22/12/2024
Zoom lenses have been a large part of our camera gear, other than being convenient, it offers a lot of potential in the shots we create today. Sharing how we maximise it:
1. 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹
A common mistake with using zoom is seeing it as a magnification of the subject size. Adjusting focal length, also adjust the field of view of your background. As you zoom in, the field of view narrows, and can better isolate your subject to create a clean background. You can also use the longer focal length to control the compression of the scene and create more striking compositions.
2. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 = 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱
As you use a longer focal length, every little shake is amplified. Hence, the old rule of using a shutter speed that is at least 1/focal length speed for less motion blur. For eg, at 200mm, use at least 1/200 if shooting handheld. Of course, this is just a guideline.
3. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹
For some lenses, the aperture gets smaller as you zoom in, you might need to adjust your settings to maintain the same exposure. But for fixed aperture zooms like the 28-70mm f2, it stays throughout, which give you better control over your shots.
4. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻
In the past, most lenses perform at its sharpest when the aperture is stopped down (usually 2 stops from wide open), but in recent years, with higher quality lenses like the Sony GM lenses, we find that we are able to shoot at the widest aperture without fearing any image quality loss.
5. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘇𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 (𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨)
While zoom lenses give you the flexibility to change framing without moving, don’t forget the power of moving your own body! Getting closer, further, inching up or down can make a big difference in composition and the background. Linking back to Tip 1, consider getting the background you want before moving to get the subject size you envisioned.
Hope these tips help the next time you use a zoom lens!
