Which lens is right for you? A complete guide to finding the perfect lens for your work!

A good camera is nothing without the right lens. But which lens should you choose? Wide angle, telephoto, or perhaps an all-rounder? In this guide I explain what types of lenses there are and which one suits your photography style best.

1. Why is the right lens important?

The lens determines how your camera captures the image. Different lenses have different properties, such as:

📌 Focal Length – How much of the scene is captured (wide or zoomed in).
📌 Aperture – How much light the lens lets in and how beautifully the background is blurred (bokeh).
📌 Sharpness and quality – How well details are captured.
📌 Speed ​​– How well the lens performs in low light or with moving subjects.

Depending on what you are shooting, you will need a different lens. Let's take a look at the main types of lenses!

2. Types of lenses and their applications

📷 Standard lens (All-rounder)

A standard lens has a versatile focal length, usually between 24-70mm, and is often used for everyday photography.

Suitable for:
✔️ Beginners who want one lens for everything
✔️ Everyday photography, such as family and street photography
✔️ Travelers looking for a compact solution

Not ideal for:
❌ Extremely zoomed in or wide shots
❌ Specialist photography such as portrait or wildlife

📷 Wide angle lens

A wide angle lens has a short focal length (usually between 10-35mm) and captures a wide field of view.

Suitable for:
✔️ Landscapes and architecture
✔️ Interior photography in small spaces
✔️ Creative perspectives and dramatic compositions

Not ideal for:
❌ Portraits (may distort faces)
❌ Distant subjects

📷 Telephoto lens

A telephoto lens has a long focal length (usually from 70mm to 600mm) and brings distant subjects closer.

Suitable for:
✔️ Sports photography and wildlife
✔️ Portraits with a beautiful blurred background
✔️ Events and concerts where you have to photograph from a distance

Not ideal for:
❌ Landscapes and street photography (too limited field of view)
❌ Low light conditions without a tripod

📷 Portrait lens (Prime lens)

A portrait lens often has a fixed focal length (for example 50mm or 85mm) and a large aperture for a soft, out-of-focus background.

Suitable for:
✔️ Portraits with a beautiful depth of field (bokeh)
✔️ Creative photography with lots of light
✔️ Low light conditions

Not ideal for:
❌ Flexibility (you have to move yourself to zoom)
❌ Action or wildlife (no zoom function)

📷 Macro lens

A macro lens is designed to focus extremely close, allowing you to capture tiny details in razor-sharp detail.

Suitable for:
✔️ Close-ups of flowers, insects and small objects
✔️ Product photography
✔️ Creative detail shots

Not ideal for:
❌ General everyday use (often limited in focal length)
❌ Fast action or sports

📷 Fisheye lens

A fisheye lens is an extreme form of a wide-angle lens with a curved, spherical image.

Suitable for:
✔️ Creative and abstract photography
✔️ Extremely wide shots for landscapes or architecture
✔️ Special effects and experimental photography

Not ideal for:
❌ Natural perspectives (lots of distortion)
❌ Traditional portraits or general photography

3. Which lens suits your situation?

🔰 For beginners

Want a lens that can do a little bit of everything? A standard all-round lens with an average zoom range is the best choice.

🌍 For travel

A compact all-round or zoom lens is ideal. This way you don't have to take multiple lenses with you.

🎭 For portrait photography

A lens with a wide aperture (like a 50mm f/1.8) is perfect for separating your subject from the background.

🏞️ For landscapes and architecture

A wide-angle lens helps capture expansive landscapes and impressive buildings.

🐆 For sports and wildlife

A telephoto lens is essential for capturing distant subjects without losing quality.

📸 For macro photography

A special macro lens lets you capture the smallest details in razor-sharp detail.

4. What should you pay attention to when purchasing a lens?

📌 Focal Length – How much zoom or wide do you need?
📌 Aperture (f-number) – Lower f-numbers (such as f/1.8) let in more light and create a nice blurred background.
📌 Image Stabilization – Useful when shooting handheld, especially at long focal lengths.
📌 Autofocus speed – Important for sports, wildlife and action.
📌 Compatibility – Not all lenses fit all cameras! Please check if the lens works on your model.

Conclusion: How to choose the right lens?

The perfect lens depends on your style and what you want to shoot. Here's a quick summary:

✔️ Want one lens that does it all? Choose an all-round or standard lens.
✔️ Want to shoot landscapes and buildings? Go for a wide angle lens.
✔️ Want to take portraits with a blurred background? A portrait lens with a large aperture is ideal.
✔️ Want to capture distant subjects? A telephoto lens is the way to go.
✔️ Want to capture details up close? A macro lens is perfect.

Hopefully this guide will help you choose the right lens for your photography! 📸

If you have any further questions, you can always send me a message on Instagram @dennishuitema.nl ✨