A photographic lens is an assembly of lenses or optical lens used with a camera body and mechanism to make pictures of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically. While in theory a simple convex lens will suffice, in practice a compound lens made of several optical lens elements is needed to correct (as much as is possible) the many optical aberrations that crop up. Some aberrations will be present in any lens system. It's the job of the lens designer to balance these out and produce a design that's good for photographic use and potentially mass production. There's no significant difference in theory between a lens utilized for a still camera, a video camera, a telescope, a microscope, or other equipment, but the detailed design and construction are different. A lens could be permanently fixed to a camera, or it could be interchangeable with lenses of different focal lengths, apertures, and other properties.

Most digital cameras include a built in lens with the exception of the Professional DSLR cameras. Lenses are rated by power (x) and can range all the way from 1x to 10x. The bigger the lens power is the more expensive the camera. One of the commonest and cost-effective powers is 3x (approximately 35mm equivalent 39-117mm). Lenses are also rated for digital and optical zoom capacity. Most digital zooms don't work best and shouldn't be used. So don't get stressed over digital zoom ratings, be engaged with optical zoom power ratings. Some lenses have superior optics and quality, which increases price but gives somebody a sharper and clear print. A new feature being offered is Image Stabilization. This decreases the shake of your camera's lens as you take a shot, therefore, giving you a sharper photograph. When cameras are used at higher a tripod or 4x power is suggested to keep the camera still and subject in sharp focus.

For different kinds of photography you consider the specific sort of lens. With this there are a few classes of lens from consultant lean and shift, macro and then wide, standard and telephoto lenses.

*Macro - Insects and plants
*TSE - Architectural
*Wide Angle - Vistas, Documentary and Landscapes
*Standard - Portraiture, Events, Editorial, Photograph Journalism, Marriages
*Telephoto - Sports, Wildlife, Events, Journalism.