{"id":2587,"date":"2011-04-12T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-04-12T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.wordpress\/?p=2587"},"modified":"2022-05-30T21:56:24","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T01:56:24","slug":"faq-what-are-interchangeable-lenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/faq-what-are-interchangeable-lenses\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ: What are Interchangeable Lenses?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you ready to become a more creative photographer by making the step up from simple snapshot cameras to serious photographic tools? If you are, then the answer to the question, \u201cWhat are interchangeable lenses?\u201d<\/b> is an important start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interchangeable lenses are lenses that can be mounted on a camera and swapped out for other lenses. Unlike fixed lenses, which are built into (mostly compact<\/a>) cameras, interchangeable lenses provide the user with a wider choice of image-capture capabilities. While there are general-purpose lenses that cover the same range as lenses on built-in cameras, the optical quality is generally better. But the true power of interchangeable lenses is in the specialized lenses that are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Camera Lenses Universal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Camera lenses manufacturers create lenses for particular purposes, camera types<\/a>, and camera models. As a result, you have to choose between lenses with different focal lengths and optical characteristics, mount types, and brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, for a full-frame camera, you need a full-frame lens. And for macro photography, you need a dedicated macro lens<\/a>. For a Nikon camera, you need either a lens produced by Nikon or a lens fabricated by a third party, especially for Nikon cameras. However, even the lenses made by a camera manufacturer such as Nikon don\u2019t fit all Nikon camera models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, are camera lenses universal? No, they are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mounts and Cameras<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we talk about the kinds of interchangeable lenses available, we need to look at the cameras that accept interchangeable lenses. They fall into several categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DSLR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Digital Single-Lens Reflex, or DSLR, cameras<\/a> (which were preceded in the film era by simple SLRs) are made by Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Leica, and Sony. These cameras have a reflex mirror and optical viewfinder that allows you to see the actual image projected by the lens. Each DSLR brand<\/a> has its own mount. Lenses made for a Nikon, for instance, will not fit on a Canon, and vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mirrorless <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mirrorless cameras<\/a> are the newest and fastest growing category of interchangeable-lens cameras. These cameras look like small DSLRs but instead of a reflex mirror viewing mechanism, they use electronic viewfinders, which are basically very small screens that display images that you view through the built-in viewfinder. Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Nikon, Canon, and more currently make mirrorless cameras<\/a> and all companies are developing the technology. The mounts for mirrorless cameras are not compatible with DSLR lenses, although there are some adapters available that allow users to mount DSLR or rangefinder lenses on mirrorless bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rangefinder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rangefinder cameras are specialized tools that are favored by documentary photographers and photojournalists. They consist of an optical viewfinder and focusing mechanism that lets you view the scene, not through the lens, but parallel to it. Leica<\/a> is the only company currently making a digital rangefinder, but there are a handful of other companies (Zeiss and Voigtlander) that make film rangefinder cameras, which are still in demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by ShareGrid on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Different Types of Lens Mounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To use interchangeable lenses, you have to select a set of lenses that fit your camera\u2019s lens mount. Camera brands use a range of lens mounts, so check the characteristics of your camera before buying lenses. Here are the most popular lens mounts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n