David Busch's Quick Snap Guide to Using Digital SLR Lenses
Introduction CHAPTER 1: A WORLD OF LENSES How a lens works What "normal" lenses do What telephoto lenses do What wide-angle lenses do Zooming with multi-focal-length lenses Prime lenses How F/stops work Variable and Constant f/stops Sharpness, Resolution and Acutance The Need for Speed The Ubiquitous Crop Factor CHAPTER 2: TYPICAL LENS CONTROLS AND FEATURES Focus rings Focus limiters Depth-of-field scales Hyperfocal indicators Zoom controls Filter threads and why you need them Do filters "protect" your lens? Lens hoods and why you must use them Vibration Reduction/Image Stabilization controls CHAPTER 3: FILTERS AND LENS ATTACHMENTS Using Polarizing Filters Using Neutral Density Filters Working with Color Correction Filters Special Effects filters Split Density Filters Close-Up Filters Fish-eye Attachments CHAPTER 4: RAISING THE BAR ON QUALITY Your lens' best aperture Depth-of-field tradeoffs Diffraction Testing your lens for sharpness Shutter speed and lens sharpness Testing for motion blur Tripods and monopods to optimize lens sharpness Optimizing your lens' focus Focus modes Autofocus assist Mirror lockup Backfocus/front focus CHAPTER 5: USING TELEPHOTO LENSES Long lenses vs. true telephotos What's magnification? Importance of telephoto aperture range Autofocus glitches Using selective focus Avoiding telephoto distortion Pincushion distortion Compressing distances Zoom or prime? What's bokeh? CHAPTER 6: USING WIDE ANGLE LENSES Telephotos vs. wide angles How wide angles work Choosing a wide angle Chromatic aberration Barrel distortion Perspective distortion Making size distortion work for you Emphasizing the foreground Wide angles and flash Wide angle depth-of-field Wide angles and polarizers Avoid vignetting Zoom or prime? CHAPTER 7: ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM Pros and cons of zooms Typical zoom ranges Using wide angle zooms Using long telephoto zooms Superzooms Varifocal vs. true zoom CHAPTER 8: MACRO LENSES AND PRIME LENSES Magnification vs. focal length Choosing a prime lens Perspective considerations Depth-of-field up close Specialized macro lenses vs. general purpose lenses Close-Up Attachments Using extension tubes Using a bellows Using a reversing ring Mini-Glossary Index