If you’re just getting settled with photography as a hobbyist or an aspiring professional, make sure to read our guide to makings heads and tails of mirrorless cameras vs. DSLR cameras before diving into our picks for the best lenses for DSLR cameras. They are mostly intended for shooting architecture, subject-heavy landscapes, and interiors. It offers quick focusing, precision settings, a sturdy build, and bright and beautiful color reproduction. Versions of this lens can be attached to Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony DSLR cameras. It’s fast, compact and a solid option for beginners and intermediate DSLR photographers. Images come out sharp and detailed, even in low light, and the build itself is sturdy with few signs of breaking or aging. Keep in mind, though, that this lens has a minimum focus distance of about 1.48 ft, meaning you can’t get too close to your subjects. For that, you’ll need a macro lens. It’s also got a stepping motor for smooth, silent autofocus for stills or video. All these specs make it an ideal tool for anything from portraits to nighttime photography, but, as we mentioned in the intro, it’s best if you already know what style of shooter you are. Lenses are very game-specific, and this prime lens from Canon is no different. More distant subjects, however, will be highly focused and richly detailed through the zoom range. In the normal setting, the lens has a minimum focus distance of 59 inches, but with the macro mode engaged that distance shrinks to 37.4 inches. This makes it a versatile lens for a variety of purposes. With versions available for most Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and Konica Minolta DSLRs, this Tamron is a powerful option for avid photographers on a budget. The 70–300mm focus depth covers a pretty solid range for an all-purpose lens. The max aperture for those levels is f/4.5–5.6 respectively, which is pretty middling. But if you do want to capture something with a shallower depth of field, flip it into macro mode to photograph things about three feet away with 180–300mm focal lengths. Finally, it’s built with LD glass, which offers a much tighter aperture and more focused image plane when compared to standard photo glass. Wrap that all with a 6-year warranty, and this is a solid choice for your all-around lens. When it comes down to it, our favorite part of this lens is its affordability; ringing in under $100, you really won’t find another name brand telephoto option for a better price. It’s important to note that it is refurbished, so if you want something brand new, then you’ll need to look elsewhere. But, for our money, this is a great choice for the entry-to-mid-level photographer. Integrating full-time manual focus is another highlight, which allows a photographer to make adjustments in the moment without the need for switches or menus. This manual inclusion from Tamron allows for highly impressive results even under circumstances where a photographer’s depth of field is limited. Boasting sharper contrast than other lenses in its class, the Tamron was designed to focus on excellent performance and deliver a nearly noiseless experience all while thriving on fast-moving action shots. Based on customer reviews, the manual focus action seems smooth, but the internal Ultrasonic Motor allows for an even smoother, faster, silent autofocus. It’s built with 12 elements including aspherical lens construction, which will ensure clean, rich optics, and at only 1.1 pounds it’s not an anchor, either. It isn’t going to run you the same quality as Canon’s f/2.8 counterpart, but then again, it also won’t run you the even steeper price. Even at this level, you’ll still get the weather-resistant build, an Ultrasonic Motor, and plenty of quality for your money. Focal length - Focal length dictates whether a lens captures a wide or narrow-angle of view and thus the type of picture you can take. Wide-angle lenses, for example, have a focal length of 14-35mm and are ideal for shooting landscapes or working in tight spaces. Telephoto lenses, on the other hand, range between 70-200mm and are popular for wildlife, sporting events, and wedding ceremonies. Price - Photography is an expensive hobby. Once you’ve bought your DSLR, you still have to buy a lens, a camera bag, and perhaps a tripod or editing software. Luckily, there are many reasonably priced lenses on the market for those on a tight budget. You may need to make some compromises on features, but you should be able to find a solid option around $100.
