Ultimate Guide to Photography with the Kit Lens

The kit-lens is the first lens you get your hands on with many entry-level camera systems. It allows you to get started immediately and explore various photographic perspectives without having to think beforehand about which lens is best suited for your needs. This guide presents some essential tips to help you make the most of your kit lens.

Main insights

• Pay attention to the relationship between focal length and aperture.
• Understand the changes in camera settings while zooming.
• Take advantage of aperture adjustment for creative long exposures and macro photography.

Step-by-step guide

1. Understand the relationship between focal length and aperture

When working with your kit lens, it's crucial to understand the relationship between focal length and the maximum aperture. At a focal length of 18 mm, the wide-open aperture value is typically f/3.5; when you zoom to 55 mm, the minimum aperture value changes to f/5.6. This means that changing the focal length also affects your camera's light sensitivity.

When photographing, pay attention to what aperture your camera uses at different focal lengths. If you try to shoot with a wide-open aperture while switching to the higher focal length, the camera may reduce the aperture to the narrower opening of f/5.6.

If you want to capture more light, you can initially turn the lens back to the 18 mm setting, allowing you to use the highest aperture of f/3.5 to create better lighting conditions.

2. Utilize versatile aperture adjustment

When you set your camera to a focal length of 55 mm, you not only have the maximum aperture value of f/5.6 available, but also the smallest aperture. The smallest aperture typically goes up to f/36, giving you much more creative leeway for long exposures.

This means you can effectively control the light to achieve your desired effects. For long exposures that require a very dark image, you can switch to the higher focal length and close down the aperture to reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor.

This allows you to create creative effects that would not be possible with many standard lenses.

3. Macro photography in focus

Another aspect to keep in mind when working with your kit lens is its macro photography capability. If you want to capture smaller subjects, try zooming the lens to 55 mm. At this setting, you can get very close to your subject while achieving the same close focus that was once possible at 18 mm, but with significantly better magnification.

The close focus limit of your lens is 25 cm, allowing you to capture extraordinary details that you wouldn't see from a reasonable distance. To illustrate this, take a look at the two photos I took: one at 18 mm and one at 55 mm, both at the limit of close-up.

Here you can clearly see how much closer you can get to the subject with the 55 mm setting.

4. Try and experiment

Now comes the most important step: try everything! Experiment with different settings and subjects to unleash the full potential of your kit lens. Use the tips I've given you and let your creativity flow. Capture various scenes, from expansive landscapes to detailed close-ups and long exposures.

Photograph, analyze your results, and learn what works best for you. Each image can provide you with valuable insights into the connection between technique and creativity.

Summary - Learning to photograph: Tips for the kit lens

To successfully photograph with your kit lens, pay attention to the relationship between focal length and aperture, take advantage of aperture adjustment, and experiment with close-ups for impressive results. The technique will help you unlock the full potential of your lens and develop your photographic skills.