How to Compare Camera Lenses
A camera lens works by allowing light to travel down a tube fitted with high quality glass elements and pass through a small opening called the aperture. Once through the aperture, the light strikes either film on a 35mm camera or an image sensor on a digital camera. The quality of the lens determines the quality of the image.
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Instructions
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Make certain the compared camera lenses actually fit the type and model camera. Many cameras have screw mounts where others offer a bayonet type mount. Many cameras don't have removable lenses at all.
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Consider the type of photography when comparing camera lenses. The lens is responsible for the effect on an image so pair the lens with the scene. Landscape shooting requires a wide-angle lens, whereas a portrait lens uses a shorter focal length.
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Try out each lens on the camera body and take a few test photos. Reputable retailers allow photographers to bring in their cameras and mount the lens before buying.
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Compare apples to apples when buying camera lenses. Higher quality lenses are more expensive and typically yield brighter, crisper images due to better construction and higher quality materials. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
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Understand that many camera lenses that work with 35mm cameras will not work with newer DSLR cameras. The 35mm lens systems use a different focal length for the full frame of film. Most DSLRs utilize a smaller image frame than 35mm cameras so the image recorded is adversely affected.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with lens adaptors. Lens adaptors attach to the end of the camera lens to offer special effects, such as a fish eye effect or different color filters.
