dslr camera lenses zoom image
Kinsey6
I have two digital cameras, one with a 10X zoom and another with a 15X zoom. I want to get a DSLR camera but don't know how to compare the zooms I have on my current cameras to how they're measured in mm on DSLRs. So what I'm wondering is, what is a 15X zoom equal to in mm, and how do I convert a 55-140mm and 55-300mm zoom lens back to x increments?
Also, I see some camera bundles with 2.5X lenses. Do these make, e.g., a 140 or 300mm zoom lens 2.5 times longer, or only provide a simple 2.5X zoom on the camera's body?
Thanks
Answer
Actually, you don't bother unless you're just curious. Then its simple division - divide the long end of your DSLR zoom lens by the short end. An 18-55mm zoom thus has a 3.05x zoom ratio (55/18 = 3.05).
A 70-200mm zoom has a 2.85x zoom ratio.
AVOID all "bundles" you might find on Amazon or eBay. Other than the acual camera and lens about 90% of the items included in "bundles" is junk. Things labeled as "2.5x Tele Lens" or "0.43 Wide Angle Lens" are NOT lenses they are cheap screw-in attachments that will do more to degrade your images than they will to help it. Also, notice that nothing included in these "bundles" has a name brand or even a name - just vague descriptions such as "... high power digital flash ..." or "... 4 section tripod ..." or "... 3 pack of digital filters ...". Junk. Junk. Junk.
Buy from a local store or a reputable on-line dealer. Here are just three:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
http://www.adorama.com
http://www.keh.com
Actually, you don't bother unless you're just curious. Then its simple division - divide the long end of your DSLR zoom lens by the short end. An 18-55mm zoom thus has a 3.05x zoom ratio (55/18 = 3.05).
A 70-200mm zoom has a 2.85x zoom ratio.
AVOID all "bundles" you might find on Amazon or eBay. Other than the acual camera and lens about 90% of the items included in "bundles" is junk. Things labeled as "2.5x Tele Lens" or "0.43 Wide Angle Lens" are NOT lenses they are cheap screw-in attachments that will do more to degrade your images than they will to help it. Also, notice that nothing included in these "bundles" has a name brand or even a name - just vague descriptions such as "... high power digital flash ..." or "... 4 section tripod ..." or "... 3 pack of digital filters ...". Junk. Junk. Junk.
Buy from a local store or a reputable on-line dealer. Here are just three:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
http://www.adorama.com
http://www.keh.com
What lenses do you think are ideal for all kinds of photography?
Susan Fern
I plan to buy a DSLR camera. I am a bit confused as to which lenses I should buy for covering almost all kinds of photography. If I buy 18-55, 35-100 and 100-400mm, can it be said that it is a good combination. I don't like big zoom lenses like 28-200 or 18-250. What are your opinions? I would like to hear from you.
Answer
Hello Susan. Your confusion is more than apparent. What I'm going to suggest is based on spending the last 39 years learning about and enjoying photography.
Buy the DSLR of your choice with the lens that comes with it. Now remove from your mind any idea of buying another lens. Spend the next 6 months learning how to use your new camera and learning the capabilities and limitations of the lens that came with your camera. During this time you'll also begin learning what type of photography you like doing the most.
Suppose you discover that exploring the close-focusing capability of the 18-55mm zoom is fascinating and you decide that you'd like to get into true macro photography. None of the lenses you listed is a macro lens so you'll have spent money needlessly and still won't have the lens you really need. A true macro lens will give you a 1:1 (life-sized) reproduction ratio. Take a picture of a 10mm long ant and it will be 10mm long on your sensor. A close-focusing (misleadingly labeled as "macro") zoom lens will seldom exceed a 1:4 (1/4 life-sized) reproduction ratio. Your 10mm long ant will be a mere 2.5mm long on your sensor.
Suppose you decide that shooting in low-light without the flash gets your creative juices flowing. You'll very quickly want a fast prime lens like a 50mm f1.4. A lens like this allows use of a lower ISO to achieve a faster shutter speed and a low ISO is always better for image quality.
You might find that wide sweeping landscapes are your passion and 18mm just isn't wide enough. Now you'll be wanting a lens as wide as 10mm to 12mm and those lenses you originally bought will be a further waste of money.
So, Susan, start with a camera and one lens. From July of 1971 to late 1972 all I had was a camera and a 50mm f1.7 lens. To zoom in I walked closer. To zoom out I backed up.
Hello Susan. Your confusion is more than apparent. What I'm going to suggest is based on spending the last 39 years learning about and enjoying photography.
Buy the DSLR of your choice with the lens that comes with it. Now remove from your mind any idea of buying another lens. Spend the next 6 months learning how to use your new camera and learning the capabilities and limitations of the lens that came with your camera. During this time you'll also begin learning what type of photography you like doing the most.
Suppose you discover that exploring the close-focusing capability of the 18-55mm zoom is fascinating and you decide that you'd like to get into true macro photography. None of the lenses you listed is a macro lens so you'll have spent money needlessly and still won't have the lens you really need. A true macro lens will give you a 1:1 (life-sized) reproduction ratio. Take a picture of a 10mm long ant and it will be 10mm long on your sensor. A close-focusing (misleadingly labeled as "macro") zoom lens will seldom exceed a 1:4 (1/4 life-sized) reproduction ratio. Your 10mm long ant will be a mere 2.5mm long on your sensor.
Suppose you decide that shooting in low-light without the flash gets your creative juices flowing. You'll very quickly want a fast prime lens like a 50mm f1.4. A lens like this allows use of a lower ISO to achieve a faster shutter speed and a low ISO is always better for image quality.
You might find that wide sweeping landscapes are your passion and 18mm just isn't wide enough. Now you'll be wanting a lens as wide as 10mm to 12mm and those lenses you originally bought will be a further waste of money.
So, Susan, start with a camera and one lens. From July of 1971 to late 1972 all I had was a camera and a 50mm f1.7 lens. To zoom in I walked closer. To zoom out I backed up.
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