This probably has nothing to do with the topic on my blog, but in my opinion is very grateful for your benefit the hobby by taking pictures

Choosing a camera lens is a complicated matter and often confusing. In this article I tried to explain concisely and dense as possible. Hopefully helpful.
 

1. Zoom or Prime Lens
First of all, that we need to decide is whether we need a zoom lens or prime lens / fixed. Lens zoom lens is certainly a more flexible, but has the advantage of prime lenses in optical quality and are usually lighter and shorter.
 

2. Range of Focal lens
Then, we must determine the range of focal lens. There are several types of options, among others:

Ultra wide or fish eye lens (fisheye): Lenses of this type has a range of about 8mm to 16mm lens. This type of lens can capture a very wide area.

Standard: The lens has a focal range of about 18-55mm. The lens type is usually in the bundle when you choose a digital SLR camera. These lenses include all-purpose lens because it is often used for various purposes.

Telephoto: Lenses with focal range of 55-300mm. Type this lens to take pictures from a distance like birds, wild animals, portraits and sports activities.

Lens broom universe / superzoom: This lens has a focal range of lenses that are very large, namely, from 18-200mm or 270mm reach others. The lens of this type as a combination of standard and telephoto lens so it is very flexible. Suitable for users who do not want to carry more than one lens. Lack of this lens is at a higher price.

3. Aperture lens
The bigger the aperture, the more light that can be absorbed into the camera. Therefore, a large aperture lens with both if you often take pictures indoors or in dark situations. Moreover, the lens aperture was great, lets you control the depth of focus, making it easier to make the background blurred. But unfortunately, lenses that have large openings, usually more expensive. Usually, prime lenses have a larger aperture than most zooms. So when a large aperture priority, better to look around prime lens.

4. The functions of the lens
There are several functions that need to be considered include:

IS / VR (Image Stabilization / Vibration Reduction) : lenses that have this functionality can help reduce camera shake when taking pictures with a low shutter speed to reduce blur in photos. This function is very useful to take pictures of objects that are not moving, but not useful to photograph moving subjects like sports photo.

Macro: macro function enables the focus lens with a short distance, so that small objects becomes large. If you liked the photos of insects, flowers, or other small objects, you should look for this lens. A good macro lens is usually categorized as prime lenses.

There is also a lens with a weatherproof and water. Such lenses are suitable to be taken in the ordinary outing or hiking.

AF-S/SDM/USM/HSM: If you find code like this on your lens, lens means you have an auto focus motor that almost / did not speak when taking the focus. Most of the lenses that have this function was also faster than ordinary lenses.

4. Choose another brand lens?
There are several well-known lens manufacturers like Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, and several others. Typically, these third-party lenses cheaper. But if an artificial lens of this third party can rely on? This depends on the class of lens. Each lens manufacturers typically provide two types of lenses: normal class and upper-class high quality.

The lens offered by third parties vary widely, so it is difficult generalized. But in my experience, this is its main characteristics:

Tamron: Auto focus is slow, less accurate and less noisy. Famous for its cheap, and offers six types of lenses broom universe.

Sigma: Auto focus better performance than the Tamron, have a fairly complete series of lenses are low quality and low to high. Sigma is also famous for telephoto zoom lens.

Tokina: Tokina lens collection is not as much as Sigma and Tamron. Specialization Tokina is on ultra-wide lens. The quality construction and optics Tokina arguably very good.

5. Other
Especially for users of Canon cameras, many are asking about the differences in lens L and non - L. Lenses are labeled L (Luxury or fancy acronym) is a high quality lens from optical as well as construction. Most of the lens L is more expensive than non-lens L.

Then there is the Canon EF-S lenses. Lens-EF-S lenses are not designed for digital SLR camera Canon's full frame, like the Canon 5D, 1d mark, so it can only be used for regular Canon SLR digital camera.

If there is still confused and want to ask or share experiences about the lens that belongs please reply via the comment box below.