- Lenses can have a fixed focal length, known as a prime lens, or encompass multiple focal lengths, known as a zoom lens. Zoom lenses allow the photographer to recompose the picture without moving, but prime lenses provide slightly better quality.
- How much light a camera lens lets in is denoted by the aperture. The smaller the number, the more light the lens lets in. Lenses with apertures of 2.8 or less are known as "fast" lenses and are used for capturing high-speed action.
- Focal length represents the camera's angle of view. The angle of view of a human eye is 40 mm to 60 mm. Lenses with focal lengths longer than that will decrease the field of view but enlarge subjects that are farther away.
- Some lenses only have manual focus. Others add an automatic focus option. A relatively new option is full-time manual, which relies on the camera to set the focus but allows the photographer to adjust it without changing the settings or damaging the lens.
- Lens of a higher quality will generally carry a higher price tag. These lenses will have special features such as image stabilization or ultrasonic motors.
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