A Beginner's Guide to Learning about Lenses

Posted June 08, 2017

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If you shoot with a DSLR or another camera that uses detachable lenses, you know that learning about lenses can be an intimidating task. Everyone thinks that there is a vast amount of technical knowledge you need to work with lenses, but (while the technical aspects may be good to know) you can certainly pick up a lens, get used to it, and learn how to work with it.

Some of the things that intimidate people about lenses are things like focal lengths, what different kinds of lenses achieve and when and when not to use them. Once you decide that you want to take the dive into the world of lenses, you then face the multitude of questions about what lens you should use for the specific project you are working on.

YouTube video instructor Darious Britt has you covered and wants to show you how you should choose what lens to use.

We agree with Darious, the best way to truly get a feel for a lens and start to feel confident with it, is to just use it. Take it out for a spin and see what kind of images you get with it.

Lenses are what give your video that cinematic look. While we know that you can produce professional quality video without fancy lenses or even with a smartphone, lenses can take you to the next level of sophistication -- and you can even use detachable lenses for your smartphone. Different lenses give your shots a different look and they can be used editorially to for your story. You can achieve different looks that speak to your character, the story, and your own perspective. Don't be intimidated and give it a try!

Check out more videos from Darious here.

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