Datasheet
Choosing a lens
Ultra wide-angle lenses (such
as the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM)
are unsuitable for interior photography
since images at these focal lengths
often show barrel distortion at the
edges of the frame, with straight lines
appearing curved. You can, however,
correct much of this distortion through
the lens aberration correction feature in
Digital Photo Professional software.
14/15
Architecture and Interiors
Perspective distortion is a common
problem when photographing buildings.
The lines of a building tend to converge
when photographed, resulting in a slightly
skewed final image. A Tilt and Shift lens is a
good solution. This is a specialist lens that
allows you to shift the lens axis away from
the centre of the frame. The vertical edges
remain parallel, achieving the same effect
as specialist view cameras. Another benefit
is that the field of view is much wider than
would be possible using a normal lens of
the same focal length. (See page 88–89
for an in-depth tutorial on using Tilt and
Shift lenses).
THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE: TS–E 17mm f/4L
GREAT BUDGET OPTION: EF–S 10–22mm f/3.5–4.5 USM
Landscapes
A wide-angle lens will allow you to get more
of the scene into your photo while also giving
a greater sense of depth and distance. Aim for
a focal length between 17mm and 24mm,
taking into account the crop factor for
your camera. Most landscape photography
requires a large depth-of-field to get as
much of the scene as possible into focus.
This means that typically, you do not require
a large maximum aperture. What you do
require is high quality optics to capture tiny
details in your scene.
Macro
Macro lenses allow you to capture tiny objects
at life-size. The main factor to consider when
choosing a macro lens is the focal length.
Shorter focal lengths (50mm–60mm) provide
a wider field of view, which means you will
typically be capturing more background detail
in the image. Since you need to get right up
close to your subject at these focal lengths,
your working distance will be shorter. Medium
or telephoto (90mm–180mm) macro lenses
limit your field of view so that the subject can
take up the entire frame. You can shoot from a
greater distance – useful when photographing
skittish insects (see page 78–79 for an in-
depth tutorial).
THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE: EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM
GREAT BUDGET OPTION: EF–S 15–85mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM
THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE: EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
GREAT BUDGET OPTION: EF–S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
One way to increase
magnification when shooting macro
subjects is to add an extension tube
between the camera and the lens .
Extension tubes don’t have any
glass in them – their purpose is
to move the lens further away
from the image sensor, thereby
increasing magnification and
allowing for a closer working
distance. The trade-off is that you
lose the ability to focus to infinity.
Focal length comparison
300mm
600mm
135mm
85mm
35mm
24mm
15mm
8mm
400mm
800mm
200mm
100mm
50mm
28mm
20mm
14mm
The images below show the same scene taken from the
same location with different focal lengths to show the
effects that can be achieved with different lenses.