P#23 Q2C: Scott Stulberg Explains why a Wide Angle Zoom Lens is a Must-Have Piece of Photography Equipment

All Hail the Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Scott Stulberg: I would say, without a doubt, they need something in the range of a 70-200mm wide angle zoom lens, and something that's not too slow. At least an f4 70-200mm lens. That's my workhorse and the workhorse of most of my friends who are professionals.

Then, if you use a 1.4 extender, you can convert that to like a 110-280mm. And if you have a camera that's not a full frame sensor camera, like a Nikon D80 or D300, or if you have a Canon 40D or 50D, you have to consider the conversion factor because it's a smaller sensor.

When considering the conversion factor you multiply the focal length by .5 on a Nikon or .6 on a Canon so you have a really big telephoto effect, but it compromises on the wide angle lens because you multiply it by those numbers. Your 28mm lens because like a 45mm lens, which is like a normal lens.

If your camera does not have a full frame sensor, consider the 11-17mm lens. Eventually, people will be moving to full frame sensors for the most part and we won't have to worry about the conversion factor.

I would say at least bringing a 70-200mm lens no matter what camera you have, and at least one kind of wide angle lens. It doesn't matter if it's a 16-35mm or a 17-40mm or if it's a name brand or not. You can buy a Tokina or a Sigma lens -- there are quite a few that are pretty good.

So as far as the most important digital camera gear, I'd have to say a wide angle and telephoto zoom lens are it. Once you have that set up, then the rest is up to you.

Audri Lanford: Great. I would say probably the wide angle zoom lens I use the most is my 70-300mm. I love that lens.

Scott Stulberg: Those are great lenses too, but something like a 70-300mm is usually going to be a slower lens, meaning the f-stop won't be as fast. I need fast lenses. Fast lenses means like an f2.8 lens, which means on my Canon 70-200mm, it's a f2.8, meaning it's one of the white lenses you see on the sidelines of a sporting event or something like that,

All those white lenses, at least with Canon, are their more expensive, faster lenses. That lens is nearly $1,700. It's very expensive. The lens you're talking about might be around $400, and that's fine for most people. You'll get great pictures out of that, but it won't be as fast.

This means you have compromised with your shutter speed or your aperture and you won't be able to get some things that you could in other ways if you had faster lenses. Plus the light coming in through your view finder is going to make the camera seem a little darker so your autofocus is going to have a harder time too.

Audri Lanford: That's really helpful, and you are exactly right. I also have a 50mm lens that is f1.4.

Scott Stulberg: That's very fast.

Audri Lanford: Yes, very cool also.

Scott Stulberg: That's excellent. My macro is only f2.8 so your 50mm is faster than mine -- almost twice as fast.

Audri Lanford: That's not a macro though.

Scott Stulberg: Yes, you're right. I can probably get in closer with my macro lens, so there's a little compromise there.

In Summary

Not all lenses are created equal. Sure you can head out with your existing camera lens and just point and shoot, but if you want to take shots that rival the masters' you're going to need a fast wide angle zoom lens in your camera equipment arsenal.