Lens Size

I prefer the shortest lens possible. Over 98 % of the time I’m using my wide angle lens. It is an 18 to 55 zoom that came as standard issue on my Rebel EOS XTI camera. I prefer this lens because it doesn’t magnify my image. At the 50 setting it is exactly as my eye sees the image while the 18-28 setting is a wide angle view. The more the landscape image is magnified the more the errors are magnified. I want a crisp focus that has a wide depth of field. That means my image will be in focus in the foreground and in the background.

I believe it is best to adjust your distance to the landscape rather than to add a longer lens. The other two percent of the time I’ll use my 75-300 lens. I restrict its use to times when it isn’t practical to approach closer.