Choosing a lens to pair with your camera can be a difficult choice, especially if you’re new to the photography world. There’s a lot more information and features to digest than meets the eye, however once you have mastered how to use a certain lens, it will become your new favourite toy.

In this blog I will be explaining how certain lenses and focal lengths can impact your photography.

Any type of lens will have various degrees of focal length, and each lens will differ regarding how they can and will impact your photography. In order to improve and understand how photography truly works, it’s important to learn how a certain focal length will have an impact on your images.

Below are examples of various focal lengths, however there are also many more to choose from.

General Zoom

A general zoom lens, for example a 24-70mm, covers all major bases and other common focal lengths that can be used for various scenarios within the wide angle to short telephoto lens range. The range allows for a flexible approach to your photography, with the lens being extremely versatile to suit all needs, which therefore makes it perfect for those beginners starting out their photography journey and learning their trade.

In addition to this, it acts as the perfect travel lens, allowing you to control and adapt your composition and range in an instant. From landscapes, to city architecture, street photography and then furthermore portraiture, if you’re only going to get one lens, this is the one. Ultimately, it is the ideal one and done lens choice for general purpose photography.

For more information, I have previously written a review of the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8, which can be read here.

Telephoto

First off, let’s start with the range this type of lens brings to the table. For example, a 70-200mm lens allows for complete creative flexibility, and opens up many new corridors into the way you shoot. As a telephoto lens, it covers a wide range of focal lengths, therefore giving you the best possible adaptability across the board depending on the situation required. The zoom available allows you to focus and hone in on key subjects, getting you closer to the action without you needing to.

At the lower end of the focal range, this lens is perfect for street photography and the ideal length for travel shots, picking out the details in architecture and negative space in the crowd. Furthermore, landscape photography with this lens allows you to pick up greater details in the landscapes and the world beyond, while also giving a sense of compression within your photos. At 200mm, wildlife and sports photography can be shot with the magnifying options at hand, all while containing that incredible level of sharpness and detail.

For more information, I have previously written a review of the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM II, which can be read here.

35mm

First things first, this focal length won’t be for everyone, and it does take some getting used to, especially if it’s your first prime lens. I’ll admit, at first I was unsure, however after I pursued with it and kept practicing, I can honestly say I’ve fallen in love with this focal length of lens, and it’s now my favourite out of the four I own.

As mentioned, depending on your photography genre and style, it may or may not be for you. 35mm is the perfect focal length for street photography, it is wide enough to view the whole scene, being tight enough and not too close to one subject. Therefore as a result of this, the lens is great for storytelling and documentation, enabling you to tell a story through the photos you take. Furthermore, this also enables it to be a great choice for other genres such as portrait, wedding, and event photography too.

All in all, this focal range is extremely versatile, and a fantastic choice for a style of photojournalism within your photography. I personally feel it is also a great one and done prime lens while on the move if you want to travel light.

For more information, I have previously written a review of the Sigma 35mm f1.4, which can be read here.

85mm

Being a focal length of the longer variety within the prime lens range selection, a 85mm is a powerful tool for a numerous amount of reasons. When you combine a long range prime and a low aperture combination that they give (normally f1.4 or lower), the opportunities opened up to you are endless. This focal length gives you the added benefits of featuring compression within your photos, allowing you to pinpoint in on the subject whilst bringing the background closer to you, a distinct and unique technique used to create depth.

As a result of this, this lens is excellent for portrait photography, weddings, and any other type of event work. The duo of the range and low aperture creates beautiful results enabling you to make your subjects pop and stand out from the crowd, creating subject separation and a sense of feeling and focus on one particular area of the frame.

Furthermore, for example the Sigma 85mm f1.4 is a popular lens for night photography, and for good reason. The low aperture is the key here, however once again with the added benefit of a longer focal range, it allows you to single out and focus on specific features in the crowd. Whether it be used indoors or outside, the 85mm is a versatile lens and one which allows you to be extremely creative.

For more information, I have previously written a review of the Sigma 85mm f1.4, which can be read here.

Primes vs Zooms

I have previously written a blog dedicated to Prime vs Zoom lenses, which can be read here.

Brand vs Third Party Lenses

I have previously written a blog dedicated to Brand vs Third Party lenses, which can be read here.

Overall, what lens you plan on purchasing generally depends on what you plan to photograph, and how much you are willing to spend. There is no right or wrong, all that matters is you practice and persist with a certain lens until you feel like you’ve made it your own.

For more information, further blogs regarding camera gear can be found here.

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