Here you will find easy-to-understand explanations about camera lenses and use cases for each lens type, without overwhelming the readers. Also, read our lens recommendations for optimal results.
Simply search for any camera or photo equipment, and you might come across terms like f/2.8 aperture, 50mm prime lens, or anamorphic lenses. Let's be honest: if you are not an experienced photographer in this niche, you will likely be quickly overwhelmed by the complexity of all the equipment, and for beginners, this can be quite a lot of work.
One thing must be made clear here: understanding camera lenses, their types, and how they work is the key to better photos. There is no shortcut; you have to acquire the knowledge, and you can't avoid it unless you want to take bad photos for a long time until you find a solution. To keep things professional, this article explains camera lenses in a straightforward way to give you a quick start in practice.
Camera lenses explained:
A lens is an optical component that collects light and directs it to the sensor of a camera (or to the film in older cameras). This part of the camera determines how much of the scene a shot captures, how blurry the background can be, how sharp the finished image is, and other properties.
It consists of various materials such as glass, plastic, and other special metals and is housed in a casing, which is usually also made of metal. Inside this casing are lens elements, an aperture, a focusing mechanism, a bayonet mount, a front lens, as well as focus and zoom rings. In today's camera industry, there are mainly two types of lenses: prime lenses and zoom lenses.
Prime camera lenses explained:
Prime means that the lens is focused on a specific task: taking photos with a fixed focal length. The lens is designed for this particular distance. While this is limiting in that you are restricted to a specific focal length, it compensates by capturing high-quality and consistent photos. Common focal lengths for prime lenses are 35, 50, and 85 millimeters, each used for different subjects.
For example, the 35mm lens is excellent for environmental portraits and documentary photography and offers a larger field of view than the 50mm lens, which is popular for professional portraits and street photography but offers a smaller field of view. The 85mm lens is often used for creamy background blur in flattering portraits but has the smallest field of view of all.
Prime lenses are great for beginners who want to improve their composition skills and not make things too complicated. Additionally, these lenses are durable and deliver high-quality images even in low light. However, you cannot zoom in or out and are limited to specific focal lengths. This is where zoom lenses come into play.
Zoom camera lenses explained
As the name suggests, you can zoom between different focal lengths, and it comes with a range of upper and lower points of this focal length. It is practical for anyone who does not want to constantly change lenses and wants just one standard lens for various focal lengths. However, this comes at a price. Zoom lenses especially have lower optical quality in low light, but the gap between prime and zoom lenses is closing with the latest generation of camera lenses.
Focal length explained:
Every lens, whether prime or zoom, is marked with a number followed by "mm." This number indicates the focal length (see above). We emphasize it here particularly because this number is very important. It determines how much of the scene fits into the desired photo and how much you have zoomed in when the subject appears in the photo.
Aperture explained:
Another important term is the aperture (f/1.8, f/2.8, or f/5.6). This aperture opens and closes to let light into the camera lens. There is a simple rule here: the smaller the number, the more light your camera lets through, and vice versa. Remember: more light means more bokeh and vice versa. So if you like dreamy portraits, you should look for a lower aperture number in your next camera lens.
Other features of camera lenses to pay attention to are camera mounts, which establish the connection between the lens and the camera body. Common models from various brands are EF, RF, F, E, and FE. Another important specification is camera image stabilization (IOS), which significantly affects image quality by compensating for shake. So if you often shoot outdoors, you should look for IOS-compatible lenses.
Camera lenses in 2025:
Lens technology has advanced significantly and sets new standards for various applications such as still photography, cinematography, macro shots, etc. In cinematography and independent filmmaking, cine lenses are now available at a price range comparable to conventional prime lenses. These cine lenses were specially developed for high-quality cinema-grade footage but were not available to the general public due to their extremely high costs.
In recent years, camera manufacturers have succeeded in making these lenses accessible to a broad audience, and more and more are coming to market. The SIRUI Night Walker T1.2 is an example of this. It is available in a wide range of focal lengths and delivers professional footage. The lens is ideal for beginners, has a lightweight profile, and offers a professional solution at a very affordable price.
