SLR Lenses
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- ASP/ED, AS, ED, and HRI Elements
- Nano Crystal & Super Integrated Coatings
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
- 28.8-56mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
- Five SLD Elements
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/5.6 to f/32
- Three Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
- Super Integrated Coating
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR Lens
- F-Mount Lens/DX Format
- 27-450mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/22
- Three Aspherical and Three ED Elements
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
- Super Spectra Coating
- STM Stepping AF Motor
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- One Super UD Element, Two UD Elements
- Three Aspherical Elements
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/22
- Two High Refractive Index Elements
- Super Spectra Coating
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Six Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
- Fluorite and HRI Elements
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens
- F-Mount Lens/DX Format
- 52.5mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
- One Aspherical Element
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
- One Aspherical Element
- Super Integrated Coating
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/45
- Super Spectra Coating
- DC Micro Motor AF System
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/5 to f/22
- One FLD Element, Three SLD Elements
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
- One Fluorite Element & Five UD Elements
- Air Sphere Coating
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Three SLD Elements
- Four Aspherical Elements
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR Lens
- F-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/4.5 to f/40
- One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
- Super Integrated Coating
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Nine FLD Elements, One SLD Element
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm f/4 ED SDM WR Lens
- K-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32
- Three Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
- Two Anomalous Dispersion Elements
Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens
- EF-S-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
- 38.4mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- One Aspherical Element
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.2 to f/16
- One Aspherical Element
- Super Spectra Coating
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
- Four Aspherical Elements
- Air Sphere and Fluorine Coatings
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
- Two Ultra-Low Dispersion Elements
- Three Aspherical Elements
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens
- EF-S Mount Lens/APS-C Format
- 88-400mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32
- One Ultra-Low Dispersion Element
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
- One Ultra-Low Dispersion Element
- Super Spectra Coating
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Super Integrated Lens Coating
- Silent Wave Motor AF System
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Nano Crystal & Super Integrated Coatings
- Silent Wave Motor AF System
Tokina atx-i 100mm f/2.8 FF Macro Lens for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
- Multilayered Coating
- 1:1 Magnification, 11.8" Min. Focus
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
- Super Integrated Lens Coating
- Silent Wave Motor AF System
Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Lens
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/22
- One Aspherical Element
- Air Sphere Coating
The Importance of a Good Camera Lens
A good camera lens has a major impact on the quality of your photos. It gives even the most basic cameras the ability of producing great images. There are several important components to consider when shopping for a lens, including zoom capability, aperture size, focal length, quality of the glass, and more. If you’re still exclusively using the lens that came with your camera and want to improve your photography, it may be time to find out what other lenses can do for you.
Which lens is right for me?
It depends on what you’re shooting. Some common types of photography include panoramas, skyscapes, interiors, landscapes, candid family shots, portraits, sports and action, wildlife, and the night sky. Different subjects require different lenses. One important aspect to consider is focal length, which is the path the light travels on the way to your camera’s sensor. Generally speaking, big, wide scenes require lenses with shorter focal lengths, while more distant subjects require longer focal lengths. A zoom lens will allow you to use a single lens at a variety of focal lengths.
Here are various applications, and the lenses most ideally suited for them. Note that these examples use the focal length marked on the lens itself, or 35mm-equivalent. For some cameras – such as APS-C or m4/3 – you may need to apply a crop factor (see this Explora article for more information):
- For ultra-wide scenes, waterscapes, and skyscapes—a fisheye or ultra-wide angle lens with a focal length range between 8mm – 24mm
- For interiors, architecture, and general landscapes—a standard wide angle lens with a focal length range between 24mm – 35mm
- For environmental or full-length portraits, street photography, and travel—a standard lens with a focal length range between 35mm – 85mm (50mm is the most common)
- For portraits and candid shooting—a short telephoto lens with a focal length range between 85mm – 135mm
- For close sports and action—a medium telephoto lens with a focal length range between 135mm – 300mm
- For wildlife and more distant sports—a super telephoto lens with a focal length above 300mm
It’s not uncommon for versatile photographers to own multiple lenses. Check out Explora’s Purchasing Your Next Lens article for more information.