Canon lens course. The best lenses for your Canon DSLR from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objective

A great course on canon lenses for beginners, hobbyists and enthusiast canon dslr photographers

Syllabus

Introduction

Hello and welcome to this Camerawize/Udemy course on Canon lenses. In this first lecture we take a look at why DSLR cameras need lenses and how lenses can improve your photography.

Because, whilst you don’t actually need a lens to take pictures, lenses enable you to focus the light coming into the camera, so that it looks clear bright and sharp.

Having established the reasons for lenses and how they can help you to be a creative photographer, we now take a look at the main factors to look for in a lens: Focal Length and Aperture, Why are these factors so important? And does it change the image if you are shooting on a full frame camera or a crop frame camera?

Then we consider how aperture can be used to produce pictures in certain circumstance - action or landscape for example.

Then we take a look at the f-number - the measure of the aperture on a lens - and meet our first equation. Don’t worry it is not a difficult one and it helps you to understand the meaning of aperture and the mechanics involved in producing fast aperture lenses and how that will affect the cost of the lens.

Focal Length and Aperture aren’t the only factors we need to consider when looking at a lens, and in this lecture we take a look at other factors that could influence our our decision to choose one lens over another. we consider sharpness, contrast, color, flare, Bokeh, distortion and chromatic aberration.

Then we delve into the mirky world of MTF charts, looking to see what they should tell us about each lens, and how they are not always as clear as we would like them to be…

If you have a lens for your DSLR camera, it will be a prime lens or a zoom lens. What is the difference? Which is better? This lecture explains..

Depth of field is so important in photography - it can change the meaning or context of an image and is one of the most useful tools for any photographer. This lecture explains the relationship between the object distance, aperture and focal length of the lens and how they affect depth of field. It is really worth knowing…

At last! Now we are going to talk about specific Canon lenses. By quickly going through the more popular kinds of photography we take a look at some good lens choices of each - both Canon and third party lenses…

Many Canon photographers will have picked up a 18-55mm kit lens when they bought their DSLR. Well, don’t be so keen to discard it! This lecture explains why this much-maligned lens is a great starter lens and can help you to decide which lens you want to buy next…

More in-depth lens action! This lecture compares the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens with the cheapest 50mm lens available, from Yongnuo. Which is the better lens and why? We look at MTF charts and test pictures to find out…

This lecture defines wide angle, standard and telephoto lenses and show what they are capable of.

This lecture takes you through some of the best lenses you can buy for your Canon DSLR. starting with Wide angle lenses, through standard lenses and on to telephoto lenses. Then we take a look at the abbreviations third party manufacturers use and what they mean in Canon language..

Ok we are in specialist territory here. This lecture talks about Macro lenses, Fisheye lenses and Tilt/Shift lenses. These lenses produce very specific pictures. How? Why? All is explained…

In this lecture, we talk about accessories for lenses - filters, extension tubes and extenders. These are designed to either change the light as it comes into your lens or to change the light as it goes through your lens. After watching this lecture, you may decide you don’t need a new lens after all..

My friend Jamie Williamson is a professional photographer, and here, we take a look inside his camera bags to see what a freelance newspaper and PR photographer chooses to take with him when he is out on a job….

Perhaps that is the only lecture you really wanted on this course? Here we take a look at the things to look out for when you are buying a lens, what are the warning signs that you might be making a poor deal?

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores focal length and aperture, which are fundamental concepts for photographers to master and use to improve their photography skills

Covers MTF charts, lens distortions, and lens code abbreviations, which are essential for researching and comparing different lens options with confidence

Explores prime and zoom lenses, specialist lenses, and third-party lenses, which broadens the understanding of available options for Canon DSLR cameras

Discusses depth of field and hyperfocal distance, which are crucial techniques for controlling focus and creating desired effects in photographs

Examines filters and extenders, which are accessories that can enhance lens capabilities and provide creative possibilities without necessarily buying a new lens

Features a comparison of the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens with a cheaper alternative, which helps learners evaluate lens quality and make informed purchasing decisions

Reviews summary

Practical guide to canon lenses

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive and practical introduction to Canon DSLR lenses. Many found the explanations clear and easy to understand, making complex topics accessible. Students particularly appreciated the sections comparing specific lenses and the guidance on choosing the best lens for different photography styles. The advice on what to look for when buying a lens was also highlighted as highly valuable. While geared towards beginners and enthusiasts, reviewers suggest it provides a solid foundation without excessive jargon.

Offers value beyond basic introductions.

"Even as an enthusiast, I picked up useful tips, especially on specific lens comparisons and buying advice."

"It wasn't just a basic overview; it delved into enough detail to be useful for hobbyists."

"While maybe not for seasoned pros, it's excellent for hobbyists looking to expand their knowledge."

"The instructor's experience shines through in the practical advice given."

Covers a wide range of lens topics.

"The course provided a comprehensive overview of different lens types and accessories."

"I liked learning about prime vs. zoom lenses, and also specialist lenses like macro."

"It touched on important technical aspects without getting bogged down."

"Covers essentials from focal length to filters and extenders."

Ideal starting point for new DSLR owners.

"As a beginner, this course gave me the foundation I needed to understand lenses."

"It's perfect for someone who just bought their first Canon DSLR and wants to know about lenses."

"The course lives up to its promise of minimum jargon, making it accessible."

"It built my confidence in choosing the right lens for my camera."

Valuable tips on purchasing lenses.

"The section on what to look out for when buying a used lens was worth the price of admission."

"I feel much more confident researching and buying lenses after this course."

"The advice helps you avoid common pitfalls and make smarter investment choices."

"Understanding lens abbreviations from third-party manufacturers was very useful."

Specific lens comparisons were very helpful.

"Comparing the Canon 50mm f1.8 to the Yongnuo was incredibly useful for deciding which affordable prime to get."

"The examples showing the difference between wide angle, standard, and telephoto lenses were practical."

"Seeing comparisons of lenses for different photo styles gave me clear direction on my next purchase."

"The detailed look at the kit lens helped me appreciate what I already had."

Complex lens concepts explained simply.

"The lectures were easy to follow and understand, breaking down technical concepts like aperture and focal length."

"I finally understand what MTF charts mean thanks to this course's clear explanation."

"The instructor does a great job explaining the relationship between aperture and depth of field simply."

"This course clarified many aspects of lens types and their uses that I found confusing before."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Canon lens course. The best lenses for your Canon DSLR with these activities:

Review Focal Length and Aperture

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Reinforce your understanding of focal length and aperture to better grasp how lenses affect image creation.

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Review the definitions of focal length and aperture.
Practice calculating depth of field for different focal lengths and apertures.
Experiment with different settings on your camera.

Read 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson

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Deepen your understanding of exposure and how it relates to lens selection and usage.

View Understanding Street Photography: An... on Amazon

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Read the book cover to cover.
Try out the techniques described in the book.

Experiment with different lenses

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Practice using different lenses to understand their unique characteristics and how they affect your images.

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Choose a subject.
Photograph the subject with different lenses.
Compare the results.

Four other activities

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Photography Project: 'A Day in the Life' using only one lens

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Apply your knowledge of lenses by completing a photography project using only one lens to capture a variety of scenes.

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Choose a lens.
Plan your day.
Take photos throughout the day.
Edit and share your photos.

Create a Lens Comparison Guide

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Solidify your knowledge by creating a guide comparing different Canon lenses based on focal length, aperture, and intended use.

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Research different Canon lenses.
Compare the lenses based on key features.
Write a guide summarizing your findings.

Read 'Canon EOS System Digital Camera Guide'

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Gain a deeper understanding of the Canon EOS system and how to optimize your lens usage.

View Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide on Amazon

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Read the book.
Experiment with the settings described in the book.

Help others in online photography forums

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Reinforce your understanding of Canon lenses by answering questions and providing guidance to other photographers in online forums.

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Find online photography forums.
Answer questions about Canon lenses.

Career center

Learners who complete Canon lens course. The best lenses for your Canon DSLR will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Photographer

A photographer captures images using cameras and lenses. This Canon lens course helps photographers understand the technical aspects of lenses available for Canon DSLR cameras. Photographers learn how different lenses affect the final image, including focal length, aperture, and depth of field. The course also covers specific Canon lenses, discussing which lenses are best for certain photographic styles such as wide-angle, standard, and telephoto. With the knowledge gained, photographers can select the perfect lens for their needs, maximizing image quality and creative potential. A key part of being a successful photographer is understanding how to choose the right equipment, and this course is a great place to start.

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Photography Instructor

A photography instructor educates others on the art and science of photography. For those looking to teach photography with a focus on Canon DSLRs, this course provides a strong foundation in understanding Canon lenses. This course goes into detail on focal length, aperture, MTF charts, lens distortions and lens code abbreviations. Understanding these concepts and being able to explain them clearly is critical for a photography instructor. The course also looks at specific lenses in detail, understanding depth of field and hyperfocal distance, extending to things like filters and extenders. This course provides a base to teach others about the Canon lens ecosystem.

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Camera Store Sales Associate

Camera store sales associates need in-depth knowledge of camera equipment to advise customers effectively. This Canon lens course is extremely valuable for sales associates who want to help customers select the right lenses for their Canon DSLRs. The course covers various lens types, their strengths and weaknesses, and what to watch out for when buying a lens. This knowledge allows sales associates to provide informed recommendations, matching customers' needs with the appropriate lenses. The course covers wide angle, standard, and telephoto lenses, as well as specialist lenses. By understanding the technical details of lenses, a camera store sales associate can build trust with customers and improve sales.

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Photography Blogger

Photography bloggers create content about photography techniques, equipment, and trends. This Canon lens course helps bloggers develop expertise in Canon lenses, enabling them to write informed and engaging articles. Bloggers can use the knowledge gained to review lenses, offer buying advice, or explain technical concepts to their audience. The course covers topics such as focal length, aperture, MTF charts, and lens distortions, providing bloggers with a solid understanding of lens performance. The course includes examples of the kinds of pictures each lens type can take, as well as detail on depth of field and hyperfocal distances. This course gives photography bloggers the knowledge needed to create compelling content.

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Photo Editor

A photo editor selects and prepares photographs for publication in various media. The course instructor, Jeremy Bayston, has been a picture editor for national newspapers in the UK for over 25 years. This course may be useful for photo editors by deepening their understanding of the technical aspects of different lenses used to create photographs. A better understanding of the lenses used helps editors to better understand the intent and constraints of the original photographer. The course covers topics such as focal length, aperture, and lens distortions, which can help photo editors evaluate image quality and make informed decisions about which photos to use.

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Digital Content Creator

Digital content creators produce various forms of online media, including photos and videos. The Canon lens course can help digital content creators using Canon DSLR cameras to choose the best lenses for their projects. Understanding the characteristics of different lenses, such as wide-angle, standard, and telephoto, helps in creating visually appealing content. The course also covers accessories like filters and extenders, which can enhance the quality and style of digital content. The course covers what lenses actually do as well as the main factors to look for in a lens: Focal Length and Aperture. Digital content creators may find this course useful for improving the production value of their work.

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Social Media Manager

Social media managers create and curate content for social media platforms. For social media managers who use visual content, a knowledge of lenses can be beneficial. The Canon lens course may help social media managers better understand how lenses affect image quality and composition. Social media managers can learn about the different types of lenses and how to use them to create engaging content. The course explores prime and zoom lenses, specialist lenses, and third-party lenses, as well as which lenses are best for each photographic style. This knowledge may improve the effectiveness of social media campaigns.

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Marketing Specialist

Marketing specialists develop and implement marketing strategies to promote products or services. Visuals play a key role in modern marketing, and this course may help marketing professionals understand how to select the right lenses for creating high-quality images for marketing campaigns. The course covers the strengths and weaknesses of wide-angle, standard, and telephoto lenses. It also offers advice on what to watch out for when buying a lens. For creating visually compelling marketing materials, this course may provide valuable insights.

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Graphic Designer

Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. While graphic design is generally concerned with the manipulation of images and typography on a computer, the source images often come through photography. If the graphic designer uses photography, especially with a Canon DSLR, the Canon lens course may be useful. The course may provide supplemental information on the capabilities of digital photography.

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Visual Merchandiser

Visual merchandisers create eye-catching displays in retail environments to attract customers and promote sales. They use a collection of techniques to appeal to the consumer. This role includes photography in order to capture the work that has been done. The Canon lens course may provide visual merchandisers with supplemental skills to help them to document their work. The course gives the user the 'knowledge to get the right lens for the type of photography you want to do'.

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Archival Photographer

An archival photographer is responsible for documenting and preserving images of historical significance. They create and maintain photographic records. The Canon lens course may be useful by deepening an archival photographer's understanding of the technical aspects of different lenses used to create photographs that are worth archiving. A better understanding of the lenses used helps in the process of preserving the photos.

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Product Photographer

A product photographer specializes in capturing images of products for commercial use, typically for advertising, e-commerce, or catalogs. A product photographer needs to understand how to highlight certain features of the product in an enticing way. The Canon lens course may be useful by providing the fundamentals of working with Canon lenses and their resulting images.

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Real Estate Photographer

A real estate photographer specializes in capturing images of properties for sale or rent. A key consideration in this role is to capture the entirety of a space in a single photo. The Canon lens course may be useful by helping photographers to determine the depth of field appropriate for real estate photography.

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Press Photographer

A press photographer captures images for news publications, covering events, people, and places of public interest. A press photographer often has to work with specific constraints and must be able to get the shot no matter what. The Canon lens course may be useful by providing the fundamentals of Canon lenses and their resulting images. The course instructor has a background as a picture editor for national newspapers in the UK for over 25 years.

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Event Photographer

An event photographer captures images at various events such as weddings, conferences, and parties. A wedding photographer in particular needs to have the experience, skill, and equipment to be versatile and capture many different types of photos in many conditions. The Canon lens course may be useful by teaching the user to 'take exactly to kind of pictures you want to take'.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Canon lens course. The best lenses for your Canon DSLR.

Understanding Street Photography

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Provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the exposure triangle and how it affects your photography. It's a great resource for beginners and intermediate photographers alike. It offers practical advice and real-world examples to help you master exposure and take better photos. This book expands on the course material by providing more in-depth explanations and visual examples.

Understanding Street Photography: An Introduction...

Paperback

Understanding Street Photography: An Introduction...

Kindle Edition

Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide

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Comprehensive guide to the Canon EOS system, covering everything from camera settings to lens selection. It's a valuable resource for Canon DSLR users of all levels. It provides detailed explanations and practical tips to help you get the most out of your camera and lenses. This book provides additional depth to the course by focusing specifically on the Canon ecosystem.

Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide

Paperback

Canon lens course. The best lenses for your Canon DSLR

What's inside

Learning objective

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to canon lenses

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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