Once you have in your possession that dark object of desire that you have longed for for so long and that is finally in your hands, you start shooting as if something had possessed you and soon you think you know why the objective that comes with it kit is called the «paperweight». It is at that moment that, instead of enjoying your new acquisition and learning quietly, the new anxiety of buying you goals to achieve good photographs comes into your body. Has it happened to you? Most likely, yes, right?
And, from there, depending on your economic possibilities, because you launch yourself or not to the next acquisition. At this point we begin to make mistakes, one after the other, and I speak in general because there are many who fall like bedbugs in these obvious errors (when you know them) but so dangerous when you do not know them ... That is why today this article is dedicated to You who want to buy a new goal, either because it is the first you purchased or because the previous purchases have not satisfied you completely. And if you are not in one of these two cases, it may still be good for you because you can get ideas .
1. THE RUSH
The "live craving" that you can enter to get a better team, is not a good advisor when buying. First you must stop to think if you really need it and if you need it right now. Maybe with a newly released SLR camera you think you still don't take good pictures because you don't have the right lenses. Well, it is possible that a part of reason you carry, we already dedicate an article to tell you that your best photographs would be made with one of these objectives, which does not mean that it is essential to achieve a good photograph, but they are a tool that you can use to give a more nuance to your image. If you just bought the camera, what I strongly recommend is that you first do it, read the instruction manual well, and when you control it more or less and are satisfied with your photographs, go one step further. It is more important to know how to get excited with them and develop your photographic eye than to become with a very expensive objective.
2. BUY BY BUY
Having a wider team does not make you a better photographer, it can make you a more complete photographer, because you can cover more situations with him, but that is why you will not get better results.
Sometimes you see them in the shop window, in a magazine, on the web ... and you see them so beautiful they, so new ... and you imagine everything you can photograph with that objective that calls you so much ... you would love to have the money to buy it although then you will leave it in the backpack accumulating dust. Try not to fall into these traps of this consumerist society! Make decisions in a reasoned way and don't get carried away.
Resist temptation!
3. NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FOCAL LENGTH IS
I would say that this is one of the most frequent and important mistakes we fall into when we begin. It is important to know what the focal length is before launching yourself to a blind purchase, because if Mario tells you that the 50 mmm 1.4 is the king of the objectives ... you may stay with your eyes crossed because you have no idea what means "50 mm" right? To solve this, read the fantastic article that my partner Iaio prepared so that you know everything you need to know about the focal length of your lens. Here I leave a scheme of focal distances and uses by way of introduction or reminder.
Focal scheme and uses
And if you make a mess with the rest of the numbers (it's normal), don't worry, solve the hieroglyph .
4. NOT KNOWING THE USE OF EACH OBJECTIVE
Each type of lens is suitable for one type of photography. There is no objective that is the best for all situations, some will be more versatile, others will be more suitable to a scene, others will be more luminous ... But there are some more appropriate objectives depending on the use you plan to give, with the scheme I have given you the previous clue, check back again if you have not noticed correctly . And if you want to expand the information, check out these links:
Recommended lenses for portrait photography
Recommended goals for your next trip
5. NOT KNOWING WHAT TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU REALLY LIKE
If your landing to photography is very recent, the chances are that you still do not know well what style of photography you like to create, you may think that it is the landscapes but you have not tried it yet, you buy a lens for landscapes believing until you will be happier and when you have made the disbursement and you decide to try it you realize that you get bored like an oyster looking landscapes to portray, that what really fills you is street photography or portrait photography . And, of course, now the newly released objective is no longer as good for you ... It is best to expand the equipment based on real needs, when you are very clear that you want a macro because yours is insect photography or similar, then throw yourself, not before.
6. DISREGARD OTHER BRANDS
The tendency is always to look for brand lenses of our camera. Good because you think it's the best or because you don't know that there are other options. You should know that there are brands compatible with your camera that offer lenses at a lower price, are you going to rule out this possibility? When searching do not close to your brand, look at other options because you can find first-class goals , for example: Sigma , Tamron , Tokina , Zeiss or Samyang .
7. DISREGARD SECOND-HAND OBJECTIVES
When buying photographic material, have you ever considered second-hand products? Do not? Well you do not know what you're missing! You are missing out on a good opportunity to buy much cheaper and that it is second-hand does not mean that it is in poor condition, simply that its previous owner or owner no longer uses it or needs to sell it for whatever reasons.
The most important thing is that you know how to buy it, that is to say, do not let them fool you, so you better follow these 16 tips to buy a second-hand objective and that you do not get a cat for a hare.
8. DO NOT LOOK FOR PHOTOS TAKEN WITH THE OBJECTIVE YOU WANT
Another mistake we make on many occasions is not seeing the result that the objective we have in mind can offer. You may have an idea in your head and then take a click There are a few galleries where you can go and look for images made with that lens in question, so you can check how it works without putting your money at risk, such as Flickr or 500px .
9. BELIEVE THAT THE MOST EXPENSIVE IS THE BEST
A sadly extended and really wrong belief. Indeed, the most expensive is not the best, that expensive lens may be the best for another, but it does not have to be for you. We have already talked about how each person can use it differently, so they will need different benefits. Do not be guided by the price when thinking about quality.
Don't throw your money, be reasonable
If you can think of any other error that has skipped me, please share it, I will thank you forever! That nobody throws their money to keep the other information
That is why I also ask you to share this article, surely some of your contacts are happy about your next purchase . Thank you very much and see you next time!
