Photo Tips

Chris d'Aquin is a WeSay.com contributing writer.

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With the influx of cheaper and more capable digital SLR cameras, many of you have probably made the leap from compact cameras to the world of interchangeable lenses.

Ah, but there's the rub! With all the wonderful features and capabilities of SLR cameras, now you are faced with the prospect of buying a lens for each type of photography you may want to pursue. For example, wide-angle for landscapes, medium telephoto for portraits, or long telephoto for sports and wildlife.

Here are some suggestions for finding great deals on lenses:

In my lifetime, I have bought eight lenses. They have spanned the whole spectrum – some were new, some used, some refurbished – and there are great deals to be had out there in all three areas.

Once the bug bites you that you need a new lens, he best thing for you to do is be patient. Do some research. Find out what lenses are good for what you want to do (because it doesn't matter how much money you save if the lens doesn't satisfy you), and then shop around. Two great resources I use for evaluating lenses are Popular Photography magazine, which offers in-depth technical reviews of two or three lenses in each issue, and photographyreview.com, where photographers write personal reviews of their own equipment.

Once you find two or three lenses that would fit the bill, see what kind of deals you can get. For new gear, call your local stores for prices. Don't forget to see if the manufacturer is offering any rebates. Search reputable online retailers, where in addition to great pricing you usually don't have to pay sales tax.

Online retailers are also a great place to find refurbished equipment, which  usually sells for around a third less than their new counterparts.

Don't forget to look around for used equipment. If you live in a good-sized city, you will likely have at least one independently owned shop nearby. Nearly all of these sell used gear. These are great places because you can try the lens out on your camera before purchasing and if they don't have the lens you are looking for, they will likely be happy to contact you if something comes in.

You can find used gear online too. Retailers like keh.com and adorama.com that attach a condition rating to each used lens are especially helpful. These ratings let you know if something is "like new," in "excellent" condition, or “worn” enough to have some wear and tear that might affect the image quality and performance of the lens.

Finally, whether new or used, don't be shy about trying a third-party manufacturer like Sigma or Tokina. These companies make products for all the major brands and have been cranking out some great lenses recently. While it is probably true that Canon and Nikon are more likely to produce better lenses for their own cameras, for many photographers the difference isn't great enough to notice.