The Lens Book: Choosing and Using Lenses for Your Slr [Paperback]

Roger Hicks (Author), Frances Schultz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1996

With examples of photographs taken with all kinds of lenses - from ultra-wides to ultra-telephotos, via macro, soft-focus and zooms - this book describes their performance and applications. It is aimed at all photographers from the absolute beginner to the semi-professional. The authors, a husband-and-wife team who are both professional freelance photographers, discuss the difference between "marque" lenses from a camera's manufacturer and independent lenses from well-known firms. There is also information on adapting lenses from one camera to another, and a look at the problems and advantages of buying second-hand.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles UK (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715304704
• ISBN-13: 978-0715304709
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,030,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book cures lens angst., May 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lens Book: Choosing and Using Lenses for Your Slr (Paperback)

Lens angst. Do all photographers suffer this affliction? Those who don't probably have enough money to buy all the lenses they want. Those who do, however, should buy this book. It begins with a good guide to lens optics in general, and then discusses 35mm lenses according to focal length, explaining what they do and the applications to which they are best suited. Hicks and Schultz obviously know the world of lenses. They give good advice on putting together a well-rounded collection of lenses, helping you home in on the kinds of pictures you want to take, and your needs and desires as a photographer. They also provide helpful hints on purchasing used lenses. This information is particularly soothing to the angst-ridden soul contemplating expensive new equipment. The used market isn't all that bad, it turns out, and you can save some money and still accomplish your goals. But the best thing about this book is the photographs. Taken by the authors to illustrate the various points they make about the lenses, the pictures are well chosen to illustrate their points. You see clearly that a 14mm wide angle lens really opens up an interior, and that a short telephoto works best for portraits. Better still, all of the pictures are well taken photos. They are a pleasure to look at, and the book is brimming with them. You'll find yourself picking up "The Lens Book" again and again just to browse (wishing that you could take pictures that good). Beware, however, if you suffer from brand-name angst on top of lens angst. Hicks and Schultz make no manufacturer endorsements in this excellent, unbiased discussion of lenses. That's another of this book's valuable features.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done!! One of my favorite photography books., September 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Aiken, South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lens Book: Choosing and Using Lenses for Your Slr (Hardcover)

Hicks and Shultz do an excellent job in describing the various types of lens and their uses. The book is easy to read and well documented. The illustrations are excellent. A "must have" book for both the novice and professional photographer.

5.0 out of 5 stars lens book, December 22, 2008

By 

Vicki L. Parinello (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Lens Book: Choosing and Using Lenses for Your Slr (Paperback)

This book is packed with tons of information. I really enjoy it. Thanks.