “fifty kopecks” is practically indistinguishable from those obtained on full frames. Close-up photographs are obtained without distortion of perspective, and the background comes out quite beautifully. On mirrored full frames from “fifty dollars” both subject photos and half-length portraits are obtained well. Their high aperture turns them into a universal photographic tool that allows shooting both indoors and outdoors.

Canon 1.8 lenses, represented by the famous fast prime Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, opened the door to the world of fast optics in general for millions of photographers. Even if there are any complaints about the quality of the image from this lens, its current price in the range from 2000 to 2500 rubles makes it the best in terms of price/quality ratio.