Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Because of improvements in digital photography over the last decade, award-winning photography isn’t just for the professional photographer; now anyone can aspire to take professional-looking pictures. Relatively inexpensive cameras can take almost identical shots to $4,000 cameras. If you’re looking to make the most out of your equipment, we have tips on how you can improve your camera gear and take dazzling photos.
Have you ever left a photography store empty-handed simply because there were too many products to wrap your mind around? With 50 cameras to choose from and a variety of lenses with different apertures, the process of buying a new camera can be a bit overwhelming. Here’s a hint: One of the best things you can do for your camera is to get two lenses that will allow your little camera to do the best job it can do.
A great way to get started is to find camera lenses on eBay. Don’t get roped into the idea that you must have a brand new lens to do the job right. A similar, slightly used lens will do all the work for you, and because it’s used, you know it works.
What lenses should you have?
- The General Purpose Zoom: If you have a 35 mm camera, the lens you are looking for is a 24-70mm. If you have an APS-C camera, you may want to consider an 18-50mm. This is kind of your all-purpose lens — the one you might use the most. These types of lenses allow you to take fairly wide shots while still being able to zoom into stuff that is in the distance. When you’re not exactly sure what you’ll be shooting, but you’ve dared to strap your camera around your neck, the general purpose zoom is the way to go.
- Macro Lens: If you’ve ever been to or seen a sporting event on television, the photographers using lenses that are four feet long are essentially using macro lenses on steroids. They cost thousands of dollars, weigh a ton and are totally impractical for the everyday user. The length of the macro camera lenses you find on eBay isn’t what’s important — it’s the ability to create a 1:1 magnification of the subjects you are shooting. A 50mm is a great place to start! A 50mm f/2.8 macro is small and light and is even a decent portrait lens. One great thing about macro lenses is that a whole new world of tiny objects will open up to you.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Being an amateur photographer sounds fun, right? If you use eBay to upgrade your camera lenses, your bank account won’t be busted, and your friends will think you’re a genius behind the lens.
