What Camera Lens Should You Buy? Camera Lens Buying Guide

When purchasing new lenses, these tips are well worth knowing before you spend out on your camera optics.

Whether you’re shooting food photos, landscapes, street photography, product images wildlife images or fashion shots, using the right lens for the task in hand makes all the difference.

Understanding the pros and cons of fixed focal length prime lenses compared to zoom lenses and how their results vary depending on the camera you use. This will save you time and money in the long run.

With ‘easy to follow’ diagrams and photograph examples, this video will help you discover why varying lens types deliver dramatically different results.

Use this knowledge for creative advantage as your camera skills develop.

Comments

  1. Hi Karl,
    Hope you’re well.
    I’m now looking at investing in the Hasselblad X2D, but can only afford one lens at this stage. The usage is for product photography. Eventually, I hope to invest in both the 55 and 90 mm lenses. However, I’m thinking I should begin with the 90 mm first. I’m currently using a Sony A7, with two prime lenses (50 and 100 mm – the 100mm is used most often).
    Would you give me a quick thumbs up if I’m on the right track in terms of prioritising the 90mm lens?
    Many thanks,
    Mark

    1. Hi Mark, yes priortizing the 90mm would be my choice but if you are working on very small items then the 120mm macro would be a better choice because you can use it both close and far. The 55mm has limited use in product photography, although I did use it on the live chair shoot the other day.

  2. Hi,

    Thank you for this course, it has been very helpful (and letting me know I need to start saving :))

    Are there any recommendations on lenses for street photography? I assume they might fall into the same category as landscape / portrait, but I am wondering if a zoom lens would be easier to use than a prime?

    Thank you in advance,
    Tola

    1. Hi Tola, street photography can be very varied but if I was shooting with a full frame 35mm format then my prime lens choice would be a nice 50mm 1.4., for a zoom then I’d be thinking around 24-70mm.

  3. Hi karl would love a reply. thanks!

    Canon lens EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM MTF’s is better than
    Canon lens 85mm f/1.2 L II usm MTF.

    I don’t know if to decide which one to buy by that factor.

    Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM i wanted to buy this at first , but no way to decide.

    currently i have these -> Canon lens 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

    I shoot close jewellry (for white background photos)

    1. Hi I will do my best to answer your questions:

      Q1: ‘Canon lens EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM MTF’s is better than Canon lens 85mm f/1.2 L II usm MTF’
      A1: If you are concentrating on portraits then the design of the 1.2 lens and the ‘look’ of the images is better for portraits. The shallower depth of field isn’t much use as you won’t use f1.2 very often as it is too shallow however you need to compare the results of both lenses at say f2.8 and f2 to make a decision. If your objective is portraits then the L series 85mm 1.2 is the lens I would choose but there isn’t a huge amount in it

      Q2: “Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM i wanted to buy this at first , but no way to decide. currently i have these -> Canon lens 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, I shoot close jewellry (for white background photos)’
      A2: The 100mm f2.8L is the only choice for me here and it is also a good portrait lens, so if you are mostly shooting jewellery and jewellery on people then this the lens I would choose. It’s also good for food and other product photography.

  4. Hi Karl,

    I’m predominantly a headshot photographer and have been using my Canon 70-200 F2.8 III. I’m starting to get some corporate client work and having watched some of your videos & I’m considering a Sigma 85mm 1.4 I love your style of using occlusion and wanting to add this to my repertoire and I’m thinking a faster (lighter) prime might be a good choice or should I just stick with what I have and make it work?

    Cheers

    Mike

    1. Hi Mike, if you’re focusing on headshots then that’s a good choice of lens. The fixed 85mm always yields good results and it forces you to move around more rather than rely on a zoom. It’s also lighter and easier to handle.

  5. Hi Karl
    I have just bought a used hasselblad h6d 50c and I am wondering what lens to buy to start me off in the system. I’m looking to get into portraiture and some landscape moving to more studio still life later.
    I’m thinking the 35-90 may be a good choice because of its versatility. Do you rate it or should I be thinking more in terms of a Prime.
    Thanks,
    David

    1. Hi David, the 35-90 is a very good and versatile lens but if it was me I’d be looking at the 100mm prime and the 80mm prime along with a set of extension tubes, especially if your focus is portrait and product/still life work later. The 35-90 is better suited to fashion, some landscape and architectural work. It’s a little too heavy for general still life work.

  6. Dear Karl,

    I have a question regarding the two lenses bellow ; from the eyes of a Professional photographer, these lenses are the same in term of quality or the sigma will give better quality, any advices?

    – AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
    – Sigma 50mm 1.4

    Thank you very much
    Lili

    1. Hi Lili, of course they are the same focal length and the same maximum aperture but how each one performs is entirely down to the lens design and the quality of the glass, it’s shape and the manufacturing. The only way to know is to test both lenses or look at someone else’s scientific tests such as MTF charts.

  8. Dear Karl,

    Thank you for all the courses very professional …

    I have a question about the equivalent Canon lens 50mm f/1.2L for a Nikkon.

    I need a lens for flat food photography and as I understand the 50mm can work best…

    Thank you very much
    Lili

  9. Hey Karl,

    I’m starting my journey as a fashion and product photographer and intend on making a living of it.

    I’ve decided to go with the Canon 5D Mk III body and a couple strobe lights but I’m struggling with choosing a lens.

    I could only afford one of the recommended lenses or two cheaper model lenses….or maybe a 50mm and 100mm for range. I saw in a recent video that you and Daria Belikova tend to use 35mm for fashion.

    Basically Karl, I’ve fallen down the researching lens rabbit hole.

    Ideally I would like all the lenses but currently can only afford 1 or maybe 2 cheaper lenses along with strobe lights and a camera body.

    I want to take fashion shots like Daria Belikova and produce superb product/still life shots like yourself.

    Any recommendations?

    1. Hi Frankie, it really does depend on your budget. Daria and I both use a focal length of about 50mm (which is about 35mm in the Canon Full Frame format) but I also use longer than this is the studio, such as an 80mm (50mm FF35 format) or 100mm (75mm FF35 format). I have a very good zoom lens that covers from about 28-70 range in 35mm format. I’m pretty sure Canon do a high quality lens in that range and then maybe also use a good 50mm prime lens too.

  10. Dear Karl,

    I just want to say that I love your courses and enjoy them a lot… to me you sound like the inventor of photography… as you have a very deep knowledge of everything to photography.

    I was planning to get a camera but I recently found an old canon camera that I bought many years ago.. I think its 2009 450d model.. Its lens is EF-S 18-55mm.

    I don’t know if it is a good option to use or do I need to buy another one.

    Can you please advise me on this…

    1. Hi Ruwaida, thank you and it’s certainly good enough for now to get started and practising techniques.

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