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If you’re shooting on your cheap handheld digital camera, or even something so old it
still requires tapes – sorry – you don’t have the option for interchangeable lenses.
If you’ve advanced yourself enough to shoot on something like, say a DSLR camera, you’re
in luck. You’ve proven that you’re smart enough to escape the basic range zoom lens
that comes with the camera, that is, unless you’re too cheap to buy or rent something
new.
If you’re really serious about maintaining complete control of what you’re shooting
– then the three generic types of lenses that should be on your radar are fixed, zoom,
and “close up” – or macro.
Fixed lenses, also known as prime lenses, come in a range of focal lengths from wide
angle to telephoto. Their optics are simpler, like many of you, and let in much more light
giving you more control over the depth of field. You want to throw the less-than-attractive
extras in the background out of focus? Consider a fast, fixed lens to keep your viewers’
attention on the true star of your video.
Zoom lenses come in handy when you’re wanting to travel light, or if you’re heading out
to shoot without a real plan. The only thing you’ll have complete control over is the
distance in which you capture your subject.
“Close up”, or macro lenses, have reproduction ratios greater than 1:1 - much like the cheerleading
squad from your old high school. Macros let you get that extreme close up of – well
– we don’t really want to know. Be careful with your depth of field when using these
“larger than life” lenses because your range may literally come down to the millimeter.
Think you’ll actually broaden your cinematic scope with these lens tips? Give us a thumbs-up,
or follow us for more tips to bring your video-making skills into the current century.