Different types of lenses and their use

Discover the variety and application of different lens types and classes

If you want to take your photography to the next level, it's important to understand the different types of lenses and their specific areas of use. In our article, you will learn all about fixed focal lengths and zooms, wide-angle, standard and telephoto lenses as well as special lenses from the macro, fisheye and tilt-shift categories. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of lenses and find out which lens suits you best.

Zooms and fixed focal lengths: Flexibility versus precision

Zoom lenses offer a variable focal length that allows you to photograph different image sections without having to change the shooting position or lens. This flexibility is particularly useful if your distance to the subject changes frequently or the subjects are so far away that you can't get close enough.

Fixed focal lengths are, as the name suggests, lenses with a fixed focal length. There is therefore no possibility to zoom. If you want to change the focal length, perhaps because you first photographed a landscape with a wide-angle lens and now want to take a portrait, you have to change the lens. This often makes fixed focal lengths seem rigid and impractical compared to zooms.

Experienced photographers like to use fixed focal lengths when the highest image quality is required. Fixed focal lengths are known for their high imaging performance. While zoom lenses are always a compromise, as they are designed for different areas of application and have to function properly, fixed focal lengths can be specifically optimized for the focal length used. As a result, typical imaging errors such as color fringing, distortion and vignetting can often be corrected much better.

Fixed focal lengths also have an advantage in low light conditions. This is due to the often higher light intensity. While the maximum aperture of zoom lenses in the professional range is usually reached at f2.8, there are numerous fixed focal lengths with apertures of f/1.4, f/1.8 or larger. At the same time, fast fixed focal lengths are often more compact, lighter and cheaper than fast zoom lenses.

Wide-angle lenses for large picture angles

Wide-angle lenses have a short focal length, which results in a wide angle of view. As a rule, 35 mm focal lengths up to a maximum of 35 mm are referred to as wide-angle. From 16 mm (KB), the lens is referred to as a super wide-angle lens. Basically, the shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view. A comparison between two 35 mm lenses with focal lengths of 50 mm and 14 mm will help you to understand this better. While the standard focal length of 50 mm has an image angle diagonal of approx. 47 degrees, the super wide angle of 14 mm achieves an image angle diagonal of approx. 114 degrees, which is more than twice as large. This makes very wide-angle lenses ideal for landscape, architecture and interior shots.

Wide-angle lenses are particularly effective for indoor shots, as they allow a wide angle of view even in the smallest of spaces. For this reason, hotel rooms for hotel websites, for example, are usually photographed with wide-angle lenses. However, wide-angle lenses are also used in other areas such as sports, portrait or travel photography, as a wide angle of view brings additional dynamism and drama to the shots. For more scope, manufacturers offer versatile wide-angle zoom lenses in addition to fixed focal lengths. For example, zoom ranges of 16-35 mm or 14-24 mm are often offered in the full-frame camera class (35 mm).

Despite their wide range of applications, wide-angle lenses also have their limitations. Some models, especially those with very short focal lengths, have curved front lenses that make it difficult to use screw-in filters. However, this problem is less common with mirrorless system cameras than with digital SLR cameras. In addition, fast wide-angle lenses are often more expensive due to their complex construction.

There are also a few things to consider when composing the image. The wider the angle of view, the more objects in the corners of the picture are distorted. Particularly when taking portraits, care should be taken to place people in the center of the picture wherever possible. In addition, wide-angle lenses are often more susceptible to typical imaging errors such as color fringing, vignetting and distortion. When shooting JPEGs, these errors are now very well optimized by the camera's internal image correction. When taking RAW images, it is advisable to use the correction profile optimized for the wide-angle lens used in the RAW converter.

Standard lenses: the golden mean

Standard lenses, often referred to as normal lenses, have a focal length that comes close to the natural way the human eye sees. These are usually focal lengths of around 35 mm and 50 mm in 35 mm format. A typical standard zoom for full-frame cameras (35 mm) covers a focal length range of 24-70 mm. The zoom range therefore extends from wide angle to slight telephoto. Taking the crop factor into account, standard zooms for APS-C cameras are designed for a focal length range of approx. 18-55 mm due to the smaller sensor, which corresponds to 24-70 mm in 35 mm format. Further information on the crop factor can be found in chapter 4.2.

Standard zooms are often offered as so-called kit lenses when buying a new camera. This is due to the fact that standard zooms offer a versatile range of applications and are therefore considered ideal all-rounders. From portrait photography to street and landscape photography to typical everyday subjects, you are ideally equipped for most shooting situations with a standard zoom or optionally with lenses with a fixed standard focal length.

While fast standard zooms with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 are often quite large and heavy, manufacturers usually also have slower all-round zooms in their portfolio. The advantage of these is that standard zooms with a constant f/4 aperture or variable maximum aperture f/4 to f/6.3 can be made more compact and lighter. Some kit zooms can even be retracted to save space during transportation. This makes some standard zooms ideal for travel photography when the equipment needs to be small and light in hand luggage.

So-called travel zooms with extremely large focal length ranges of 18-300 mm, for example, are a special form. In this case, one lens covers almost all typical shooting ranges. With travel zooms as well as with slower standard zooms, however, you have to come to terms with compromises in imaging performance. However, the lenses are smaller and more mobile.

Telephoto lenses: close to the action

Telephoto lenses are the ideal choice when it comes to bridging large distances to the subject without having to physically get closer to the subject. The typical focal length range of telephoto lenses starts at a light telephoto of around 70 mm and extends to an extreme telephoto of 600 mm. Typical areas of application are wedding and event photography as well as sports and animal photography.

In wedding and event photography, for example, full-frame zooms with 70-200 mm and a continuous aperture of f/2.8 are very popular with professionals, as they enable unobtrusive and intimate shots from a distance without disturbing the bridal couple and guests. Portraits are often photographed with a light telephoto around 85 mm or 105 mm, as these focal lengths allow natural portrait shots without distorting the face.

At sporting events, photographers can often only take pictures from outside the action. Telephoto zooms with 35 mm focal lengths of around 100-400 mm or 150-600 mm are used here. This allows action-packed subjects such as footballers or track and field athletes to be photographed from a great distance without getting too close to the athletes. Professionals also use fast telephoto fixed focal lengths of 400 mm, 500 mm or 600 mm, although these can be expensive.

A large distance is essential for photographing shy or dangerous animals. Telephoto lenses with long focal lengths of 400 mm and more are the best choice here. With them, it is possible to photograph animals in their natural environment without disturbing them or putting yourself in danger.

In addition to professional and fast telephoto zooms, which are usually quite large, heavy and expensive, there are also slower telephoto zooms for amateur use. For example, relatively light and compact telephoto zooms with a focal length of 55-250 mm and a lens speed of f/4.5-6.3 are available for APS-C cameras. There are also attractively priced telephoto zooms with 70-300 mm and a lens speed of around f/4.5-5.6 for full-frame cameras.

Special lenses for creatives

A chic miniature look, detailed macros, sharp still-life shots or the world through a fisheye lens - special lenses are particularly appealing to photographers who like to experiment.

With tilt-shift lenses, the lens system can be shifted and tilted in relation to the sensor plane, which opens up a wide range of creative possibilities. In amateur photography, tilt-shift lenses are often used to create a miniature effect that makes landscape and cityscapes look like a miniature world. To reinforce the miniature effect, photos are often taken from an elevated position looking downwards. Experienced photographers use tilt-shift lenses to control the focal plane in the image, especially in product photography.

Fisheye lenses are known for covering extremely wide angles of view and capturing subjects in a barrel shape. There are circular and diagonal fisheye lenses with different image angles and distortions. Circular fisheyes produce a circular image with black edges, while diagonal fisheyes utilize the entire surface of a sensor and therefore do not produce black edges. Fisheye lenses are often used for creative purposes, especially in architectural and landscape photography, to create unique and distorted perspectives.

Macro lenses are specially designed for close-up photography and allow you to capture small objects at a scale of 1:1 or larger. They are ideal for capturing insects, flowers and other small details. Macro lenses usually have a fixed focal length. With longer focal lengths, such as a 100 mm macro, the minimum distance to the subject is greater than with macros with a shorter focal length. For this reason, telephoto macros are better suited to insect photography, as the insects are not startled as quickly due to the greater distance. Macros with a shorter focal length are often somewhat cheaper and allow detailed close-ups for still-life photography.

Conclusion: the right lens for every purpose

Choosing the right lens depends on your photographic needs and the respective area of application. Fixed focal lengths offer outstanding image quality, zoom lenses offer maximum flexibility, wide-angle lenses offer wide perspectives, standard lenses offer versatility and telephoto lenses offer the opportunity to get close to the action. Special lenses such as macro, fisheye and tilt-shift lenses open up creative possibilities that go far beyond standard applications.

If you know the characteristics and possible uses of the different lens types, you can make more informed decisions and get the best out of your camera. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a professional, the right lens can make the difference between a good photo and an outstanding one.