Pentax HD-DA 16-50mm f/2.8ED PLM AW Lens
- K-Mount Lens / APS-C Format
- 24.5-76.5mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Extra-Low Dispersion Glass
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
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 for Nikon F
- Nikon F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/5 to f/40
- Three Low Dispersion Glass Elements
- eBAND, BBAR, and Fluorine Coatings
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/5.6 to f/32
- One Phase Fresnel Element
- Three Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
Vivitar 500mm f/8.0 Telephoto Lens for T-mount
- Ultra-telephoto Lens
- Multi-coated Lens Elements
- Built-in Tripod Collar
- Fixed Aperture, Manual Focus Lens
Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 II Lens for Canon EF (Black)
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
- Multi-Coated Lens Elements
- Autofocus with AF/MF Switch
Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens for Pentax K
- Pentax K Mount/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2 to f/16
- Magnification Range: 4.5x to 4x
- Minimum Working Distance: 0.8"
Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens for Nikon F
- Nikon F Mount/FX-Format
- Aperture Range: f/2 to f/16
- Magnification Range: 4.5x to 4x
- Minimum Working Distance: 0.8"
7artisans Photoelectric 7.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens (Canon EF)
- APS-C | f/3.5-22
- 12mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Multi-Layer Lens Coating
- 205° Angle of View
Mitakon Zhongyi Creator 35mm f/2 Lens for Canon EF Mount
- Canon EF Mount/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2 to f/22
- Manual Focus Design
- Depth of Field and Distance Scales
Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Zoom Lens
- For Use With Pentax Digital Cameras
- Weather Resistant
- 18-55mm Focal Length
- Fully Automatic Diaphragm Control
TTArtisan 11mm f/2.8 Lens for Nikon F
- Full-Frame Format | f/2.8 to f/16
- Fisheye Optical Design
- Manual Focus Operation
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 6.7"
Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC Lens for Pentax K
- K-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Two Aspherical Elements, Two ED Elements
- Three High Refractive Index Elements
Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC Lens for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Two Aspherical Elements, Two ED Elements
- Three High Refractive Index Elements
Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS Lens for Nikon F Mount
- Nikon F Mount Lens
- For APS-C Sized Image Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.0-22
- 24mm Equivalency in 35mm Format
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Series II Lens for Nikon F
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Three HR Elements, Two ED Elements
- Aspherical & Hybrid Aspherical Elements
IRIX 11mm f/4 Firefly Lens for Canon EF
- Canon EF-Mount/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
- Three Aspherical Elements
- Two ED and Four HR Elements
Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens
- Full-Frame | f/1.4 to f/22
- Fast Normal-Length Prime
- Compact and Portable Design
- Multilayer HD Coating
Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC Lens for Canon EF
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/22
- Compatible with Full-Frame and APS-C
- Hybrid Aspherical Lenses -- Sharp Images
- 56mm (35mm Equivalent)
Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC Lens for Nikon F (AE Chip)
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/22
- Compatible with Full-Frame and DX
- Hybrid Aspherical Lenses -- Sharp Images
- 52.5mm (35mm Equivalent)
Pentax SMC PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic Lens
- Full-Frame | f/1.4 to f/22
- Fast Normal-Length Prime
- Old-School Retro Design
- Compact and Portable Form Factor
IRIX 21mm f/1.4 Dragonfly Lens for Nikon F
- Nikon F-Mount/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Two Aspherical Elements
- Four Ultra-Low Dispersion Glass Elements
IRIX 11mm f/4 Blackstone Lens for Canon EF
- Canon EF-Mount/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
- Three Aspherical Elements
- Two ED and Four HR Elements
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR Lens
- F-Mount Lens/DX Format
- 105-450mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/4.5-6.3 to f/32
- One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Lens
- K-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/3.5-5.6 to f/22-32
- ED Glass Elements
- Super Protect & HD Multi-Layer Coatings
Venus Optics Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro Lens for Canon EF
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/16
- One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
- 2.5:1 to 5:1 Magnification
Tokina atx-i 17-35mm f/4 FF Lens for Nikon F
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
- Two Super Low Dispersion Elements
- Three Aspherical Elements
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Lens for Canon EF (Black)
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.6 to f/16
- Singlet-Doublet-Singlet Optical Design
- Soft Glowing Effect at Wide Apertures
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.