September 30, 2024
Glossary of Camera and Photographic Lens Terms
Glossary of Camera and Photographic Lens Terms
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ISO sensitivity is a figure representing the among of light captured by the sensor in the digital camera body through the lens, and is an important element when adjusting the amount of exposure in a photo. When the ISO sensitivity is low, the light reaching the sensor is mostly unamplified (generally at sensitivities of around ISO300 or lower). For this reason, a low ISO sensitivity is best suited to when you are shooting in bright environments or desire higher image quality.
On the other hand, when the ISO sensitivity is high, the light detected by the sensor is greatly amplified. This allows you to render bright photos in situations with minimal light such as a dim interior. Generally, a high ISO sensitivity would be a setting of around ISO1600 or higher.
However, if the ISO sensitivity is set too high, it may produce noticeable noise, degrading image quality. We often raise the ISO sensitivity when shooting in dim locations or when using a high shutter speed, but it is important to consider the balance with image quality when making adjustments.
The f-stop (aperture value) is a number indicating the amount of light entering from the lens. It is possible to adjust the amount of light passing through the lens by opening up or stopping down (narrowing) the aperture of a camera lens, and the degree of this aperture is expressed as the f-stop. As a smaller the f-stop means the aperture of the lens is larger, a greater amount of light can reach the image sensor. Conversely, as a higher f-stop means the aperture of the lens is stopped down, less light will be let through.
F-stop not only affects the exposure of a photograph but also significantly impacts the depth of field (the range over which subjects appear in focus). For example, if the f-stop is reduced, a shallow depth of field is produced, which has the effect of blurring the background and making a subject stand out. This is why low f-stop values are suited for things like portraits. On the other hand, if a high f-stop is set, the large depth of field will be produced, making it possible to bring a greater range of elements into focus. This makes higher f-stop values well suited to things like landscape photography.
The f-stop where a lens is at its widest is referred to as the “maximum aperture” or “wide-open aperture,” and the f-stop number cannot be reduced beyond this limit on a lens. Generally speaking, lenses with a small minimum f-stop (a large maximum aperture) can capture a large amount of light even in dark environments. For this reason they are also referred to as “bright” lenses.
Autofocus (AF) is a camera feature that automatically focuses on subjects. The opposite is manual focus (MF), where the photographer manually adjusts the focus. There are various AF modes, and common ones include single AF (where the camera locks the focus after focusing on a subject), and continuous AF (where the camera continuously adjusts the focus on a subject even when moving).
There are two types of motors that drive AF, in the camera body or inside the lens, but generally speaking an AF mechanism inside a lens will focus faster and make less noise. In addition, as the drive system employed by the AF motor itself can affect the quietness and smoothness of focusing, this is an important point to check when choosing a lens.
A smooth and accurate AF is especially important for sports and wildlife photography due to the fast and unpredictable movements of subjects.
Angle of view is a term expressing how wide a scene can be captured as a photo through the lens. More specifically, it indicates the angle of the field of view a lens can capture. The greater this angle, the wider the range of a scene can be captured. The angle of view is determined by the focal length of the lens and the image sensor size in the camera body. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view. The same works in reverse - the longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view. Additionally, the larger the size of the image sensor in the camera body, the wider the area of a scene it can capture.
As wide-angle lenses have a wide angle of view, that are able to accommodate vast scenes and expansive spaces. Telephoto lenses on the other hand feature a narrow angle of view, enabling them to capture an enlarged view of distant subjects. Choosing a lens with an appropriate angle of view for the subjects and scenes you want to photograph plays a key part in broadening the horizons of photographic possibilities.
In photography, composition is a term describing how a subject and its surrounding elements in an image are arranged within the camera’s frame. Skillful use of composition can enhance the impression given by a subject and guide the gaze of the viewer.
Typical compositions include rule-of thirds composition, “hinomaru” (Rising Sun flag) composition and diagonal line composition. Being aware of these compositions when shooting can lend overall balance and variety to your photos. However, if you are constrained by the general rules of composition it could make your photos look ordinary, so it is also important to use your intuition without being overly mindful of composition.
Shutter speed as a term indicating the amount of time during which the camera’s shutter is open. It affects the exposure of a photo and parts of an image that capture the movement of the subject. The shutter speed is expressed in seconds, such as “1 sec.” and fractions of sections, such as “1/100 sec.” When the shutter speed is shown as a fraction, the higher the denominator the faster the shutter speed.
A fast shutter speed lets you capture fast-moving subjects without blurring, and is used for sports and wildlife photography. Generally speaking, around 1/500sec. would be considered a fast shutter speed. Conversely, a slow shutter speed allows you to express the motion or flow of a subject such as the flow of a waterfall. Generally speaking, around 1/10 sec. would be considered a slow shutter speed.
However, since a fast shutter speed decreases the exposure, in environments with a weak light source it could make you photos darker. On the other hand a slow shutter speed increases the exposure, making it easier to ensure sufficient brightness. For this reason, slow shutter speeds tend to be used when shooting night scenes and starry skies. However, as slow shutter speeds are more susceptible to camera shake or subject blurring, we recommend using a tripod as necessary.
As you can see, it is important to adjust the shutter speed based on the subject you want to photograph, the image you wish to convey, and the external environment.
Focal length is an important basic element indicating the optical properties of a lens and is defined as the distance from the center (principal point) of the lens to the image sensor of the camera. Focal length is described in millimeter (mm) units. When the name of a lens includes information such as “28-75mm F2.8,” it means that the lens is capable of focal lengths between 28mm and 75mm.
Focal length is an important number that is directly linked to the angle of view. A lens with a short focal length (in general 35mm or less) is referred to as a wide-angle lens and can capture a wide range of a scene. On the other hand, a lens with a long focal length (generally 85mm or higher) is referred to as a telephoto lens, and is able to enlarge distant subjects, but has a narrower angle of view. A lens with a focal length in between these two types (generally around 50mm) which is close to the field of human vision is referred to as a standard lens.
Vibration compensation is a feature equipped in a camera body or lens that reduces disturbances in an image due to vibrations from the hands (camera shake). On the other hand blurring of a subject due to their movements, known as subject blurring, cannot be corrected by a vibration compensation mechanism.
Vibration compensation generally comes in two types, in-lens and in-body. Lenses equipped with vibration compensation allow you to take more stable photos, as you can check the effects that vibration compensation has on the image through the viewfinder.
Vibration compensation is effective when using a telephoto lens, when shooting a slower shutting speeds, and when shooting under low-light conditions. As camera shake can easily occur in any of these situations, using vibration compensation will enable you to consistently take shots with high-image quality.
Exposure is the amount of light captured when taking a photo, and indicates the brightness of the image. Exposure is controlled by three elements, f-stop (aperture), shutter speed and ISO sensitivity. By balancing these elements, you can properly expose your subject.
For example, in settings such as outdoors when there is sufficient light, even if you set a high f-stop value and increase the shutter speed, you can take photos with sufficient brightness.
On the other hand, when shooting with insufficient light indoors or photographing moving subjects, since you need to increase the shutter speed, you will have to reduce the f-stop (increase the aperture) and/or raise the ISO sensitivity to ensure exposure.
In this way, you can take photos that match your vision by making adjustments based on the conditions you encounter.
White balance is a feature that corrects the color temperature (light tint) when shooting in order to render images that match your vision. As different light sources (sunlight, fluorescent lights, incandescent light bulbs, etc.) have different color temperatures, they change how colors look. Setting the right white balance lets you take photos with natural color tones.
Camera bodies are generally equipped with features that automatically adjust the white balance, and in many cases your camera will adjust to an appropriate color temperature with the auto white balance setting. However, by adjusting the white balance manually under specific conditions, color expressions that match the conditions in the field or your photographic vision can be obtained. In addition, when shooting in the RAW format, you can freely correct white balance in the post-processing stage.
Dynamic range is the difference between the darkest parts and brightest parts that a camera is able to record. A camera with a large dynamic range is able to render dark shadows and bright highlights in fine detail, allowing you to take photographs with ricer tonal gradations (contrast) and realistic depth.
The width of the dynamic greater becomes especially important when shooting in high contrast environments. For example, when shooting landscapes under sunlight or in situations that involve a mixture of indoor light and outside light coming in from a window, a camera with a wider dynamic range will be able to capture the features and impressions of a landscape more precisely.
Shooting modes are a feature to configure the shooting settings equipped in your camera, and are selected based on the shooting situation and subject. These models automatically correct settings such as f-stopand shutter speed, enabling you efficiently obtain the appropriate exposure while prioritizing your target subject.
Some common shooting modes including auto (where the camera handles all settings automatically), program (where the camera automates exposure settings but other settings can be adjusted manually), aperture priority (where you can set the f-stop and the shutter speed is adjusted automatically), shutter priority (where you can set the shutter speed and the f-stop is adjusted automatically) and manual (where you configure all settings manually).
For example, effective choices are to use aperture priority mode for landscapes, and shutter priority mode for sports. Intermediate and advanced users who want to focus on detailed settings often shoot in manual mode.
A prime lens is a lens with a fixed focal length. Prime lenses generally have large wide-open apertures (low f-stop values), and are known for making it easier to take bright photos even in conditions with minimal light. Prime lenses also feature large, beautiful bokeh they produce.
However, unlike a zoom lens the focal length cannot be changed. That means when the photographer wishes to change the angle of view, they instead need to adjust their distance from the subject by moving themselves. Prime lenses are used in a variety of shooting scenarios including portraits, landscapes and snapshots.
A zoom lens is a general term for a lens that allow you to change the focal length. Unlike prime lenses, zoom lenses allows you to adjust the angle of view on the spot. This makes them highly versatile, enabling you to handle a variety of scenes with a single lens. However, as zoom lenses have more complex constructions compared with prime lenses, their lens bodies tend to be larger and heavier. However, many lightweight and compact products are also sold, including TAMRON lenses.
Zoom lenses broadly fit into one of three categories depending on the range of focal lengths they cover, wide-angle zooms, standard zooms and telephoto zooms. Another category all-in-one-zoom lens, covering a wide range of focal lengths from wide-angle to telephoto ranges. Choose a lens that has the range of focal lengths matching the subjects you want to photograph and your photographic vision.
A wide-angle lens is one with a focal length of around 35mm or less. As a wide-angle lens allows you to render a wide range of a scene in crisp detail, this type is often used in situations such as landscape and architectural photography. Wide-angle lenses also feature an emphasized perspective, an effect where distant objects appear relatively small, and nearby objects appear relatively large. You can make use of this effect to express the subject or structure in the center of the image dynamically, or to display the breadth of a space indoors.
A standard lens covers a focal length of around 50mm, while a standard zoom covers focal lengths ranging from semi-wide-angle to medium-telephoto. A standard lens has a natural angle of view that approximates human vision and occupies the place between a wide-angle and telephoto lens. Portraits, snapshots and landscape photos are some of the situations in which standard lenses are commonly used. Many standard lenses feature a large wide-open aperture (small f-stop value), allowing you to flexibly handle shooting in all kinds of environment.
A telephoto lens has a focal length of around 80mm or greater and is characterized by its ability to greatly enlarge distant subjects. Telephoto lenses have narrow angles of view but are able to close in on a subject from far away, making them ideal for shooting sports and wildlife.
Lenses with a focal length of around 300mm and longer are referred to as ultra-telephoto lenses. As these lenses enable a photographer to capture large and clear images of a distant subject that could not be captured with a regular telephoto lens, they are often used for photographing aircraft, and wildlife that are easily alerted, such as wild birds.
Telephoto lenses also feature a “compression effect” which makes the perspective in images taken with them appear compressed, where distant objects appear larger and closer together. By applying these effects to portraits utilizing background bokeh and other photos, you can strongly emphasize your subject. One the other hand, as telephoto lenses are susceptible to camera shake, it is important to take steps to prevent this, such as using a tripod or vibration compensation feature.
Trinity lenses, or the “holy trinity of lenses” are general terms that refer to zoom lenses with constant F2.8 aperture covering the three main categories of wide-angle, standard and telephoto. Equipped with these three lenses, a photographer can take high-quality photos in all kinds of scenes.
Trinity lenses feature a large wide-open aperture (small f-stop value) and are known for offering excellent image quality and high expressiveness in terms of resolving strength and contrast. Across a wide range of applications from landscapes and portraits to sports, trinity lenses are commonly used by professional photographers and advanced amateurs alike. In addition, trinity lenses are often highly durable, enabling them to be used with peace of mind even in harsh shooting conditions. As this high performance tends to come at a steep price, trinity lenses are suited to those who are particularly focused on image quality.
Maximum magnification ratio is a figure indicating the degree to which a lens can enlarge (magnify) a subject. The value is expressed as the ratio between the actual size of a subject and its size as projected onto the image sensor of the camera. For example, if a lens has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:1, it means that a subject appears on the image sensor at the same size as it is in real life. This value is an important metric for macro lenses, which need to capture fine details such as the surface texture of insects or the delicate structure of plants.
MOD indicates the shortest distance at which a subject can be brought into focus. It is measured as the distance from the subject to the image sensor of the camera body. When a lens is closer to a subject than this minimum object distance, it can no longer be brought into focus.
MOD is an important factor for macro photography and close-in shooting. Lenses with a short minimum object distance allow you to get up close to subjects, capturing a larger view of small subjects or fine details. A short MOD also allows you greater shooting flexibility when the distance from the subject is restricted, such as when shooting portraits or objects in confined spaces.
In recent years, in part due to the ubiquity of smartphones, photographing objects at close range has taken root as a common compositional choice. For that reason, people can often experience stress when they cannot get as close as they want to a subject. Fortunately, many TAMRON lenses are renowned for their short MOD.
A lens filter is an accessory attached to the front of a lens, and are used to adjust the brightness or look of photos, or to protect the lens. There are various types of filters, each producing different effects. Commonly used filters including polarizing filters and ND filters.
A polarizing filter reduces light reflections on the surface of a subject, and can emphasize the transparency of the water’s surface, or the blueness of the sky. An ND filter reduces the amount of light passing through the lens, and can be used to prevent blown out highlights on bright days or other situations with a lot of exposure, or to slow down the shutter speed to create illusionary effects with the flow of water.
With the use of filters, you can adjust the expression in your photos even in situations that are difficult to control by altering the settings in your camera body alone.
Ghosting is an optical phenomenon that occurs when light reflects off the inside of the lens. Ghosting typically occurs when a strong light source (strong sunlight or a strong artificial light) enters the lens, such as in backlit conditions. Ghosting can appear as scattered light artifacts that are elliptical or polygonal (due to the shape of the aperture element). While high image quality lenses reduce the effects of ghosting through coatings and optical design innovations, photographers can also suppress ghosting while shooting by making adjusts to avoid light sources hitting the lens directly, and when the use of a lens hood.
On the other hand, while ghosting is generally regarded as a negative phenomenon, there are also cases where photographers will take advantage of ghosting to produce dramatic photos.
Flaring is a phenomenon that scatters light when a strong light source enters the lens directly. Flaring can occur during backlit conditions and other cases where the light from a strong light source enters a lens directly. The effect can create uneven brightness throughout the image and also cause loss of resolution.
As with aberrations and ghosting, flaring can also be reduced with the use of advanced optical technologies, but can also be suppressed while shooting with the use of a lens hood or the avoidance of light sources. Moreover, while flaring is generally regarded as a phenomenon that reduces the quality of photos, there are cases where it is intentionally used to produce a dramatic or emotional effect in a photograph.
A mount is a part of the adapter that connects a camera body to a lens. Mount specifications vary by camera manufacturer and in general only a lens that is compatible with the mount specification can be fitted to a camera body. However, there are cases where a lens for a different mount can be made cross-compatible with the use of a mount adapter. Common mount specifications include Sony E-mount, FUJIFILM X-mount, and Nikon Z mount.
Moreover, mounts are not just physical connecting points but also handle communications between a lens and camera body. These connections enable the accurate operation of control functions such as autofocus, vibration compensation and exposure. When choosing a lens, it is important to select one that is compatible with the mount specifications of your camera system.
ISO sensitivity
ISO sensitivity is a figure representing the among of light captured by the sensor in the digital camera body through the lens, and is an important element when adjusting the amount of exposure in a photo. When the ISO sensitivity is low, the light reaching the sensor is mostly unamplified (generally at sensitivities of around ISO300 or lower). For this reason, a low ISO sensitivity is best suited to when you are shooting in bright environments or desire higher image quality.
On the other hand, when the ISO sensitivity is high, the light detected by the sensor is greatly amplified. This allows you to render bright photos in situations with minimal light such as a dim interior. Generally, a high ISO sensitivity would be a setting of around ISO1600 or higher.
However, if the ISO sensitivity is set too high, it may produce noticeable noise, degrading image quality. We often raise the ISO sensitivity when shooting in dim locations or when using a high shutter speed, but it is important to consider the balance with image quality when making adjustments.
F-stop (aperture)
The f-stop (aperture value) is a number indicating the amount of light entering from the lens. It is possible to adjust the amount of light passing through the lens by opening up or stopping down (narrowing) the aperture of a camera lens, and the degree of this aperture is expressed as the f-stop. As a smaller the f-stop means the aperture of the lens is larger, a greater amount of light can reach the image sensor. Conversely, as a higher f-stop means the aperture of the lens is stopped down, less light will be let through.
F-stop not only affects the exposure of a photograph but also significantly impacts the depth of field (the range over which subjects appear in focus). For example, if the f-stop is reduced, a shallow depth of field is produced, which has the effect of blurring the background and making a subject stand out. This is why low f-stop values are suited for things like portraits. On the other hand, if a high f-stop is set, the large depth of field will be produced, making it possible to bring a greater range of elements into focus. This makes higher f-stop values well suited to things like landscape photography.
The f-stop where a lens is at its widest is referred to as the “maximum aperture” or “wide-open aperture,” and the f-stop number cannot be reduced beyond this limit on a lens. Generally speaking, lenses with a small minimum f-stop (a large maximum aperture) can capture a large amount of light even in dark environments. For this reason they are also referred to as “bright” lenses.
Autofocus (AF)
Autofocus (AF) is a camera feature that automatically focuses on subjects. The opposite is manual focus (MF), where the photographer manually adjusts the focus. There are various AF modes, and common ones include single AF (where the camera locks the focus after focusing on a subject), and continuous AF (where the camera continuously adjusts the focus on a subject even when moving).
There are two types of motors that drive AF, in the camera body or inside the lens, but generally speaking an AF mechanism inside a lens will focus faster and make less noise. In addition, as the drive system employed by the AF motor itself can affect the quietness and smoothness of focusing, this is an important point to check when choosing a lens.
A smooth and accurate AF is especially important for sports and wildlife photography due to the fast and unpredictable movements of subjects.
Angle of view
Angle of view is a term expressing how wide a scene can be captured as a photo through the lens. More specifically, it indicates the angle of the field of view a lens can capture. The greater this angle, the wider the range of a scene can be captured. The angle of view is determined by the focal length of the lens and the image sensor size in the camera body. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view. The same works in reverse - the longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view. Additionally, the larger the size of the image sensor in the camera body, the wider the area of a scene it can capture.
As wide-angle lenses have a wide angle of view, that are able to accommodate vast scenes and expansive spaces. Telephoto lenses on the other hand feature a narrow angle of view, enabling them to capture an enlarged view of distant subjects. Choosing a lens with an appropriate angle of view for the subjects and scenes you want to photograph plays a key part in broadening the horizons of photographic possibilities.
Composition
In photography, composition is a term describing how a subject and its surrounding elements in an image are arranged within the camera’s frame. Skillful use of composition can enhance the impression given by a subject and guide the gaze of the viewer.
Typical compositions include rule-of thirds composition, “hinomaru” (Rising Sun flag) composition and diagonal line composition. Being aware of these compositions when shooting can lend overall balance and variety to your photos. However, if you are constrained by the general rules of composition it could make your photos look ordinary, so it is also important to use your intuition without being overly mindful of composition.
Shutter speed
Shutter speed as a term indicating the amount of time during which the camera’s shutter is open. It affects the exposure of a photo and parts of an image that capture the movement of the subject. The shutter speed is expressed in seconds, such as “1 sec.” and fractions of sections, such as “1/100 sec.” When the shutter speed is shown as a fraction, the higher the denominator the faster the shutter speed.
A fast shutter speed lets you capture fast-moving subjects without blurring, and is used for sports and wildlife photography. Generally speaking, around 1/500sec. would be considered a fast shutter speed. Conversely, a slow shutter speed allows you to express the motion or flow of a subject such as the flow of a waterfall. Generally speaking, around 1/10 sec. would be considered a slow shutter speed.
However, since a fast shutter speed decreases the exposure, in environments with a weak light source it could make you photos darker. On the other hand a slow shutter speed increases the exposure, making it easier to ensure sufficient brightness. For this reason, slow shutter speeds tend to be used when shooting night scenes and starry skies. However, as slow shutter speeds are more susceptible to camera shake or subject blurring, we recommend using a tripod as necessary.
As you can see, it is important to adjust the shutter speed based on the subject you want to photograph, the image you wish to convey, and the external environment.
Focal length
Focal length is an important basic element indicating the optical properties of a lens and is defined as the distance from the center (principal point) of the lens to the image sensor of the camera. Focal length is described in millimeter (mm) units. When the name of a lens includes information such as “28-75mm F2.8,” it means that the lens is capable of focal lengths between 28mm and 75mm.
Focal length is an important number that is directly linked to the angle of view. A lens with a short focal length (in general 35mm or less) is referred to as a wide-angle lens and can capture a wide range of a scene. On the other hand, a lens with a long focal length (generally 85mm or higher) is referred to as a telephoto lens, and is able to enlarge distant subjects, but has a narrower angle of view. A lens with a focal length in between these two types (generally around 50mm) which is close to the field of human vision is referred to as a standard lens.
Vibration compensation
Vibration compensation is a feature equipped in a camera body or lens that reduces disturbances in an image due to vibrations from the hands (camera shake). On the other hand blurring of a subject due to their movements, known as subject blurring, cannot be corrected by a vibration compensation mechanism.
Vibration compensation generally comes in two types, in-lens and in-body. Lenses equipped with vibration compensation allow you to take more stable photos, as you can check the effects that vibration compensation has on the image through the viewfinder.
Vibration compensation is effective when using a telephoto lens, when shooting a slower shutting speeds, and when shooting under low-light conditions. As camera shake can easily occur in any of these situations, using vibration compensation will enable you to consistently take shots with high-image quality.
Exposure
Exposure is the amount of light captured when taking a photo, and indicates the brightness of the image. Exposure is controlled by three elements, f-stop (aperture), shutter speed and ISO sensitivity. By balancing these elements, you can properly expose your subject.
For example, in settings such as outdoors when there is sufficient light, even if you set a high f-stop value and increase the shutter speed, you can take photos with sufficient brightness.
On the other hand, when shooting with insufficient light indoors or photographing moving subjects, since you need to increase the shutter speed, you will have to reduce the f-stop (increase the aperture) and/or raise the ISO sensitivity to ensure exposure.
In this way, you can take photos that match your vision by making adjustments based on the conditions you encounter.
White balance
White balance is a feature that corrects the color temperature (light tint) when shooting in order to render images that match your vision. As different light sources (sunlight, fluorescent lights, incandescent light bulbs, etc.) have different color temperatures, they change how colors look. Setting the right white balance lets you take photos with natural color tones.
Camera bodies are generally equipped with features that automatically adjust the white balance, and in many cases your camera will adjust to an appropriate color temperature with the auto white balance setting. However, by adjusting the white balance manually under specific conditions, color expressions that match the conditions in the field or your photographic vision can be obtained. In addition, when shooting in the RAW format, you can freely correct white balance in the post-processing stage.
Dynamic range
Dynamic range is the difference between the darkest parts and brightest parts that a camera is able to record. A camera with a large dynamic range is able to render dark shadows and bright highlights in fine detail, allowing you to take photographs with ricer tonal gradations (contrast) and realistic depth.
The width of the dynamic greater becomes especially important when shooting in high contrast environments. For example, when shooting landscapes under sunlight or in situations that involve a mixture of indoor light and outside light coming in from a window, a camera with a wider dynamic range will be able to capture the features and impressions of a landscape more precisely.
Shooting modes
Shooting modes are a feature to configure the shooting settings equipped in your camera, and are selected based on the shooting situation and subject. These models automatically correct settings such as f-stopand shutter speed, enabling you efficiently obtain the appropriate exposure while prioritizing your target subject.
Some common shooting modes including auto (where the camera handles all settings automatically), program (where the camera automates exposure settings but other settings can be adjusted manually), aperture priority (where you can set the f-stop and the shutter speed is adjusted automatically), shutter priority (where you can set the shutter speed and the f-stop is adjusted automatically) and manual (where you configure all settings manually).
For example, effective choices are to use aperture priority mode for landscapes, and shutter priority mode for sports. Intermediate and advanced users who want to focus on detailed settings often shoot in manual mode.
Prime lenses
A prime lens is a lens with a fixed focal length. Prime lenses generally have large wide-open apertures (low f-stop values), and are known for making it easier to take bright photos even in conditions with minimal light. Prime lenses also feature large, beautiful bokeh they produce.
However, unlike a zoom lens the focal length cannot be changed. That means when the photographer wishes to change the angle of view, they instead need to adjust their distance from the subject by moving themselves. Prime lenses are used in a variety of shooting scenarios including portraits, landscapes and snapshots.
Zoom lenses
A zoom lens is a general term for a lens that allow you to change the focal length. Unlike prime lenses, zoom lenses allows you to adjust the angle of view on the spot. This makes them highly versatile, enabling you to handle a variety of scenes with a single lens. However, as zoom lenses have more complex constructions compared with prime lenses, their lens bodies tend to be larger and heavier. However, many lightweight and compact products are also sold, including TAMRON lenses.
Zoom lenses broadly fit into one of three categories depending on the range of focal lengths they cover, wide-angle zooms, standard zooms and telephoto zooms. Another category all-in-one-zoom lens, covering a wide range of focal lengths from wide-angle to telephoto ranges. Choose a lens that has the range of focal lengths matching the subjects you want to photograph and your photographic vision.
Wide-angle lenses
A wide-angle lens is one with a focal length of around 35mm or less. As a wide-angle lens allows you to render a wide range of a scene in crisp detail, this type is often used in situations such as landscape and architectural photography. Wide-angle lenses also feature an emphasized perspective, an effect where distant objects appear relatively small, and nearby objects appear relatively large. You can make use of this effect to express the subject or structure in the center of the image dynamically, or to display the breadth of a space indoors.
Standard lenses
A standard lens covers a focal length of around 50mm, while a standard zoom covers focal lengths ranging from semi-wide-angle to medium-telephoto. A standard lens has a natural angle of view that approximates human vision and occupies the place between a wide-angle and telephoto lens. Portraits, snapshots and landscape photos are some of the situations in which standard lenses are commonly used. Many standard lenses feature a large wide-open aperture (small f-stop value), allowing you to flexibly handle shooting in all kinds of environment.
Telephoto lenses
A telephoto lens has a focal length of around 80mm or greater and is characterized by its ability to greatly enlarge distant subjects. Telephoto lenses have narrow angles of view but are able to close in on a subject from far away, making them ideal for shooting sports and wildlife.
Lenses with a focal length of around 300mm and longer are referred to as ultra-telephoto lenses. As these lenses enable a photographer to capture large and clear images of a distant subject that could not be captured with a regular telephoto lens, they are often used for photographing aircraft, and wildlife that are easily alerted, such as wild birds.
Telephoto lenses also feature a “compression effect” which makes the perspective in images taken with them appear compressed, where distant objects appear larger and closer together. By applying these effects to portraits utilizing background bokeh and other photos, you can strongly emphasize your subject. One the other hand, as telephoto lenses are susceptible to camera shake, it is important to take steps to prevent this, such as using a tripod or vibration compensation feature.
Trinity lenses
Trinity lenses, or the “holy trinity of lenses” are general terms that refer to zoom lenses with constant F2.8 aperture covering the three main categories of wide-angle, standard and telephoto. Equipped with these three lenses, a photographer can take high-quality photos in all kinds of scenes.
Trinity lenses feature a large wide-open aperture (small f-stop value) and are known for offering excellent image quality and high expressiveness in terms of resolving strength and contrast. Across a wide range of applications from landscapes and portraits to sports, trinity lenses are commonly used by professional photographers and advanced amateurs alike. In addition, trinity lenses are often highly durable, enabling them to be used with peace of mind even in harsh shooting conditions. As this high performance tends to come at a steep price, trinity lenses are suited to those who are particularly focused on image quality.
Maximum magnification ratio
Maximum magnification ratio is a figure indicating the degree to which a lens can enlarge (magnify) a subject. The value is expressed as the ratio between the actual size of a subject and its size as projected onto the image sensor of the camera. For example, if a lens has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:1, it means that a subject appears on the image sensor at the same size as it is in real life. This value is an important metric for macro lenses, which need to capture fine details such as the surface texture of insects or the delicate structure of plants.
MOD (Minimum Object Distance)
MOD indicates the shortest distance at which a subject can be brought into focus. It is measured as the distance from the subject to the image sensor of the camera body. When a lens is closer to a subject than this minimum object distance, it can no longer be brought into focus.
MOD is an important factor for macro photography and close-in shooting. Lenses with a short minimum object distance allow you to get up close to subjects, capturing a larger view of small subjects or fine details. A short MOD also allows you greater shooting flexibility when the distance from the subject is restricted, such as when shooting portraits or objects in confined spaces.
In recent years, in part due to the ubiquity of smartphones, photographing objects at close range has taken root as a common compositional choice. For that reason, people can often experience stress when they cannot get as close as they want to a subject. Fortunately, many TAMRON lenses are renowned for their short MOD.
Lens filters
A lens filter is an accessory attached to the front of a lens, and are used to adjust the brightness or look of photos, or to protect the lens. There are various types of filters, each producing different effects. Commonly used filters including polarizing filters and ND filters.
A polarizing filter reduces light reflections on the surface of a subject, and can emphasize the transparency of the water’s surface, or the blueness of the sky. An ND filter reduces the amount of light passing through the lens, and can be used to prevent blown out highlights on bright days or other situations with a lot of exposure, or to slow down the shutter speed to create illusionary effects with the flow of water.
With the use of filters, you can adjust the expression in your photos even in situations that are difficult to control by altering the settings in your camera body alone.
Ghosting
Ghosting is an optical phenomenon that occurs when light reflects off the inside of the lens. Ghosting typically occurs when a strong light source (strong sunlight or a strong artificial light) enters the lens, such as in backlit conditions. Ghosting can appear as scattered light artifacts that are elliptical or polygonal (due to the shape of the aperture element). While high image quality lenses reduce the effects of ghosting through coatings and optical design innovations, photographers can also suppress ghosting while shooting by making adjusts to avoid light sources hitting the lens directly, and when the use of a lens hood.
On the other hand, while ghosting is generally regarded as a negative phenomenon, there are also cases where photographers will take advantage of ghosting to produce dramatic photos.
Flaring
Flaring is a phenomenon that scatters light when a strong light source enters the lens directly. Flaring can occur during backlit conditions and other cases where the light from a strong light source enters a lens directly. The effect can create uneven brightness throughout the image and also cause loss of resolution.
As with aberrations and ghosting, flaring can also be reduced with the use of advanced optical technologies, but can also be suppressed while shooting with the use of a lens hood or the avoidance of light sources. Moreover, while flaring is generally regarded as a phenomenon that reduces the quality of photos, there are cases where it is intentionally used to produce a dramatic or emotional effect in a photograph.
Mount
A mount is a part of the adapter that connects a camera body to a lens. Mount specifications vary by camera manufacturer and in general only a lens that is compatible with the mount specification can be fitted to a camera body. However, there are cases where a lens for a different mount can be made cross-compatible with the use of a mount adapter. Common mount specifications include Sony E-mount, FUJIFILM X-mount, and Nikon Z mount.
Moreover, mounts are not just physical connecting points but also handle communications between a lens and camera body. These connections enable the accurate operation of control functions such as autofocus, vibration compensation and exposure. When choosing a lens, it is important to select one that is compatible with the mount specifications of your camera system.
