Lenses

This Learning Guide focuses (pun definitely intended!) on everything you need to know about the light gathering part of your camera. We’re bringing together a series of tutorials that feature both quick tips and in-depth guides that will allow you to truly understand lenses.

Posts in this series

How To Choose the Perfect Lens and Consider "Angle of View"
Many photographers, even some fairly advanced amateurs, misunderstand how to properly employ lenses of different focal lengths. Although selecting a lens...
Jeffrey Kontur
1 Oct 2009
Shooting
A Simple Guide to Choosing Your First Lens
This article is about the single most important piece of equipment you're going to buy: the lens. There are myriads of different lenses out there, and it's...
Rainer Hietsch
24 Jul 2010
Lenses
Introducing the Wonderful World of 50mm Prime Lenses
What do Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ralph Gibson have in common? They're both famous photographers - yes. But something else - they both used a 50mm prime lens...
Andrew Gibson
9 Sep 2010
Lenses
The Benefits of Wide Aperture (And Choosing a Lens for Under $500)
Today we'll look at a few of the benefits of shooting with a wide aperture. If you're new to photography there will be some key insight here into one of the...
Josh Johnson
21 Jul 2010
Lenses
A Beginner's Introduction to Wide Angle Photography
Today we're going to take a step back and view the art of photography through a much wider perspective, which is a terribly pun-filled way to say that this...
Josh Johnson
22 Mar 2012
Wide Angle Lens
How to Shoot With an Extremely Shallow Depth-of-Field
So you've saved every penny, and your piggy bank is full to bursting. It's time to cash that in money and buy a new lens. And what better choice than a fast...
Cameron Knight
23 May 2012
Fast Lenses
The Complete Guide to Renting a Lens Online
There's no doubt that photography can become an expensive hobby or career. The market keeps producing faster, better cameras and lenses. You love to use...
Peter West Carey
6 Dec 2010
Lens Selection
The Magic of Wide Apertures: Technique, Lenses & Settings
You've probably seen plenty photos taken with wide apertures (we've written about this technique before on Phototuts+). They are easy to recognise because of...
Andrew Gibson
12 Jan 2011
Shooting
Quick Tip: Buying a Pre-Owned Lens on eBay
Buying anything pre owned is often a lot cheaper than purchasing it brand new, and this rule can almost always be applied to camera lenses. This guide gives...
Peter Sawyer
12 Mar 2011
Equipment
Exploring How Focal Length Affects Images
Have you ever stopped to think about the way focal length affects the aesthetic of an image? Even if you're photographing the same scene, selecting different...
Andrew Childress
12 May 2011
Photography Fundamentals
Everything You Need to Know About Lenses: Part 1
So you've purchased your first SLR system, welcome to a new world of photography. You've opened Pandora's Box to a huge range of versatility. One of the...
Andrew Childress
4 Jul 2011
Lenses
Everything You Need to Know About Lenses: Part 2
So you’ve purchased your first SLR system, welcome to a new world of photography. You’ve opened Pandora’s Box to a huge range of versatility. One of the...
Andrew Childress
11 Jul 2011
Lenses
Mastering Two Alternate Focus Techniques
As my skill improved as a photographer, there was always one aspect that I struggled to bring up to speed. As my composition and posing improved, I gained...
Andrew Childress
17 Nov 2011
Theory
How to Calculate the Sharpest Aperture for Any Lens
Lenses aren't equally sharp at all apertures. Some are better than others. In this tutorial, I look at how to calculate the sharpest aperture for any scenario.
Harry Guinness
31 Oct 2015
Sharpening
Everything You Need to Know About Lens Quality
Understanding the physics of light puts you at a great advantage when trying to produce great photographs. Arguably, how light interacts with your lenses is...
Simon Bray
15 Jul 2013
Lenses
New Course: What Every Photographer Should Know About Lenses
If you've ever wondered how lenses work, what makes a good or bad lens, and how to pick the one that's right for the kinds of photos you want to take, this...
David Appleyard
18 Sep 2014
Lenses
Before You Buy a Better Camera, Buy Better Lenses
It can be hard to determine what piece of equipment will help you take your photos to the next level. With all the marketing around new cameras being...
Jeffrey Opp
24 Mar 2016
Lens Selection
Here Is What to Look For When You Buy Photography Lenses
Defining what makes a good lens isn't easy; there are always trade offs. In this tutorial, learn about the elements necessary to ensure edge to edge...
Harry Guinness
31 Aug 2016
Lens Selection