Most food photographers, including the inexperienced ones, only use a few types of lenses to capture mouth-watering dishes. Usually, because lenses are expensive, and once you have success with a specific style or frame, then you usually continue to use the same lenses to achieve the desired result that works with their vision.

Differentiating the available types of lenses for various composition and perspective is important. Here are a few options you may consider before adding to your food camera lens collection.

Fixed lens

Fixed lens, known as a prime lens, offer fixed focal length – 35mm and 50mm. And because the lenses do not have zoom capability, they are easy to use. They provide higher quality images at a lower price. Most people consider the 35mm focal length to be normal because it mimics exactly what a human eye sees. A fixed lens will come in handy when shooting portraits due to the wide aperture. It will also provide high-quality images compared to zoom lenses.

Zoom lenses

Unlike the fixed lenses, zoom lenses are adjustable to various focal lengths. Most DSLRs feature kit zoom, which captures images at a range between 18 mm and 200 mm. Zoom lenses are heavier and larger than the fixed lenses and are more expensive. They are ideal for travel photography because one lens can play the part of several different lenses.

Telephoto lenses

Even though telephoto lenses are powerful magnifiers, they are heavy, large and more expensive. The camera lenses allow capturing of distant objects like you would capture an object in front of you. They are ideal for shooting wildlife and sporting events. The camera lens will make you feel as if you are in the middle of the action.

Macro lens

The macro lens allows the user to focus when he/she is closer to the subject. The lens magnifies small subjects such as blades of grass, insects, intricate textures and patterns. Other lenses can provide macro effects, but a real macro lens will provide sharp images of any tiny subject.

Wide angle lens

To capture angles wider than what your eye can see, like angles required for landscapes or the four sides of your living room, you will require a wide-angle lens. Manufacturers offer the lenses in several sizes, but the wide field of view differentiates from other types of lenses. With the lens, you should expect image distortion and any line that appears straight to your eyes would appear curved through the wide-angle lens. That will create an interesting artistic perspective.

Whether you are planning to capture delicious dishes from Melbourne best restaurants or to take numerous close-ups of Melbourne best cup of coffee, you have to go for a lens that will match your job. The focal length (or the distance at which your lens will start to focus) is the primary differentiator of lenses. The field of view, which refers to the visible area in the frame, is the other factor. The focal length describes the width of the field of view and it is directly proportional to the width of the lens. Some people go for zoom lenses while others go for the fixed versions. The choice of a lens is personal and none of the lenses will fit every situation.