The lens is perhaps the most important part of the camera, on which the image quality directly depends. While good optics require a significant investment, there are ways you can save money and purchase a lens that can help you successfully embody a photographer's creativity.
It is necessary
A digital or film camera to which it is technically possible to attach a lens
Instructions
Step 1
First you need to find out what model of camera you have, otherwise it will be very problematic to choose the right lens. There are a huge number of camera models in a wide variety of formats. You need to know not only the brand of the camera (for example, Canon, Nikon, Zenit), but also the type of mount supported by the camera. This information is usually found on the body of the camera or in the instructions that came with it. You can also clarify this data on the websites of the manufacturer of your equipment or on specialized resources.
A bayonet is a lens mount to a camera. For example, Soviet lenses, suitable for the Zenit camera, have a threaded mount with a thread diameter of 42 mm (hence the name - M42). To attach such glasses to modern DSLRs such as Canon or Nikon, an adapter ring is required, since these cameras use a different one designed specifically for a particular brand instead of a threaded mount.
Step 2
As a rule, each manufacturer of photographic equipment, in addition to cameras, also produces lenses for them. These optics are usually ideal for the camera and work best, although they are expensive. To save as much as possible on a new lens, choose branded stores where there is no dealer markup for goods. Be sure to compare prices online so you don't get screwed up. You can probably find the best one in the online store.
Step 3
You can also buy a used lens, which can sometimes save you half the amount of a new one. First of all, it is worth looking for advertisements for sale on specialized forums, where you can find out how experienced and conscientious the seller is, here you can also ask other users for advice. You can also search for ads on sites like "From hand to hand" or Avito.
When choosing used optics, be extremely careful, because there will be no possibility to return the goods back. The lens should be carefully inspected for chips, scratches, and dust before purchasing, especially on the lenses. Ask the retailer for permission to take some test shots with the lens on your camera.
Step 4
If you are looking to buy a cheap lens, then you should pay attention to third-party companies that produce accessories for various brands, such as Tamron or Sigma. The price of such lenses will be an order of magnitude lower than the "native" ones, but the quality may leave much to be desired. Before purchasing such optics, be sure to read the reviews about the quality of the selected lenses, and also find out if they are compatible with your camera. You may need to buy a special adapter ring, which usually costs less than a thousand rubles.
Step 5
The favorite method of "advanced" amateur photographers who want to take interesting pictures, but do not have the opportunity to acquire professional equipment, is to buy lenses made in the USSR. They are fairly easy to get hold of, as many families still have cameras from the Soviet era. Even if you do not find a person who is ready to give you the equipment for free, you can always buy lenses in commissions or through advertisements for little money: you can find a good model even for 500 rubles. If you are lucky, you will come across a quality lens with Carl Zeiss optics - these were used after the Great Patriotic War. Photographers love Soviet lenses for their high aperture and beautiful bokeh, that is, a blurry background, which is especially well used in portrait photography.
