Use the right lens for your photo situation and get professional results.
Many people who buy DSLRs -- digital single-lens reflex cameras -- never bother using any lens other than the standard included kit lens. Sometimes they cannot afford to buy anything better, and other times they simply do not know the benefits. You can vastly improve your photography by learning to use different, better lenses. Use a few tricks to shop for the best deals on great DSLR lenses at cheap prices.
Instructions
1. Find out what kind of lenses your camera can accept. Many newer Canon and Nikon cameras, for example, can only accept lenses specifically made for the newer generation of digital bodies. Pentax and Samsung digital bodies, however, are compatible with Pentax K-Mount lenses spanning back decades.
2. Get adapters. Many lenses can be adapted to just about any body with the right adapter. Pentax screw-mount lenses from decades ago, for example, can often be used on most newer digital bodies (of any brand) with the right adapter. These adapters can usually be found through online auctions like eBay, but make sure you buy from a reputable source. Buying a cheap adapter can result in focusing issues later on, and a lack of being able to focus at infinity. In terms of adaptability, Olympus and Panasonic 3/4ths mounts tend to have the widest range of brand compatibility due to the close distance the native mount has to the image sensor.
3. Go manual. Older lenses from film cameras often have optical quality equal to their newer digital counterparts. Depending on your particular camera's compatibility, auto-focus from compatible film lenses often works as well. To find the best deals, shop around for older manual lenses. These lenses, often made out of sturdy black metal, have to be focused by hand. The image quality you'll receive, coupled with their extremely cheap prices, makes the tradeoff well worth your money. For example, a new 50mm prime from a major brand can cost anywhere from $200 to $400. Older, manual, versions of the same exact lens can be easily found for $15 to $50.
4. Shop for old film SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras that include the lens you wish to purchase. Many shoppers looking for just lenses often overlook these auctions and sales. You can sometimes sell back the film SLR camera body for close to what you paid initially. Completed auctions on eBay, for example, have included a camera with a 70-300mm Pentax zoom lens that sold for around $5. You might be able to score a similar find.
5. Shop at thrift stores and pawn shops. Though pawn shops have the tendency to charge relatively high prices for their merchandise, you might make a good find. Thrift shops are also a great possibility, as individuals are now getting rid of their film SLRs and lenses without realizing that you can use them with many newer DSLR bodies.
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