Lenses for Landscape
Paivi Lobigs – Still Standing – May 2019 – Trees AB Grade Highly Commended
by Julie Hartwig, Tin Can Bay Camera Club
One of the most popular genres of photography is Landscape. Typically defined, images of this genre capture scenes of the landscape by day, night and every time in between. While appearing static, landscapes are far from it.
Sunrise transitions to day and sunset transitions to night, the weather changes, the tide comes in and out. The landscape – and in particular the light on the landscape – is constantly changing.
A common question often asked is what lens (or camera) is best for taking landscape photos? The simple answer is the camera you have with you, even if that camera is only your phone.
Having said that, phone cameras are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and in some instances are a match for traditional digital cameras. Loaded with apps that can assist in editing photos on the go, phone cameras are becoming serious contenders for landscape photos, and many landscape photographers have a phone camera in their camera bag.
The complicated answer to that question is the best camera you can afford, whether that is a DSLR or a compact point-and-shoot. If it’s a DSLR, the quality of your image is determined primarily by the lens – the better the quality, the better the image (though knowing HOW to use camera and lens to their best capabilities is perhaps an even bigger determination!).
For the most part, a wide-angle lens is best for landscapes. This is because the human eye has a wide angle of view and to match this, you need a lens capable of capturing the angle of view seen by the human eye.
Wide-angle lenses cover the focal length range from the ultra-wide angles of 10-11mm up to the standard wide angles of 28-35mm.
Many entry level DSLR cameras are sold with “kit” lenses, which are a cheaper alternative to get you started. If this genre of photography interests you, you can invest in more expensive, specialist lenses later on.
Happy snapping! More tips next month.
The Tin Can Bay Camera Club’s next meeting: 7pm, Wednesday June 19 at TCB Library,. For more information about club activities and to view members’ images, visit www.tincanbaycameraclub.wix.com/tcb-camera-club.
