the different type of lens and what are they used for

[shaylou]

I am a beginner and want to start a thread about the world of lenses.

There are so many types and situation in which they are used I almost think I should make categories. Here are a few starter questions. Can someone explain a wide angle lens other than to say it takes in more of the seen? How far away can I shoot a subject is the real question. I see all of these beautiful pics and they seen to be from a bit of a distance.
Next, zoom lens: what makes them good other than a large apiture? I can't wait to see all of the great advise about other "L"ens word....

 

[StewartR]

Can someone explain a wide angle lens other than to say it takes in more of the seen?

No. That's what a wide angle is.

How far away can I shoot a subject is the real question.

Not really. Stars are quite a long way away, for example, and you can photograph them with any type of lens. You will capture more stars with a wide angle than with a telephoto, but how far away they are is irrelevant.

 

[Scarecrow]

And I think you will find that most zoom lenses don't actually have a particularly large aperture.

 

[HoppyUK]

Wide-angles - 10-20mm, take in a wide view, good for landscapes.

Standard lens, standard zoom, kit zoom - 18-55mm, have 'standard' field of view around 45 degrees at 30mm-ish. Zooms go both wider and longer than this. Versatile general purpose lens.

Telephoto, tele-zoom - 55-200mm, longer than standard, allowing you to bring more distant subjects closer. Good for sport, can go up to 400/500mm plus.

Zoom - any lens of variable focal length.

Prime lens - any lens of fixed focal length. Major benefit is usually very low f/number, eg f/1.8.

Macro - optimised for very close focusing.