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  • A Comprehensive Guide On Choosing The Perfect Lens For Mirrorless Cameras

A Comprehensive Guide On Choosing The Perfect Lens For Mirrorless Cameras 

Before getting into the nitty gritty of how to choose the perfect lens for a mirrorless camera, it would be imperative to understand what exactly a mirrorless camera is. This understanding would actually be imperative to making the correct choice regarding lenses. A DSLR or a Digital Single Lens Reflex has a reflex mirror inside and the light bounces off the same into the optical viewfinder, allowing you to focus on your subject and click the photo. In a mirrorless camera, however, there is no reflex mirror, which means that the light is able to go directly into the image sensor and through a viewfinder or monitor, you will be able to see a preview of the photo you are about to take. So, not only will a mirrorless camera be comparatively smaller and more compact, with the right lens, you will be able to take professional style images with ease. 

Now, when you are out trying to find the perfect lens for your brand new Nikon mirrorless camera, there are a few factors that will have to be weighed in, right at the outset. While price will have an important role to play, as a photographer, you will need to think about the speed, how sharp you want the pictures to be, how much of a zoom do you require and so on. 

What kind of photography you are planning to indulge in will have a big role to play in the type of lens you pick out. For instance, you have purchased a Canon mirrorless camera and you want to dabble in portrait photography, you will want to invest in a 50-85mm fixed prime lens, because it will accentuate the human features the best. A wide angle lens or telephoto lens will not work for you, because that is something a real estate agent or a sports enthusiast will want.

Here are some of the factors that you should keep in mind, while trying to choose the best lens:

  • Focal length – If you don’t speak the photography lingo, focal length refers to the amount of zoom your camera will have with the particular lens. The focal length will decide how much or how little you will be able to see – a short length means you will have a wide view and a long length lens will allow you to focus on an object much better. However, in mirrorless cameras, the choice of lens will be based on the sensor – micro 4/3, APS-C and full frame. It is important to remember that each of these has its own range of sizes – so, a full frame will be the double of a Micro 4/3 sensor and a APS-C sensor will be 1.5 times smaller than a Micro 4/3. Although the final results will be dependent on the precise type of sensor, the normal configurations are 24-70mm on a full frame, 16-55mm on an APS-C sensor and a 12-35mm on a Micro 4/3. 

  • Aperture – Whether you have a Sony mirrorless camera or a regular DSLR one, the small ‘f’ that you might notice on the lenses will be the same and they mean the same thing – aperture. This refers to the ability of the camera optics to collect light that will enter into the lens. The general rule is the smaller the number, the larger the aperture and vice versa. So, if you have a large aperture, say f/1.2, you will be able to capture pictures faster and you will be able to get really good quality photos even in low light. Yet again, in mirrorless cameras, the sensors will have a large role to play – apertures on full frame sensors will vary from those on a Micro 4/3. 

What type of photography you intend to dabble in will also have a role to play in your choice of lens. Here’s a table that will give you an approximate idea of what lenses will work for what type of photography.  

Photography style

Micro 4/3

APS-C

Full Frame 

Portrait 

35-50mm

50-100mm

100-135mm

Landscape/architecture/real estate

7-14mm

10-17mm

B14-20mm

Wildlife/sports

35-100mm

55-200mm

70-200mm

Macro

30-60mm

60-80mm

100mm


While these are the main factors, based on which you will want to make your choice of which lens to pair with your Fujifilm mirrorless camera (or whichever brand you are looking for), there are a few other factors that might influence your decision:

Stabilization – With a stabilised lens, you will be able to limit the blur caused due to movement, particularly in low light or when using enhanced focal length. But do keep in mind, stabilised lenses are heavier and a lot more expensive too. 

Actual dimensions – If you have made your switch from your DSLR camera to let’s say a Nikon mirrorless camera, you were probably already concerned about the weight – having chosen a lighter more compact camera now. The more high end the lens, the heavier it might weight, adding to the grand total!

Topicalization – If you are planning to use your camera in and around your home, office or city or take it out for the occasional vacation, you need not worry about tropicalization. However, if you are planning to photograph in areas where there will be high winds, sand or really high levels of humidity, you might want to consider a lens that is slightly more high end and will be able to withstand the climate. 

Price – Perhaps one of the most important factors to be considered; your first question to yourself needs to be how serious a photographer you intend to be – if you are planning photography as a profession, then there is nothing wrong in spending a bit or more than a bit. However, if it is going to be nothing more than a hobby, then think twice before burning a hole in your pocket!