If you use an SLR or mirrorless camera to make photos but haven't yet moved beyond the starter lens, you're missing out. Yes, bundled lenses, often referred to as kit zooms, cover the angles you use for most images and deliver very good quality. But they've still got some limitations. For instance, most don't gather a lot of light, so you need to use a flash to avoid grainy images in dim light.
There are different ways to go when shopping for a new lens, though, and you need to take a bit of care to get one that fits your camera. We're here to help.
How to Ensure Your Lens Fits
Each camera system has a specific lens mount, so there's no cross-compatibility. It's not a simple matter of matching the brand name, either. For example, Canon sells cameras with three separate lens mounts and you can't freely swap lenses between them. Conversely, multiple brands make Micro Four Thirds cameras, so you can use an OM System M.Zuiko lens on a Panasonic Lumix camera if you please.
We've put together guides for many mirrorless and SLR systems. If you're not sure of your camera's lens mount, a quick look at the user manual or web search should help you answer the question. We list the lens mount in our review specs, so you can check there too.
Our guides cover the following systems:
- Canon EF-M for EOS M Mirrorless
- Canon EF and EF-S for EOS SLRs
- Canon RF for EOS R Mirrorless
- Fujifilm X Mirrorless
- Nikon F for SLRs
- Nikon Z Mirrorless
- L-Mount Alliance
- Leica M for Rangefinders
- Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless
- Pentax K for SLRs
- Sony E and FE Mirrorless
There are still some wrinkles to note. Third-party lens makers, brands like Sigma, Tamron, and Venus Optics to name a few, typically offer lenses for multiple systems. It's important to take a little extra time and make sure you're adding the right one to your shopping cart.
What Are the Basic Types of Lenses?
Most bundled lenses are standard zoom designs. They cover the angles of view most useful for day-to-day photography. The exact focal length varies based on image sensor size, but you enjoy similar views from the starter zoom for Micro Four Thirds (14-42mm), APS-C (18-55mm), or full-frame (24-70mm).
To get more of the world in one shot, you need a wide-angle zoom. These lenses have smaller focal lengths, a characteristic that nets a broader angle of view. Most wide lenses use rectilinear optics to draw the world with as little distortion as possible, but you can also get fish-eye lenses if you want an extremely wide, curved view of the world.
Telephoto lenses have long focal lengths and net narrower angles of view. They're useful for snapping shots of subjects when you just can't get close. If you're interested in photographing wildlife or team sports, a telezoom is the right tool for the job.
For photographs in low light or with a blurred-background look, you need a prime lens. These lenses don't zoom, instead offering a fixed angle of view and (typically) brighter optics. You can get plenty of background blur from an F1.4, F1.8, or F2.0 prime.
Other lenses fall into specialty categories. Macro lenses focus very close—they're what you want to get detailed shots of flowers, ice crystals, and other natural phenomena. You can also buy tilt-shift lenses for art and architecture, or a soft focus lens for portraiture.
What Lens Features Should You Prioritize?
There are some things you should look for when shopping for a lens, regardless of which system you use.
Build quality is one, and it's something you always pay for. We've seen a move toward quality polycarbonates—plastics that don't feel plasticky—across the board. The upgraded features to look for are dust and splash protection, as well as anti-smudge fluorine protection on the exposed glass.
Any lens you buy should include a rear and front cap. Most include a hood as well, a protective shield that attaches to the front. I always recommend using a hood when you can—they cut down on off-angle light, and they make it harder to accidentally fingerprint the front glass. You may want to use a protective glass filter, too; if you do, make sure to get one that's multicoated for the best results.
Optical stabilization moves lens elements to compensate for any motion, a useful feature for getting sharper handheld photos. Not every lens has it (or needs it), but you should definitely look for it in telephotos. Vloggers should pick a stabilized wide angle for smooth walk-and-talk footage.
Premium lenses often include control buttons and toggle switches. Some add a control ring to set the aperture or adjust other camera settings. These aren't required features for photography, but enthusiasts appreciate them.
What Other Photography Accessories Should You Buy?
If you're perfectly happy with your lens but are looking for some ways to do new things with your camera, there are other add-ons to consider. We like the Lensbaby Omni filter set, for instance, one that uses magnetic wands to split and filter light in interesting ways.
You can also look to add a quality tripod for long exposure work, an off-camera flash to take control of lighting, or a better microphone for video work.
We've put together some photo tips for beginners and enthusiasts, as well as a guide for using old-school manual lenses on 21st-century mirrorless cameras.
And, if you're mulling a new camera, or just dipping your toes into the world of photography, make sure to peruse our list of the best cameras for beginning photographers.