The Evolution of Lenses

 

The Evolution of Lenses: From Fixed Focal Length to Versatile Zoom

Back in the
days of black and white photography, I started my career as a photographer for
a media house. In those days, most photographers had to provide their own
equipment, including cameras, accessories, and expensive film. But luckily, the
company provided me with film and processing facilities.

After nearly
ten years there, thanks to the initiative of my senior editor, the company
surprised me with a brand new Nikon F90 camera and a powerful telephoto lens –
something I’d been longing for! I was ecstatic!

Those were the
days of film photography, and after finishing assignments, I’d rush back to the
office to process and release the photos I’d captured. My new equipment, with
its various lenses, opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities.

One day, I
spotted a squirrel from my window, nibbling on some breadcrumbs. With my new
400mm telephoto lens at the ready, I quickly attached it to my camera and
snapped a few photos.

The long focal
length of the lens compressed the background, making the squirrel the clear
focus of the image. Telephoto lenses have a shallow depth of field due to their
narrow angle of view, which isolates the subject from the background.
Conversely, wide lenses have a deeper depth of field and a wider angle of view.
Lenses with focal lengths in 35mm Cameras, longer than 50mm are categorized as
telephoto, while those shorter than 50mm are considered wide lenses. The longer
the focal length, the shallower the depth of field, and vice versa. This is a
fundamental principle of photography that expert photographers leverage to
achieve their desired effects.

#photographybasics
#lensknowledge #depthoffield

For your
information, telephoto lenses, normal lenses, and wide lenses come in various
categories, focal lengths, and brands. Traditional photographers used these
prime lenses (fixed focal length) to achieve high-quality results. However,
frequently changing lenses in the field can be cumbersome.

This is where
zoom lenses came in – a game-changer for photographers. These lenses offer a
range of focal lengths within a single barrel, allowing photographers to shoot
and compose their images without swapping lenses. While some traditional
photographers initially called them “lazy man lenses” and questioned
their sharpness and detail, zoom lenses quickly gained popularity due to their
convenience.

The first zoom
lens, the “Zoomer,” was invented in 1959 by optical engineer Frank G.
Back and introduced by Voigtlnder.

Here are some
notable zoom lenses and their inventors:

• Pan-Cinor: The first modern film zoom lens,
  invented by Roger Cuviller in 1950, featuring an optical compensation zoom
  system.

• 17-68mm lens: Designed by Pierre Angenieux in
  1956, this lens boasted a mechanical compensation system.

• Pentax zoom 70: The first point-and-shoot camera
  with a practical zoom lens.

The first zoom
lens specifically designed for still cameras was the Voigtländer-Zoomar 36-82mm
f/2.8 (USA/West Germany) in 1958. It was a popular choice among still
photographers.

Today, zoom
lenses are incredibly popular and often come bundled with cameras as the
primary lens. Among these, fisheye lenses, which offer an almost 360-degree
view, are favorites in landscape and architectural photography. Zoom lenses
with a wide range of focal lengths are ideal for wedding photography,
portraiture, and photojournalism.

#zoomlenses
#photographygear #landscapephotography

So, whenever
you’re considering buying a zoom lens, be sure to factor in the focal length,
angle of view, sharpness, quality, and brand.

In the picture:
A Squirrel in Black and White

Text and Photo by Ashok Karan

Ashokkaran.blogspot.com

Please like, share, and
subscribe. Thanks!