You merely got a fancy new camera, with a shiny kit lens that, for the most part, has served y'all well in your first everyday adventures. At present you lot desire to take your photography to the side by side level, whether it's getting a further reach and being able to capture that dreamlike bokeh that y'all hear anybody talking about or obtaining a more encompassing view.

So, what's the next lens you lot should buy?

In that location are a few different ways to get about answering the question, but the reply comes back to one question that you lot accept to answer yourself — what are yous looking to gain by ownership a second lens?

Answering why

This question is of import because it volition ultimately help to narrow your options. If y'all're into flower photography, for case, you might desire to look at a macro or primes with a wide aperture to create that "dreamy" feel in your images.

If you photograph a lot of landscapes, you lot might exist looking for a wide-angle lens. Or, if you're into wildlife, y'all might want a telephoto to get yous a closer look.

50mm lens

By far, the well-nigh recommended lens for photographers is the 50mm prime. But upon outset researching information technology, many new photographers feel this might not accommodate them likewise, considering they already have the 50mm focus length covered with their 18-55mm kit lens. You might think, "why should I go with a prime number when a zoom provides me with much more variety in terms of achieve?"

In that location's more than to the 50mm prime than just focal length. Certain, information technology has to be taken into account, simply more than importantly, you need to look at how you'd use the lens.

The 50mm is recommended because it gives y'all more range in terms of low light and creativity. Near 50mm primes are either at f/1.4 or f/1.8, assuasive y'all to achieve that bokeh look in your photographs. The photos of your family unit will "pop" because of this, and your lowlight performance volition surely surpass your kit lens. And because it's a stock-still focal length, you'll go some amazing sharpness out of information technology. Simply put, information technology's a swell every day option.

But what if you desire a lens that will offer something other than only pretty bokeh and bang-up lowlight shooting?

Everyday lens: 35mm

When I had my first always DSLR — the Nikon D5100 — I shot with my 35mm f/1.8 lens a ton. It gave me some really nice, creative results, and to this day I await back at that lens and know it's been one of my favorites over the years. You tin't crush the price either — just $196.95. This is a great, affordable alternative to the 50mm f/1.4, and on a crop sensor camera, the focal length is something that is very comfortable shooting with.

In addition to the Nikon version, there are also versions made by Tamron and Sigma for Canon cameras.

Everyday zoom lens: 24-70mm or 28-75mm

For the first four years of my photography, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.viii lens was the one I had on my camera the most. I used this on both my D5100 and D800, and information technology provided me with great lowlight capabilities. I used information technology for everything from theater performances to environmental portraiture. The autofocus, while not the fastest in the world, was perfectly acceptable for what I needed.

I eventually retired the 28-75mm and upgraded to the 24-70mm, which provided me a heave in sharpness and autofocus speed.

This lens range is something I've utilized on my cameras since twenty-four hour period one (I bought the 28-75mm with my kit lens). Once I switched over to the Micro Four Thirds format, I went with the Olympus 12-40mm, which gave me a similar 24-80mm field of view.

Portrait lens: 85mm

While many photographers like the 50mm f/ane.4 equally a portrait lens, the 85mm f/i.viii is an equally capable portrait lens. Like the 35mm mentioned above, the 85mm offers keen lowlight capabilities and is super abrupt. Y'all'll get the bokeh look here as well.

Alternatively, there is also an 85mm f/one.4 lens (which is much pricier), and if you're on a Micro Four Thirds system, the 42.5mm f/1.2 lens (with a field of view similar to the 85mm on a full-frame camera) from Panasonic is one of the best lenses out there today. Olympus shooters might find the 45mm f/1.ii lens amend for their system.

Travel lens: 28-300mm

If yous're looking for an all-in-i lens to have on your adjacent trip, the 28-300mm f/three.five-5.6 is a keen accommodating lens that will give yous a wide view at 28mm, and the ability to zoom in on your subject. While the f/5.6 discontinuity isn't anything to write abode about, having 300mm of view is great for when you can't get super close to something, or if y'all want to isolate tourists.

Wide-angle lens: 15-30mm

The Tamron 15-30mm f/2.viii is a superb lens, offering a pro-similar quality in a prosumer packet (costing $1099). If you're a sucker for star trails or sunsets, you'll absolutely love this lens, despite the fact that it'southward one of the heavier lenses I've used.

Since my switch to Micro Four Thirds, I went with the Olympus 7-14mm f/2.eight lens, providing me a similar field of view to a full-frame fourteen-28mm. The results here are spectacular, too, and it's one of my favorite Micro Four Thirds lenses to date.

Normal matters

One of the factors that assistance sort out which lens to buy is knowing the normal focal length for your camera.Normal is a lens that gives your camera virtually the aforementioned field of view as your eyes. Knowing the normal focal length unravels the mystery of a lens beingness a broad-angle or telephoto. Lenses shorter than normal are broad angles. Lenses longer than normal are telephoto. Hither are common "normal" focal lengths:

  • Total frame: 50mm
  • APSC crop sensor: 28mm
  • Micro 4 Thirds: 25mm

Decision

While deciding to buy a lens is never easy, doing then volition assist y'all in elevating what you capture every bit a photographer. But information technology all comes down to how you lot photo, and what you like to photograph. Once you have a skilful idea of what that is, selecting a lens for buy volition be more straightforward. And you lot'll be over the moon with your new purchase.