5 Must Have Features On An SLR Camera

Choosing the correct SLR lens can seem like a daunting task. There is a great variety of lenses, focal capabilities, and brands to choose from, and making the wrong choice can be a costly mistake. When making this decision, there are five key points to remember.

The first thing to keep in mind is brand. Not all digital SLR cameras can use all lenses. It is very important to find a lens that is compatible with the camera's brand. A good example of this would be using a Carl Zeiss Zf.2 lens for a Nikon camera. The Zf.2 line of lenses is fully compatible with Nikon cameras.

The next thing to determine is what the lens will be used for. For wildlife shots or photos of objects in the distance, a telephoto lens would meet the purpose best. For shots of landscape and wide angle views, the best lens for the job would be a wide angle lens. For general photography in a variety of settings, a classical focal range camera can be a "jack of all trades" lens.

Once the use has been determined, it is important to consider price. There is a very large range of price points for different lenses. Cheaper lenses may only cost a few hundred dollars, but they also do not provide the same quality of picture that more expensive lenses may provide. In addition, a more expensive lens might be of use for a longer period of time than one of its cheaper counterparts. As camera's get upgraded, often the same lenses can be used with different cameras from the same product family. Thus, a lens can become a long term investment.

Next, the size and weight of the lens should be carefully considered. Large, heavy lenses may offer superior focusing, but if the lens is large and ungainly, it may not be easily transported. Heavy lenses are usually the first ones to be left at home! Excellent focus and speed mean nothing if the lens gets left out of the camera bag due to its size.

With price and use in mind, it is time to start looking at lens capability. Some lenses will have stability and auto focus features. Others will offer autofocus, but not stability features. An important thing to keep in mind here is how the camera will be used. If the camera is used exclusively with a tripod, stability features may not be important. If the camera is primarily handheld by a person with shaky hands, the stability features may be the most important ones!

A digital SLR camera is a wonderful tool for any photographer, and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses allows these cameras to be useful in any situation that may arise. It may seem daunting to select the correct lens, but by keeping these tips in mind, costly mistakes can be avoided.