There are 7 major styles and over 60 types of photography and professionals use a wide range of cameras and lenses for their various styles. Whether for Portraiture, Groups and Weddings, Wildlife / Nature, Still Life or Architecture, there are basic needs for cameras and equipment associated with Lens Capability, Aperture Settings, Shutter Function, Comfort and Durability.
Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8 Lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 Lens
DON’T BE CONFUSED – Sometimes folks provide too much information confusing readers. The main difference in photographs by professionals and no-professionals is the use of lighting and and focal length. Stare at your finger right now. Hold it a foot away from your eyes and stare. You will notice that it is in focus and everything else behind it is out of focus. Our minds work like fast computers putting everything into focus as we look around. Professional photographers create realistic scenes by focusing on people and objects, blurring the background just as we see it in real life. Some professionals spend a lifetime perfecting this aspect of photography. The focal length and aperture of the lens and the way it works with the camera is very important. The price difference between professional equipment and other equipment is mainly based upon capability and durability. Aperture is a term all photographers should learn.
APERTURE – The size of the lens opening. The f-stop which is basically the determination of focal length is similar, however not the same. With both Aperture and F (focal length settings), the numbers go in the opposite direction of the actual opening size. Most people don’t get bogged down with the science of it. They just learn to use the various lens opening aperture settings effectively. The lower the number the larger the opening. With most lenses the high number is usually f22 which is used in bright light and slower shutter speeds. A high f-‘stop provides a small opening which will restrict light and provide a wider focus area. So, the higher the f-stop number the smaller the opening and Aperture. Most professionals pay extra for the lower f-stop lenses, usually in the 1.2 to 2.8 range for close to mid range shooting, as they are versatile for various lighting situations, creating mood, and also because they can create more realistic photographs by creating depth of field.
DEPTH OF FIELD – Along with controlling lighting, a larger lens opening creates a shorter focal length.
A GOOD COMBINATION OF LENSES – Though there are a wide range of lenses to chose from, it is important to determine which camera or cameras you will be using. To be ready for most types of photography, you will need lenses with a wide aperture to increase lighting options and depth of field. Here are some top lenses used for specific applications:
50mm Lens – Min f.2.8. Preferably f1.2 if possible. As a fixed lens, it is mainly used for Portrait style shooting and Still Life. Limited on range, it is a standard lens that can be fairly inexpensive with low lens capacity. If you want one lens that can do it all go for something with a larger aperture than f/2.8.
80mm Lens –
14mm Lens –
24 -70mm or Lens –
70-200mm Lens –
HERE ARE SOME CAMERA BUNDLES OFTEN USED BY PROFESSIONALS – It is often easier and more cost effective to purchase a basic bundle than purchasing items separately.
LIGHTING – Lighting is very a important feature of photography. It can be used to control brightness and darkness, the tone and mood, and also be used to define objects and textures. Along with natural light, there are many ways to influence images by controlling light. Professionals chose cameras to benefit their style. Here are some cameras that are used by many professionals:
APERTURE –
COMFORT-
DIRABILITY –
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