Let’s face it, most of us aren’t photography enthusiasts, we’re camera enthusiasts. We spend most of our time debating the latest camera releases, squabbling over things like resolution, frames per second and, of course, which manufacturer boasts superior autofocus algorithms.
This fascination with cameras is hardly surprising. They’re the central nervous system of image-making. Most of the big advancements in photographic tech come by way of the camera, so when the best Cyber Monday camera deals roll around, the obvious thing is to buy a new camera!
Now, there’s nothing wrong with buying or even collecting cameras. However, if you’re just amassing a sexy collection of cameras with the odd kit lenses thrown in, maybe you need to consider what you’re trying to get out of your hobby.
If you’re a self-confessed camera nerd whose photography rarely ventures farther than the backyard or the odd trip into town, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that at all.
Plenty of photography enthusiasts get their enjoyment from the engineering side of things, and simply love to tinker with new cameras and find out what makes them tick.
Hi, I’m Mike. I’ve worked in the photography industry for seven years, with five spent swabbing the decks of the good-ship N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine as Technique Editor and then Deputy Editor. My main role was to commission and write photography tutorials, so when I jumped ship to Digital Camera World, the How To Ed role was a natural fit. If the subject’s Nikon cameras or photography techniques, I’m yer man!
But if you’d dearly like to broaden your image-making horizons and become a better photographer, spending your hard-earned money on a new camera every Black Friday – and ignoring lenses – could be stifling your progress. Here’s why and what you can do about it…
Why a lens is more…
There are plenty of reasons to upgrade your camera, such as gaining access to a faster and more accurate autofocus system, better low-light capabilities, higher dynamic range, and much more. But the camera isn’t the be-all and end-all of image making. If you don’t have the lenses for it, only ever using a ‘nifty fifty’ on, say, a Nikon Z9 is a little like driving a Ferrari F40 and never getting out of second gear.
The fact is, you can go back to the photography pioneers of the 19th Century and you’ll find stunning images. Even with the most basic cameras, photographers have always delivered the goods. By and large, camera advancements have made the image-making process easier – increasing the margin for error, if you will. But I never look at photographs from some of my favorite film photographers and think, that would have been a better photo if it was captured on a Canon EOS R5.
Compared to cameras, lenses haven’t changed nearly as much over the years. And while autofocus, image stabilization, and various elements and coatings have improved the reliability, accuracy, and image quality of lenses, it’s the variety of focal lengths and focusing distances that really matter to your photography. Different types of lenses have different fields of view, which essentially enables us to crop into or widen our view of the scene in front of us.
For example, telephoto and super-telephoto lenses are typically used for wildlife and sports photography, because they enable the photographer to close the gap between themselves and typically far-away subjects.
Standard and mid-telephoto lenses are often used for portraits since they offer a comfortable working distance for the photographer and subject, and produce flattering portraits due to their lack of barrel or pincushion distortion. And wide-angle lenses are often used by landscape and architecture photographers looking to squeeze sprawling vistas into the frame.
Now, limitations can of course breed creativity – and too many lens options can have also an adverse effect. Plenty of street photographers swear by using a single 50mm prime (or ‘nifty fifty’) because ‘zooming with their feet’ puts them in the heart of the hustle and bustle and helps them find unique compositions.
But, if you’re an enthusiast photographer who hasn’t found your calling yet and you want to try out different genres, or you’ve been stuck with the same crumby old kit lens, investing in some new glass could be the best thing you’ve ever done for your photography.
So, here are a few recommendations in the form of Black Friday deals, from me. We all shoot on different systems, so I’ve made a point of including lenses from various major manufacturers. I can’t include every great lens, so I’ve made a list with plenty of variety. If you’re not sure what type of lens you’d like to buy next, though, I’ve written a guide on why you need to choose the right focal length of lens to use for your photography, which will help.
Enjoy all the new creative possibilities your new lens provides you with... or your new camera!
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