How to become a professional photographer - 4 things to keep in mind [PART 2: The lens kit]
A good lens kit is just as important as a good camera. Think of it like having a sports car with subpar tires—no matter how powerful the engine, you won’t get the performance or precision you’re aiming for without the right set of wheels.
With that said, there are two basic characteristics you should consider when choosing a lens: focal length and aperture.
Focal Length
Focal length is the distance between the optical center of the lens and the camera sensor. It is also known as "focal distance" and is measured in millimeters.
Essentially, the greater the focal length, the more zoom you’ll have, and the smaller the framing of a scene will be. Vice versa, the shorter the focal length, the less zoom and the wider the frame.
Aperture
I know this can come off a little dense at the beginning, but don´t worry, because I promise you that with time, you´ll get the hang of it. And remember, the sooner you learn the rules like a pro, the sooner you can break the rules like an artist.
Let’s start by talking about the diaphragm of the lens. The diaphragm is a component of the lens made up of blades that open and close, creating a central opening that allows more or less light to pass through to the camera’s sensor. It works similarly to how the iris in your eyes functions. You could say the diaphragm is the "iris of your camera."
The aperture of the diaphragm is usually represented by a number called the f-number. The f-number refers to this physical opening in the diaphragm, meaning the diameter of the hole formed by the blades. The smaller the f-number, the larger the opening, meaning the diaphragm allows more light to enter the camera. On the other hand, the larger the f-number, the smaller the opening, allowing less light to reach the sensor.
So, when we say a lens is very bright, we’re referring to its ability to have a very large maximum diaphragm aperture (e.g., starting at f/2.8).
In addition to controlling the amount of light entering the camera sensor, aperture also affects other factors like depth of field and sharpness. But I’ll touch more on that in a later post.
Types of Lenses
1. Wide-Angle (10-35mm): Ideal for landscapes, architecture, and interiors. Allows you to capture the entire scene providing a significant depth of field.
2. Standard (35-70mm): Mimics the human eye view; great for street and documentary photography.
3. Telephoto (70mm+): Allows the photographer to be far away from the subject making this a great option for wildlife photography and paparazzi ;)
Zoom vs. Prime Lenses:
Zoom Lenses:
Advantages: have a range of focal lengths, allowing you to zoom in or out to frame your subject.
Cons: Heavier, less luminous, pricier.
Prime Lenses:
Advantages: They are lighter, brighter, and often cheaper.
Cons: It has a limited flexibility and a fixed focal length (this means you’ll need to physically move closer or farther away to frame your subject).
With that in mind, it might seem logical to only get zoom lenses so you don’t have to move around to frame your photos, right? I wish it was that simple.
In an ideal world where budget and back pain aren’t issues, having the trio of a wide-angle zoom, a standard zoom, and a telephoto zoom would be ideal because they would cover the vast majority of photography projects you might encounter. The most common example of this would be the 16-35 mm, 24-70 mm, and 70-200 mm, all at f/2.8, a combination often referred to as the "holy trinity of lenses."
Now that we know a lot about lenses, let's get some recommendations for Mike and Eve, our guinea pigs for this post.
As I said before, Mike creates content for brands, shoots social media material, and covers events like weddings.
Budget: Up to €1,500
Micro 4/3:
Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-60 mm F2.8-4
OM SYSTEM M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17 mm F1.8
OM SYSTEM M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45 mm F1.8
APS-C:
SIGMA 10-18 mm F2.8 Contemporary
Sigma 18-50 mm F2.8 Contemporary
Sigma 56 mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Full Frame:
Budget: Up to €3,000
Micro 4/3:
Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35 mm F2.8 II GX Asph OIS
Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 35-100 mm F2.8 II GX Asph OIS
OM SYSTEM Zuiko ED 45 mm F1.2 PRO
APS-C:
Sigma 56 mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Full Frame:
Tamron 28-75 mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2
Eve specializes in architecture and real estate photography, with her work often featured in print.
Budget: Up to €1,500
Micro 4/3:
SIGMA 10-18 mm F2.8 Contemporary
Tamron 17-70 mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Sigma 56 mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Full Frame:
Budget: Up to €3,000
Micro 4/3:
OM SYSTEM Zuiko 7-14 mm F2.8 PRO
Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35 mm F2.8 II GX Asph OIS
OM SYSTEM Zuiko 40-150 mm F2.8 PRO
APS-C:
Now that we have the camera and lens kit, all we need are some accessories and a quality website to display your work, and you'll be well on your way to launching a successful career as a professional photographer.