Lens Buying Guide

Normal Lens – 50mm
In my opinion, a fast 50mm lens is a must have in every serious photographer’s camera bag. For years, the fast 50 was the “kit” lens. This somehow made it less desirable and the camera companies started shipping cheap zooms with their bodies instead of the 50. I think that was a bad call. In most cases, I’d dump the kit lens in favor of a fast 50 and one auxiliary lens (at a minimum.) The good news is that fast 50mm lenses are affordable. Here are my suggestions.
BUDGET
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR Lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
INTERMEDIATE
Nikon 50mm f/1.4G SW Lens
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Lens
PRO
Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G Lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens
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Wide Angle Lens
If you photograph landscapes, architecture, environmental portraits or anything else that requires a wide view, wide angle lenses are going to be important to you. While photographers disagree about how wide is wide enough, I’ve always found lenses in the 20mm to 28mm range to be a consistently good focal length for most wide shots. Yes, there are times when SUPER wides like the 14 or 16mm lenses will be more appropriate. These are typically expensive and overkill for MOST photographers. Feel free to go wider if you need to and can afford it. For the purpose of this piece, I’ll stick with 20mm to 28mm lenses as a wide angle choice.
BUDGET
No Budget Choice This Category
INTERMEDIATE
Nikon 20mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor Lens
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Wide Angle Lens
PRO
Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED AF-S RF SWM Prime Wide Angle Nikkor Lens
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L USM II Wide Angle Lens
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
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Zoom Lenses
I’ve already given my thoughts on zooms. In today’s economy, they will be the only logical choice for photographers on a budget. Thankfully, there are some very good and affordable zooms. Here are some of my favorites.
BUDGET
No Nikon choice in this category
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L
INTERMEDIATE
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens
PRO
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Lens
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Zoom Lens
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Specialty Lenses
Some photographers will need specialty lenses for things like macro, wildlife, sports or architectural work. Here are a few that I like.
INTERMEDIATE
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8 Lens
Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro Nikkor Lens
NOTE – the above lens is designed ONLY for Nikon DX cameras. Full frame Nikon shooters should buy Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
PRO
Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Lens
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II
Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG Lens (Canon)