Blog Post

So how many lenses do I actually need?

Derek Smith • 9 June 2021
So, how many lenses do you actually need?

This blog post was prompted by an F-Stoppers article about lenses for interchangeable lens cameras.

For many photographers one lens, the 24-70mm equivalent focal length zoom lens will be sufficient to cover most genres of photography, from nearly macro, close-up photos, to landscape, and portraiture. A possible disadvantage might be the variable aperture of this zoom lens, constant aperture lenses are usually available for most camera systems at extra cost, but are larger, and heavier than the variable aperture versions. Some camera manufacturers offer the choice of a standard “kit” zoom lens, or a constant aperture zoom lens at a higher cost when purchasing a new camera, buy the constant aperture zoom lens, you will not regret it.

What lens should I purchase next?

To answer to this question, a photographer will need to analyse the type of photography of interest.

Prime lens - For portraiture, street photography, or low light situations, such as social gatherings a prime lens (fixed focal length) may well be the perfect answer. How to choose the correct focal length when buying a prime lens? This is where the zoom lens is most helpful, look through a selection of your favourite photos, and ask yourself what is my favourite topic of photography? What focal length do I use most often? Many photographers use a 50mm equivalent focal length prime, the “nifty fifty”, often quite inexpensive, especially in a f/1.8 version. For my personal needs I prefer a 35mm equivalent focal length, very useful indoors at social gatherings, environmental street photography, and portraiture. My 35mm equivalent lens is wedded to an elderly range finder camera, and is always with me on trips, usually tucked in a pocket!! A dedicated portrait photographer might well choose the 85mm equivalent focal length lens, very flattering for portraits, rendering the background suitably blurred, ideal for studio, and outdoor locations.

Macro photography – For close-up photos of the natural world, a macro lens is very useful, before splashing several hundred pounds on a dedicated macro lens though, see how close the zoom lens will get to the subject, also consider an inexpensive set of extension tubes. On an APS-C sensor Sony camera I achieved reasonable results with a 90mm equivalent focal length lens, and extension tubes. Typically, a macro lens will have an equivalent focal length of around 100mm thus giving the required magnification, and 1:1 ratio ensuring that the subject is the same size, or greater in the viewfinder.

Telephoto lens – Usually building on from the standard zoom lens, a 70 – 200mm equivalent focal length zoom, is ideal for travel, and landscape photographers. For dedicated wildlife, and bird photography a longer equivalent focal length of up to 600mm may be more useful.

So, what is in my camera bag?

I have a dedicated camera bag containing my Olympus OM-D E-M5 iii camera, with a 12-40mm Pro lens, constant aperture f/2.8 (equivalent 24 – 80mm), and a 40 – 150mm Pro lens, constant aperture f/2.8 (equivalent 80 – 300mm) as well as a 2 times teleconverter. This camera, and lens set is fully weatherproof, with 5 axis in body stabilisation, and provides an equivalent focal length range of 24 – 600mm, most of my general photography needs are covered with the one camera body, and just two lenses

In another bag I have my dedicated portrait lenses the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (equivalent 60mm focal length), and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 (equivalent 112mm focal length) the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 (equivalent 34mm focal length) and lastly the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro lens (equivalent focal length 120mm) and two camera bodies the elderly Olympus PEN E-PL7 rangefinder camera, and an Olympus OM-D E-M10 iii.

So how many lenses do I need?

Louth Photographic Society

by Derek Smith 13 April 2025
Dave Turner, and I attended the LPA Fosters Challenge at Nettleham. The judge for the competition was Sue Wilson from Clay Cross. Axholme took first place with 19 points, Grimsby 2nd, and Cleethorpes 3rd. Louth was awarded 13 points, consisting of: Damselflies Mating – Graham Harrison 4pt Saltwick Bay – Tony Gaskins 4pt The Thinker – Keith Rossington 3pt Muted Swan – Harry Kerman 1pt Pier Number 9 – Dave Turner 1pt It was an interesting competition with some amazing images, a big thank you to Dave Turner for selecting the prints and submitting our entry into the competition.
by Graham Harrison 13 April 2025
Good Morning All Last week at the club member Chris Birchmore took us back in time with old photographs and a very interesting talk on one of Louth's old shops Platts stores. Platts stayed traditional for many years but as like most of the old shops eventually disappeared along with it's upside down sign. There is a blog on our website as well to look at. This week, Wednesday 16th April, we will hold our Print competition with the categories of "Curves" and "Open" to be judged by Diane Seddon of Cleethorpes. Harry is also now taking entries for the local PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Events" and "Open". Regards Graham
by Derek Smith 10 April 2025
Our member Chris Birchmore gave an illustrated talk last night titled "The Shopkeeper and his Assistant". Chris related details of his family origins, and family history in Louth, in particular his connection with Platts Provision Store in Eastgate. It was a very interesting talk which evoked many memories with those members who had themselves been raised in Louth. Many thanks Chris, the preparation, and talk was excellent.
by Graham Harrison 6 April 2025
Good Morning All With all this warm weather some insects are out and about to photograph, I took this photograph in our garden with a Sigma 105mm lens to get close in on the bee. It is another month now, so you need to think about your "Prime Time" project, if you are taking part. Last week at the club Brian McCarthy FRPS showed us his personal journey in photography, Brian takes most of his photographs in his shed building models with lighting and creating photographs that most of us would never think of. This week, Wednesday 9th April, our member Chris Birchmore who will be presenting a historical talk entitled "The Shopkeeper and His Assistant" specifically talking about a relatives memories of working for Mr. Platt the Shopkeeper. For those who have prints for the next competition, with the categories of "Curves and Open", you need to send Dave Turner a list of your entries and bring the prints in this week. Regards Graham
by Graham Harrison 30 March 2025
Good morning, All Last week we held our spring committee meeting, we discussed many topics including the new program which will be available to you all soon and did some preparation for the AGM. This week, Wednesday 2nd April, Brian McCarthy FRPS will be coming along to show us some more of his work. Brian is an ex-member of our club but has more recently been a member of Grimsby Photographic Society. You can also now start sending your print titles for the Curves and Open competition to Dave Turner. Regards Graham
by Derek Smith 27 March 2025
This year’s project is “Prime Time”, simply one photo taken each month with the same prime lens. The resulting 12 images will be shown to members on our “Project Night” next January. Why a prime lens? Well, a lens with a single focal length, a prime lens, provides a photographer with creative options. Composition of the image when using a lens such as this is essential, a photographer must choose a subject and move around that subject to obtain the photo. Every photographer should have a prime lens in their bag, and it doesn't need to be expensive. I recently switched from Fuji cameras to the Olympus / OM Systems camera ecosystem. Now, I use the OM Systems OM-1 camera with two zoom lenses and three f/1.8 prime lenses. For the “Prime Time” project, I'll creatively use the Olympus 45mm (90mm full-frame equivalent) f/1.8 lens, this lens is typically employed for portraits. This tiny, sharp lens, which captures beautiful portraits, was bought used for £149 from a reputable dealer.
by Graham Harrison 23 March 2025
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our PDI competition for March, with the categories of "Including the Moon" and "Open" judged by Mike Bennett. It was a very good night with some excellent photographs entered in the competitions, especially the Open. There were three twenty points awarded out of twenty photographs in each subject, Tony Gaskins had a very good night winning both the subject and the Open. All the results are on our website under competitions. The NEMPF PDI Inter - club competition went ahead recently, not so many clubs entered this year, I think there were only three LPA clubs who had entered, Louth came 11th, I'll leave it there. Thank you to Harry for organising our entry. This week, Wednesday 26th March it is a committee meeting for committee members only to attend. To keep you busy though you could prepare your prints for the next print competition, with the categories of "Curves" and "Open". Regards Graham
by Derek Smith 20 March 2025
At our meeting last night we held our Projected Digital Image (PDI) competition with the categories of "Including the Moon", and "Open". The judge for the evening was Mike Bennett. Mike skillfully judged the 33 submitted entries in the "Open" category, providing excellent feedback on the various images. After the break Mike appraised the 18 images in the "Including the Moon" category, this had been a difficult subject for members to photograph, and was also challenging for the judge. Congratulations to Tony Gaskins for his first placements with "Moonbell, Mablethorpe" in the "Including the Moon" category, and "Dawn, Whitby" in the "Open" category. As is usual, the Competition page of the website has been updated with the top three placements in each category, and full results. Many thanks to Mike Bennett for judging the competition, and Dave Mann for providing the refreshments.
by Derek Smith 18 March 2025
This morning I took my used OM Systems OM-1 camera, and the used Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm, f/4.8 -f/6.7 lens, recently purchased for £249, with me for a photographic walk around the nature reserve at Gibraltar Point. The weather was excellent, and I'm pleased with the resulting images of the various birds to be seen. I believe the bird reflected drinking from the pool is a Common Chaffinch, and the other bird perched on a log appears to be a Dunnock.
by Derek Smith 17 March 2025
One of our members, Richard Hildred is holding an Exhibition, and workshops in Fydell House, Boston, Lincolnshire. See attached posters for further details.
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