It doesn't matter where you are in your photography journey - just starting out or a seasoned old timer - lenses will always be important to you, since they are pretty essential tools in digital photography! So I figured it would be a good idea to put together a post that brings together all the posts I've written about lenses over the last year or so, so everything you need to know is all in one place for easy reference.

Whether you ready to buy your first lens or just looking to add to your lens collection, there should be something for you here!

Photography Tips - Everything you need to know about lenses for your DSLR!

To go along with this post 've also created a "Which Lens Kickstarter Guide" which has some example images from range of different lenses, and tells you which focal lengths you should use for different types of lifestyle, portrait and documentary photos. That way you’ll get a good idea which lens might just be the very thing for you…just go here to grab it!

What do the numbers on the lens mean?

Just starting out and the lens numbers don't mean too much to you yet? This post breaks down the numbers and explains what they mean, what you should look for, and how to work out if a lens is for you. This will really help you make an informed decision when purchasing rather than relying on the store advisors!

What's the actual difference between focal lengths?

You may be wondering what the actual difference is between a 50mm and an 85mm length and so on.

The post below has compared different focal lengths (35, 50, 85, 100, 135 and 200) so you can see how each one affects how much you can fit in the frame, and the differences between lenses. (I'd also take a look at the post on lens compression too - it helps show the affect that the different focal lengths have on your background!)

Should I get a zoom or a prime?

It's an age old question, so I'm willing to bet that at some point you will have probably wondered whether to invest in a zoom or a prime! Both have their advantages and disadvantages - this post lists them out for you so you can decide what is right for you.

Which lens should I invest in first?

If you are wondering which might be good lenses to start off with, this post introduces you to some lenses you might want to consider when you are just starting out, and why!

I have the Canon 50mm F1.8 - but I'm not getting sharp photos!

It is a lens universally acknowledged as one of the "best" starter lenses, due to it's rather decent optics for a very good price, but it can be a little tricky to get the best out of at first. This post gives you some tips on how to get the best from the lens dubbed the "nifty fifty" (and the "plastic fantastic"!)

Should I upgrade from the Canon 50mm F1.8 to the Canon 50mm F1.4 version?

You may also have wondered whether there is a big difference in quality between the 50mm F1.8 and the slightly more expensive 50mm F.14 - this post gives you examples from the two lenses and gives my opinion on the two!

I already have a "starter" lens, which lens should I buy next?

Once you have had your DSLR for a while, there will come a time when you start to feel a bit restricted with the "starter" lens you bought to start off with, and you may wish to upgrade or add to your lens collection. I'm listed some ideas that you might want to check out!

I've heard a should get a "fast" lens - what is it?

You will probably have heard of photographers speaking of fast glass or fast lenses - this post breaks down the actual differences different lens choices could have on your camera settings.

I'd like to try Macro? Why type of lens do I need?

Some of you might also be interested in buying a macro lens at some point, here we look at what to look for, and what type to get based on your camera body.

What lenses do YOU use?

If you want to know what's in my camera bag then you can sneak a peek here! I've listed each lens along with example images taken with it so you can see how they compare.

Remember, don't forget to download your "Which Lens Kickstarter Guide" - just go here to grab your free copy!

Everything You Need to Know About Camera Lenses