Choosing the right lenses

A whole universe of camera lenses exists out there, but choosing which lens type to use for a shoot depends on factors such as the camera's distance from the subject and amount of the scene you want to capture. The 5 most common choices of lenses you can swap are the wide-angle lens, zoom lens, telephoto lens, macro lens, and fisheye lens. Each one offers its own unique visual perspective to a photograph.

Things You'll Need:
Camera that allows lens swapping
Wide-angle lens
Zoom lens
Telephoto lens
Macro lens
Fisheye lens

Step 1
Begin by assessing these factors: Is the subject very large (an expansive landscape), or is it very small almost microscopic? Is you subject far away from the camera? Or are you looking for a unique or different perspective in a normal photo?

Step 2
In the case of a very large expansive subject, such as a wide landscape or building, you will want to use a wide-angle lens. This lens has a wider field of vision than the human eye and can capture large, dynamic landscapes with the background and foreground of the photo in sharp clarity.

Step 3
If you are trying to capture upclose details or magnify a very small object you will need a macro lens. Its short focal length allows the photographer to take extreme close ups of objects without distortions.

Step 4
Is your subject far away from the camera? A zoom lens or telephoto lens should be able to help you shorten the distance between you and the subject. Use a zoom lens to actually zoom in and magnify like a telescope or use a telephoto lens to make distant objects appear closer to the camera and any objects in the near foreground.

Step 5
Looking for a creative perspective to experiment with? Try a fisheye lens. Fisheye camera lenses distort the subject image, producing photos with a distinctive and oddly curved appearance. Made famous by album covers and band pictures in the 1960s and 1970s for its surreal effect.


Tips & Warnings
Still looking for a creative perspective? Try using all of the lenses above on your subject, and experiment with the distortions each lens creates.