One of the most common camera questions comes from folks getting a new DSLR – often their first “serious” camera beyond the point and shoot range – who want to know what lens or lenses they should get with their new camera. Amber sent such a question yesterday:

i am currently researching lenses for my canon rebel xti. i have been looking through your website and reading your helpful info on lenses. however, it is all so confusing. i mostly like to do landscape photography…sometimes portraits. right now i don’t have a ton of money to spend on a bunch of lenses…so i was wondering if you could suggest a good lens (…color, sharpness) that will help me for awhile until i can afford more.

A while back I posted an article on this (Beginner Questions: What Lenses Should I Get for My New Camera?) so I’ll make this post focus on some basic ideas to keep in mind as you try to figure this out.

Amber is on the right track in several ways. First, she is doing her research and, I assume, looking at more than one source – that would explain in part why it is “so confusing.” Second, she has identified some particular interest or focus for her photography. Third, she understands that one can start with something now – even if it isn’t the most expensive UltraSuperMegaLens. Fourth, she seems to understand that building a lens kit is a process that can take a while.

Without providing a lengthy explanation here (but see my article link above) I would almost always recommend something like the Canon EFS 18-55mm f/3.5-f/5.6 IS (image stabilized) lens, or its equivalent from the manufacturer of your camera. In general I do not recommend starting out with expensive high end (and expensive) L lenses, nor do I recommend buying a complete set of lenses at first. All of which perhaps leaves one with a couple questions: Why buy an entry level lens when “better” lenses are available? And why buy just one lens when having more lenses would provide more flexibility?

This Canon “kit lens” is reportedly a fine optical performer. Unless you are going to regularly make very large prints, you will be quite happy with the image quality that this lens can produce. In covers the core focal length range that most people need – from a decently wide 18mm for landscapes to 55mm “portrait” length telephoto. Although its maximum aperture is smaller than those on expensive lenses, with DSLRs you can shoot effectively in low light by using higher ISO settings. In addition, the IS feature on this lens will let you hand hold shots in lower light as long as subject motion isn’t a major issue – and your built-in flash can help here. For all its attractions, the cost of this lens is very low, and if you buy it as part of a camera kit it is even less.

Why not just do your research and find out what really fine lens(es) will be right for you and buy it (or them) right away? Why spend money on the kit lens only to replace it later? Good questions. The main issue is that there is no specific answer to the “what lens is best” or “what lenses do I need” questions. Frankly, the best that anyone can do is guess. As a beginner you have not yet developed subject preferences or established working methods or an aesthetic approach to your photography. And the lens choices must follow these decisions. The right lens for one photographer could be precisely the wrong lens for another – and until you have done some photography it is almost impossible to know which type of photographer you are.

Hence the kit lens. Without spending a ton of money you get a quite decent and reasonably adaptable lens that you can use to start making a lot of photographs. Shoot like crazy. Try new things. Shoot stuff in as many ways as you can imagine. Look at your results and go back and shoot some more. As you do so you’ll start to develop an intrinsic understanding of the relationships between your equipment and our photographic goals, and you will begin to see where your equipment does or does not limit you. At this point you can make intelligent judgments about what features you really need for your own photography. (Which is far better than trying to figure out what other people imagine that you might need – which often sound more like a recitation of what they use than anything else.) Instead of asking others “what lenses do I need?” you’ll be confident about what features you need for your photography and about figuring out which lenses provide these features. You’ll be a much smarter shopper and you’ll make purchases that really work and which last.