Camera Lenses

Mirrorless lenses

All the main lines of mirrorless cameras come with their own mirrorless lenses. Sony E-mount lenses are designed for the pioneering Alpha series, and Fujifilm X lenses have a terrific reputation among enthusiast photographers.

Canon RF and Nikon Z are newer mirrorless lens systems, both of which are designed with sophisticated 12-pin mount connectors (as opposed to the standard 10) which allow for faster communication between camera and lens. Canon also has a separate mirrorless line of more affordable APS-C cameras, the EOS M, which use M-mount lenses. 

Then there are also Micro Four Thirds, which is a standard adopted by both Olympus and Panasonic. This allows cameras and lenses from the two brands to be used interchangeably.

In a similar vein, the Leica L-mount can also be used on full-frame Panasonic Lumix S cameras.

DSLR lenses

DSLR lenses are steeped in history, with mounts that date back to the days of film SLRs! The most famous lines still going are Canon EF and Nikon F. In both cases, you can use a lens made thirty years ago with a camera made today, and vice versa. If you use Pentax DSLRs, you want Pentax K-mount lenses. 

There are also smaller lens lines – Canon EF-S and Nikon F (DX) – that are designed for smaller cameras with APS-C sensors. Budget and beginner DSLRS tend to have sensors of this size, and it’s worth checking yours before buying lenses, as the professional full-frame lenses won’t be compatible. 

Medium format lenses

Medium format lenses are for large-sensor cameras that focus on image quality above all else, aping the 120-format film cameras of old. There are medium format lenses available for Hasselblad H, Hasselblad X, Pentax 645, and the newer mirrorless medium format Fujifilm GF.

What focal length of lens do I need?

What are zoom and prime lenses?

You’ll hear these terms a lot when shopping for lenses. The difference is simple – zoom lenses, as the name implies, have optics that allow you to zoom in and out. Prime lenses do not – they’re stuck with a single “prime” focal length. So why would anyone use prime lenses? Well, not having to zoom allows the internal construction of the lens to be of much higher quality, meaning sharper pictures.

If you want versatility and flexibility, get a zoom. If you want image quality above all else, get a prime.

What are the best lenses for video?

This varies again depending on what you want to do, but having a standard lens that can silently zoom will be hugely helpful for most types of video shooting. Serious filmmakers will want to look at cine lenses, which are especially optimised for video.

What is the best make of lenses?

There are no right answers here! Ultimately it comes down to what you want to create. So browse our selection, get a feel for what you want, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have more questions.

Lens converters

Extenders and teleconverters allow you to extend the effective focal length of a lens, seeing further into the distance. This usually comes at the cost of a smaller maximum aperture, reducing the amount of light that gets in.

Extension tubes

Extension tubes allow lenses to focus at closer distances than they otherwise would, by moving the focal plane further from the camera sensor. This is hugely useful for macro photography. 

Lens mount adapters

Lens mount adapters allow lenses from one system to be used on another. This often means that functionality like autofocus will not work, though if you’re working within the same manufacturer (e.g. Canon EF-EOS R) then you may find that most functionality remains intact. The manufacturer should specify in each case.

Lens caps

Humble but essential, lens caps are critical for protecting both sides of a lens from dust and damage!

Lens hoods

Lens hoods protect the front elements of a lens from the weather and the dust, while also blocking out light from unwelcome angles. 

Lens protectors

If you’re a real outdoor photographer, it’s worth looking into lens coats and protectors to keep your lenses safe from weather damage. They’re not as comfortable roughing it as you are!