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Everything you need to know about camera lenses
The glass in front of your imaging sensor is the single most important part of your camera. Are you ready to geek out? OK, let’s go…
What is the most important part of your SLR or mirrorless camera?
If you just replied ‘the camera body’, you’re onto something, but you’d be wrong.
The answer is “the lens” — and in this post, I’ll teach you everything you need to know about lenses!
Camera bodies as more or less disposable.
Introduction, part I: What about camera bodies?
Okay, so not everybody agrees that lenses are important, but hear me out…
Of course, it’s important to have a bucket-load of megapixels, comfortable controls, a good light meter, a solid ISO range, reliable noise reduction and a precise shutter — and all of that is part of your camera body. However, I’ve grown to appreciate camera bodies as more or less disposable.
That’s not to say that the cost of a camera body is pocket change, but I’ve been through a hell of a lot of camera bodies over the past 15 years. If we cut off the dreary pre-digital era, my SLR history started with the Canon EOS D30 I saved up for for several months. After that, I had a D60, a 300D, a 350D, a 450D, a 400D and a 550D. In between all of that, I’ve also had several xxD and xD series cameras, but because I spend most of my time writing books aimed at beginners and intermediate photographers, I like to keep a finger on the pulse by (mostly) sticking to entry-level cameras. For the past four years, I’ve been shooting with a Sony A7 — the longest I’ve ever hung on to a camera body. Given that you can pick one up for under $800 these days, it’s an absolute bargain.
Each individual little step up the camera body ladder is an evolution rather than a revolution. Canon, Nikon, and all the other camera manufacturers keep making tiny little tweaks that make camera bodies that tiny little bit better for…
