Lenses of all types

Often a decision for life - choosing the right lens

Photography is always a question of focus. Clearly, it is the lens that changes the focus and makes the difference. And it is also always a question of ability, personal preferences and strengths. Of course, the question of which lens the photographer chooses also depends on the camera systems available - whether they prefer to work with system cameras (CSC) or single-lens reflex cameras (SLR). Fixed focal lengths do not have a zoom, so the photographer's eye is required here, as he must know which setting is suitable for which situation. On the other hand, they have a particularly good imaging performance with very low distortion, resulting in their superiority over other lenses. Fixed focal lengths are suitable for a whole range of subjects, from landscape photos to portraits. All lenses, such as those from Lensbaby, can be adjusted manually. In the fixed focal length range, there are new high-performance classics, optimized for digital technology, for example from Leica or the lenses from Meyer-Optik-G?rlitz, which have been revived according to original plans and adapted to digital technology. Among the Zoom and Megazoom lenses are high-performance lenses with a particularly wide focal length range and fast, virtually silent autofocus, suitable for wide-angle or telephoto applications. Here, Nikon is causing great amazement with the world's first ultra-wide-angle lens with image stabilizer, which ensures strong images even in low light. Horizons that bend and pillars that bulge forward for no reason - every photographer knows such difficulties. Shooting without distortion is a particular challenge with landscapes and architecture alike. Wide-angle lenses are available in the fixed focal length, macro, zoom and fisheye ranges, including a particularly distortion-free lens from Canon. While zooms and megazooms also cover the telephoto range, pure telephoto lenses are not suitable for the telephoto range Telephoto lenses - both as fixed focal lengths and as zooms - especially for wildlife and nature photography. At the top end, lenses from Hasselblad and Leica eliminate the need for any digital post-processing due to their outstanding quality. Olympus comes up trumps with the lightest and most compact telephoto lens currently available (Micro Four Thirds mount), while Sigma has the world's first lens with a speed of 2.8 at a focal length of 500 millimetres. Close up to the subject - the small really big - that is the specific feature of the Macro and its wide range of applications. Most lens manufacturers offer lenses for this special world in miniature - Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica or Pentax as well as Tamron, Sigma or Samyang. Fish-eye lenses are available from D?rr, Samyang, Pentax, Panasonic, Olympus, Nikon, Sony and Walimex. Fish-eye photography can be used to achieve creative results and produce surprising effects, such as mountains that curve and walls that bulge outwards. Tilt-and-shift lenses from Canon, Nikon, Laowa, Leica, Samyang or Walimex, for example, help the photographer to correct the perspective of the image, i.e. to compensate for particular distortions, such as converging lines in architecture. Tilt" means panning (of the lens system in relation to the image plane). "Shift", on the other hand, means to move (for example, the focus area can be shifted while maintaining the exposure time).