There are times when the traditional lens on a camera just doesn't do it and you need to get in for a close-up, even though you're too far away. A zoom lens lets you get as close as the lens range allows, which is often more than enough.
Instructions
1. Decide how close you want to get to your subject. This determines your position from the subject and whether or not you need to use a tripod.
2. Remember that cameras are inherently unsteady and when you use a zoom lens that unsteadiness is multiplied many times the closer you zoom in to your subject. Use a tripod when you can, but, if you cannot, find ways to steady yourself against rocks, trees or walls in order to get the sharpest picture possible.
3. Crop your picture in your mind as you decide how far to zoom in. With a standard zoom lens that lets you get in from, say, 80 to 200 mm, you can bring things in very close and crop your subject any way you want. This is one of the great advantages to zoom lenses.
4. Keep in mind the relative weight of your various zoom lenses. There are a variety to choose from, but they tend to be heavier than your fixed-focus lenses, making your camera bag bulkier and perhaps more unwieldy. Take this into account when traveling on photo shoots.
5. Practice before going out on an assignment or before you need to snap a picture quickly and efficiently. The nature of the zoom lens is that it gives you such a wide range of photo possibilities that the other lenses do not offer you, but you need to have a clear idea of how you want images to be framed as you zoom in and out.
Tags: zoom lens, lens that, your subject, zoom lens that, zoom lenses