DSLR Camera lenses are confusing

[r63]

I am (hopefully), soon going to be getting a DSLR camera, I have never owned one before and am totally confused by what any of the specs or names for the lenses mean. Could somebody please explain for me.

For example, if I was to get this one Nikon 55-300mm VR DX AF-S Lens for D3100 D5100 D7000 Digital SLR Camera 0018208021970 | eBay :

Firstly " 55-300mm VR DX AF-S" means nothing to me.

Also how does a "Focal Length" effect the image?

And, what the hell is a "Focal Length Multiplier" and "Max. Aperture"?

As it is probably clear, I know nothing about cameras and would really appreciate it if someone could explain.

I have looked online but it is all meaningless technical terms which I will never understand in my life.

[MentaL]

[WarKeyGFX]

For example, if I was to get this one Nikon 55-300mm VR DX AF-S Lens for D3100 D5100 D7000 Digital SLR Camera 0018208021970 | eBay :

Firstly " 55-300mm VR DX AF-S" means nothing to me.

55-300mm is the focal length of the lens, vr means vibration reduction, DX for crop sensor camera, and AF-S = Auto focus system

Also how does a "Focal Length" effect the image?

ofcourse the higher the focal length the further you are in the image or how close you are in the object.

And, what the hell is a "Focal Length Multiplier" and "Max. Aperture"?

if you use DX camera or crop censor cameras the FLM you must use multiplyer but full frame use 1=1 crop factor. max aperture, is the opening of the lens to accept light. and it depends on what lens are you using. there is a lot lens out there with different max aperture.

if you still have question just ask here

[r63]

55-300mm is the focal length of the lens, vr means vibration reduction, DX for crop sensor camera, and AF-S = Auto focus system


ofcourse the higher the focal length the further you are in the image or how close you are in the object.


if you use DX camera or crop censor cameras the FLM you must use multiplyer but full frame use 1=1 crop factor. max aperture, is the opening of the lens to accept light. and it depends on what lens are you using. there is a lot lens out there with different max aperture.

if you still have question just ask here

Thanks, that has helped loads, but just one last quetion: Will a bigger focal length mean the lense is better for close ups or landscape shots?

[ChewBecca]

for starters you would probably want to look at a camera rather than just the lens.

With lenses I would suggest getting something which is lower that 55mm. This is because 45mm - 50mm is what the natural eye can see (it totally depends on the sensor size) I would get something like an 18mm - 70mm or close to that range as a start off lens. You want the aperture to be around 3.5, but this is usually a standard kind of lens.

I am mainly talking from a canon point of view, and I cant say if Nikon is similar or not but I started out with a canon 500D with an 18 - 55mm 3.5 lens.

Useful links you SHOULD read up on to know about photography:

Understanding Aperture - A Beginner's Guide
Understanding ISO - A Beginner's Guide
Understanding Shutter Speed - A Beginner's Guide

Once you have read up on those you will know how the capture of light is greatly changed with ISO, shutter speed and aperture.

Link for Focal length:

Understand Focal Length in 4 Easy Steps » Expert Photography

Sensor size link:

Digital Camera Sensor Sizes: How it Influences Your Photography

This one may be a bit confusing but the reason I am showing you this link is so that you understand the importance of getting a lens with a bigger sensor. When comparing cameras look to see how big the sensor is. It does make a significant difference.

And just to throw it out there, this is the camera I am about to buy :)

Canon EOS 5D Mark III - EOS Digital SLR and Compact System Cameras - Canon UK

[r63]

for starters you would probably want to look at a camera rather than just the lens.

And just to throw it out there, this is the camera I am about to buy :)

Canon EOS 5D Mark III - EOS Digital SLR and Compact System Cameras - Canon UK

Most shops seem to be doing deals on lenses when purchased with the camera so I thought I might save some money, that's all... Also how much is the camera you're about to get?

Thanks for explaining in detail about what all the things mean and how they effect the image. The links helped too.

[WarKeyGFX]

he is getting one of the most expensive camera on the market today for canon

[ChewBecca]

he is getting one of the most expensive camera on the market today for canon

She. I'm female.
With a lens mine will be around £3000
My current 500d was around 800 when I bought it and probably worth 400 now.

ChewBecca for everything!

[r63]

She. I'm female.
With a lens mine will be around £3000
My current 500d was around 800 when I bought it and probably worth 400 now.

ChewBecca for everything!

Woah, a bit out of my price range aha... I was looking at getting a Nikon D3100, it looks like a good entry level camera, all the Cannon cameras look a bit overpriced if I'm honest.

[WarKeyGFX]

Hmm ok its up to you. but if you change your mind go for 650d or 600d of canon and you wont regret it

[ChewBecca]

Woah, a bit out of my price range aha... I was looking at getting a Nikon D3100, it looks like a good entry level camera, all the Cannon cameras look a bit overpriced if I'm honest.

Personally I feel canons are built better but whatever you feel is best for you!

ChewBecca for everything!

[WarKeyGFX]

Personally I feel canons are built better but whatever you feel is best for you!

ChewBecca for everything!

true canon FTW

[GohanSSJ]

Personally I feel canons are built better but whatever you feel is best for you!

ChewBecca for everything!

You should know better then this...

There is no difference in build quality, both are solid, the only difference is when you look at mid range DSLR's (around the 1000 mark), as some feature magnesium bodies while others don't, aside from that it's just a solid of very sturdy plastic. Button layout is similar and is all about what you are used to, which has no influence here since it's your first DSLR.
For everything else it makes no real difference either, prices for lenses are similar as is quality.

The before mentioned 55-200 is basically your zoom. For crop camera's (which are all DSLR's under 2-2,5k euro) 18mm can be seen as no (1x) zoom, it's what you are used to with my compact cameras and phones (obviously this differs per model, but that's the average), which means that 55 is 3x zoom (3x18=54) and 200 is 11x zoom (11x18=198), so you get a 3x-11x zoom lens.
You have starter kits where you get the body, 18-55 lens (1x-3x zoom) and 55-200, that way you can switch them around depending on the situation.
Whether that's worth it, depends on what you are wanting to do with it, you could also go 70-300 (4x-16x), you would get the extra zoom and I doubt you will miss the 56-69 part.

If there is 1 thing you should know about lenses, is that if you want an ideal setup, then you will need like 6 of them and they would all be freaking expensive.

Now as for my advice, I obviously can't decide for you what to get, I would definitely either get Canon or Nikon, they are by far the biggest players and it will be easiest to get more stuff for second handed, or will be the easiest to get rid off, they also have the biggest lens collection. On top of that I would really look at a lens of 18-1xx, I started with the 18-55 and I found myself wanting to replace it very quickly, because 3x zoom simple isn't that much. Now while lenses don't loose their worth that quickly, simple fact is that nobody wants to buy 18-55 lenses, so finding a pack with a 18-1xx is imo a must, great for all-round using and if you want to replace it then it's an easy sell.
The only disadvantage is that I don't believe you have such packs with the cheapest models, they all come with the 18-55.