Customer Reviews

The Lens Book: Choosing and Using Lenses for Your Slr

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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.

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.

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