Overview

A quick Google search of the phrase how to choose a lens returns lots of results with general information about various types of lenses, their focal lengths, designs, speed and other characteristics you need to pay attention to, various aspects of lens inspection and testing procedures before making a purchase. Some authors even claim that they can help you choose the perfect lens for your camera. I always thought it must be something like compact and lightweight 8-800/1.2L IS Nano USM lens, yet it is a bit strange that authors make no mention of it in their articles... On the other hand, there are few articles on how to choose a lens among multiple offerings from several manufacturers. Sure, some comparisons can be found in synthetic lens tests with lots of studio measurements of lens resolution, distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberrations, astigmatism etc. But how helpful are those measurements in real life? Let's skip the part described in all those opuses that appear when you type how to choose a lens in a search engine. Our starting point is the moment when you have already chosen focal lengths, subjects and lighting conditions. As a buyer, you always have a choice. In any case you want to get as much as possible and to pay for it as little as possible. Sooner or later, however, you will have to accept the idea that compromise cannot be avoided under any circumstances, even if you intend to invest several thousands of dollars in one and the only lens. Sometimes the sad truth about the lens becomes known before the purchase, but in other cases you find out that even the most expensive gear has its own limitations, and often such limitations are vital. Here are the most difficult dilemmas when choosing a lens among multiple offerings: - Should I save the money or buy the most expensive and well respected lens? - Which lens has the best price-performance ratio? - Are third party lenses worth buying or should I only invest to Canon's lenses? - A slower Canon's lens or a faster third party lens? Each of these questions creates a psychological barrier based on fear of irrational money investment. You are faced with fear of overpaying for unclaimed functionality, for a brand name product which lacks some functionality or with fear of unjustified expectations in case of savings glut. Our expectations play a key role in this process. For example, some people may think that those photographers who shoot with budget lenses have to spend hours on post-processing to achieve the results comparable to professional lenses. Others claim that after acquisition of professional lens they don't need to post-process their images anymore. Believe or not, but this is complete nonsense. The final result is determined by two most powerful factors: scene and post-processing. Neither the first nor the second factor does not depend on what lens do you use. The purpose of this book is to dispel illusions you may have about various types of lenses and help you keep your expectations realistic. This book, however, is not a guide dedicated to various techniques, compositional rules or visual examples, but rather a companion for such guides. It also stands alone as a unique, detailed catalog of 180 prime lenses for Canon EOS DSLR cameras. Lenses are long-term investments. Spend some time with this book to consider your purchase options and to find out if the investment is necessary.

Full Product Details

9781537502328

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available