DSLR cameras, like mirrorless cameras, come with a lens, but you shouldn't limit yourself - preferably at least one of the five main types (or preferably several) if photography is of professional interest to you..
However, choosing the right lens can be tricky. When you need to choose a camera, there are many experts who are ready to help you with the choice - some even have ready-made questionnaires, based on which you will find the perfect model for you.
All of these apps and guides confirm that there is no universal “best” option. Your choice will depend on what kind of photos you plan to shoot the most..
What The Lens - like a photo and get a recommendation
Most lens selection guides assume that the user already has a general understanding of what they need. Designed for hobbyists and non-tech-savvy beginners alike, What The Lens takes a completely different approach: It will recommend a lens based on the photos you've liked.
First, you will be asked to select the make of camera and the type of photos you are looking for a lens for. Then What The Lens will show you some photos: look and like the ones you like. These should be roughly the same photographs that you plan to take..
After 20 likes, the app will select the lens for your model and provide links to buy on Amazon and Adorama. You can also experiment with different types of photos, or like more photos in a chosen category for a more accurate recommendation.
Lensvana - tables with detailed comparison
If you want to compare the performance of multiple lenses for your DSLR camera, you can collate all the data in one neat table. Lensvana provides this capability along with useful additional information.
The 585 lens catalog includes all major brands, including Stigma and Tamron, and provides a table with all the specs that include: mount type, focus, focal length, aperture, closest focusing distance, length, weight, average customer rating, and Amazon price. The amount of information is solid, up to the tightness and the presence / absence of the image stabilization function.
The list can be filtered by category, mount type, focal length (fixed / variable), or by searching for the characteristics you are interested in. There is no detailed review of the product here, so Lensvana is a kind of preliminary check of lenses for the functions you need.
Lens vs. Lens - comparing photos of two lenses
It's impossible to say for sure what your photos will look like with this or that lens until the time of purchase - which is why making an informed choice can be difficult. Service Lens vs. Lens will help you get an idea of what your photos will look like when taken through a particular lens.
First select the two lenses you want to compare (there is a database of the most popular models on the website, so there should be no problem finding). Immediately you will see a variety of photos taken through the lens of your choice.
Lens vs. Lens allows you to adjust the result based on focus distance and aperture, which can be applied to new photos - just enter the values with which you would like to shoot with your DLSR camera.
Click on the image to enlarge, the mouse wheel can zoom in / out the image. This way, you can make a detailed comparison before making a purchase.
DOF Simulator - How Camera and Lens Work
Photographer Michael Beamowski has created a virtual simulator like Lens vs. Lens: Here you can see how the chosen camera and lens will "converge". DOF Simulator is also a Depth of Field (DOF) and bokeh training app with a wide range of settings.
Before starting work, the service will ask you to select a camera and lens. When working with a photo, you can select several models (man, woman, child) and backgrounds, the distance from the camera to the model, select the portrait / landscape shooting mode, adjust the focal length, aperture and framing.
The picture is updated in real time, in general, it is a good opportunity to visualize the effects and make an informed choice when buying. Choose your camera and the lens you want to buy and “shoot” as many photos as you want. The more you know about depth of field, the better your photos will be.
DOF Simulator is available for free for Windows macOS Linux and Android
Mirrorless Lens Guides
There is no point in buying a DSLR camera if you are not a professional photographer. For beginners, travelers, and just photography enthusiasts, mirrorless cameras will be the best choice. However, the choice of lens can be difficult for them too. We scoured the internet thoroughly and found some great guides.
The site Engadget published a comprehensive article on what you need to keep in mind when buying a lens for mirrorless cameras. Each brand has its own lens mounts, especially when it comes to full frame and APS-C cameras. The author will also recommend the best fixed and variable focal length lenses for all major brands. The article is in English, so you will have to use the translator built into the browser.
If you want to jump straight to the top models, be sure to check out the review on Photo District News . It was written a relatively long time ago, but it contains a list of 16 of the best mirrorless lenses, including products from smaller manufacturers like Tokina and Venus Optics.
