Types of Camera Lenses
Commercial Photography
Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communications
Lesson Plan
Performance Objective
 Upon completion of this lesson, students will know why changing lenses on a digital single-lens reflex
camera (DSLR) is a necessary process.
 The students will be able to differentiate between the many different types of DSLR lenses.
Specific Objective
 Define terms associated with the lesson.
 Identify reasons why a photographer would adjust a DSLR lens.
 Identify the different types of camera lenses and their characteristics.
Terms
Distortion
Macro
Wide-Angle
Telephoto
Focal Length
Selective Focus
Prime
Time
When taught as written, this lesson should take approximately 60 - 120 minutes to teach.
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the activities may result
in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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130.91. (c) Knowledge and Skills
(1) The student applies academic knowledge and skills in commercial photography. The student is expected
to:
(A) apply English language arts knowledge and skills by demonstrating use of content, technical
concepts, and vocabulary; using correct grammar, punctuation, and terminology to write and edit
documents; and composing and editing copy for a variety of written documents such as brochures; and
(B) apply mathematics knowledge and skills by identifying whole numbers, decimals and fractions
applied to measurement, percentages, depth of field, aperture, resolution, and scale; demonstrating
knowledge of arithmetic operations; using conversion methods such as fractions to decimals and
inches to points; and applying measurement to solve a problem.
(3) The student understands and examines problem-solving methods. The student is expected to employ
critical-thinking and interpersonal skills independently and in teams to solve problems.
(10) The student applies technical skills for efficiency. The student is expected to employ planning and timemanagement skills to complete work tasks.
(11) The student develops an increasing understanding of commercial photography. The student is expected
to:
(E) demonstrate knowledge of different types of cameras and lenses and their applications to
photography;
(L) produce a variety of photographs using current, industry-standard production processes; and
(M) evaluate photographs using principles of art, commercial photography standards, and criticalthinking skills.
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
English-English I
 110.31(b)(1). Reading/Vocabulary Development. Students understand new vocabulary and use it
when reading and writing.
 110.3(b)(11). Reading/Comprehension of informational text/procedural texts. Students understand
how to glean and use information in procedural texts and documents.
 110.53(b)(2)(B) employ precise language and technical vocabulary to communicate ideas clearly and
concisely
Occupational Correlation (O*Net – www.onetonline.org/):
Job Title: Photographer
O*Net Number: 27-4021.00
Reported Job Titles: Photographer, Advertising Photographer, Studio Photographer
Tasks: Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus based on a combination of factors such as lighting, field
depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting
to achieve desired effects.
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and
formulas.
Soft Skills: Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension
Accommodations for Learning Differences
It is important that lessons accommodate the needs of every learner. These lessons may be modified to
accommodate your students with learning differences by referring to the files found on the Special
Populations page of this website.
Preparation
 Review and familiarize yourself with the terminology, website links, and proper camera handling
techniques.
 Download or take example photographs that exemplify photos taken with different lenses and focal
lengths.
 Have materials and websites ready to go prior to the start of the lesson.
References
Bockaert, Vincent. Digital Photography Review. Depth of Field. Retrieved from
http://www.dpreview.com/glossary/optical/depth-of-field
Jacobson, R. E. (2000). The manual of photography: photographic and digital imaging (9th ed.). Woburn, MA:
Focal Press.
Instructional Aids
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Lesson Plan: Types of Camera Lenses
Slide Presentation: Types of Camera Lenses
Instructor computer and projection unit
Online websites
Multiple DSLR cameras outfitted with memory cards
Multitude of various DSLR or SLR lenses of different types
Types of Lenses Assessment
Types of Lenses Assessment Answer Key
Types of Lenses Handout
Portrait with Different Lenses Grading Rubric
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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Introduction
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•
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Give students a situation such as the following: You are a photographer shooting animals on a safari for
a magazine. You come across several wild animals, but they are too dangerous for you to be close to
when shooting. What can you do in this situation to both protect yourself and get the shot?
Explain to students that DSLRs have the ability to change lenses.
Explain to students that different DSLR lenses have different purposes.
Outline
MI
Outline
Introduce lesson by doing the following:
 Show students a variety of different
DSLR lenses attached to cameras.
Pass them out and encourage
students to take photos and look
through them.
 Ask students what types of lenses
are on their cameras.
 Ask students why they think
photographers should carry
different lenses.
Go through the Slide Presentation with
students. Discuss the following:
I: Title Slide
II: Introduction to Lenses
Instructor Notes
Note: Many students will have
their own cameras with different
lenses at home. Encourage them
to bring them to school to share
with the students. Make sure
that students are aware of the
correct way to take off a lens
and reattach one without
exposing their DSLR to dust or
other damaging particles.
Slide 1: Give overview of the
slideshow presentation.
III. Lens Vocabulary
IV: Lens Distortion
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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MI
Instructor Notes
Outline
V: Types of Lenses
A. Normal (Portrait) Lenses
B. Wide-Angle Lenses
VI: Telephoto Lenses
VII: Specialty Lenses
A. Macro Lenses
B. Selective Focus Lenses
C. Tilt-Shift Lenses
VIII: Prime versus Zoom lenses
IX: How to Read a Lens
X: Lens and Aperture
XI: When to Change Lens
Slide #25: Allow students time to
discuss situations in which
different types of lenses would
be used.
XII: Summary
Multiple Intelligences Guide
Existentialist
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Kinesthetic/
Bodily
Logical/
Mathematical
Musical/Rhythmic
Naturalist
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
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Verbal/Linguistic
Visual/Spatial
Application
Guided Practice
The teacher will go through the slide presentation and explain the general way to change lenses on a DSLR.
The teacher may model for students the proper camera handling techniques.
Students may fill out the Types of Lenses Handout with knowledge based on the lecture and slide
presentation.
The teacher may demonstrate taking a portrait shot of a student at 32mm and the same portrait shot at
85mm. Students and teacher will examine both portraits and discuss the differences resulting from the use of
the two lenses.
Independent Practice
After going over the slide presentation, the teacher may do the following activity:
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Divide students into groups of three or four, and give each group a camera and a memory card.
Explain that students will take turns using the camera to take another student’s portrait.
Remind students to use their knowledge of the principles of design as they take their portraits.
(Review the principles of design if needed.)
Each student may take three or more portraits of the same person at different focal lengths. (If
enough lenses are available, the students may use different lenses for each shot.) Then compare and
contrast the similarities and differences of the resulting photos.
If time is available, have students assemble the images together in an Image Editing computer
program.
Hold a debriefing and ask students to explain what they learned about focal length when taking the
photos.
Ask students to share any issues or problems they encountered while completing the activity.
Make sure to take a look at the metadata of each photo and take note of the specific camera settings
(in particular the focal lengths) used to create the photographs.
Make note of how the photos are different and similar. Pay attention to the depth of field.
Critique the photos as a class, if desired.
Summary
Conduct a Question & Answer session with students about camera lens-related questions.
Review talking points and key terms from Slide Presentation.
Ask students what type of lens they would utilize on their cameras in various situations.
Ask students to explain focal length and give examples.
Ask students to define lens distortion and explain what causes it.
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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Have students assess and critique their own work and the class photos as a whole.
Evaluation
Informal Assessment
Any and all of the following may be used as informal assessments…
 Instructor observation
 Question and Answer session during class
Instructor will discuss and reteach where needed.
Formal Assessment
Any and all of the following may be used as formal assessments…
 Student portraits taken at different focal lengths may be evaluated using the Portraits with Different
Lenses Grading Rubric.
 Types of Lenses Assessment
 Types of Lenses Handout
Enrichment
Extension
Encourage students to play around and experiment with various lenses. In addition, students may use the
internet to look up unusual lenses, such as lenses that are very expensive, or extreme telephoto lenses.
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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Portrait with Different Lenses Grading Rubric
Criteria
Completeness
(10 points)
Basic
(30 points)
Understanding
(20 points)
Creativity
(30 points)
Design
(10 points)
Comments:
Exceptional
Above Average
Below Average
Unacceptable
9-10 points
5-8 points
1-4 points
0 points
Work is complete
and presents a
unified whole.
Work is
complete, but
lacks unity.
Work is
incomplete.
No attempt was
made to produce
the document.
27-30 points
15-26 points
1-14 points
0 points
Portraits have a
focal point, are
correctly
exposed and are
in focus. In
addition, the
images are
artfully
composed.
Photographs
have a focal
point, are
correctly
exposed and are
in focus. Some
knowledge of the
principles of
design is evident.
Slight issues
with focus or
subject.
Photo does not
show evidence
that student is
aware of how to
manipulate a
DSLR to take a
portrait.
17-20 points
The student used
multiple focal
lengths to take
the same portrait
and was able to
discuss the focal
length used.
27-30 points
9 -16 points
1-8 points
0 points
The student used
multiple focal
lengths to take
the same portrait.
Student did not
take three or
more portraits
using different
focal lengths.
Photo does not
exhibit
knowledge of
how to adjust
focal length or
lenses.
15-26 points
1-14 points
0 points
Portraits are
original in
thought, posed
creatively and
executed well.
Portraits are
somewhat
original and
creative.
Limited
evidence of
creativity and
originality in
thought in
portraits.
No evidence of
creativity or
originality in
thought or
execution of
project.
9-10 points
5-8 points
1-4 points
0 points
Portraits use
principles of
design, and have
multiple focal
lengths.
Portraits utilize
the principles of
design and are
exposed well.
Portraits have
some exposure
issues and are
not composed
well.
Photos were
incorrectly
exposed or not
turned in.
TOTAL
POINTS:
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
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Points
Types of Lenses Assessment
1. Which of the following is NOT a type of camera lens?
a. Zoom
b. Pixel
c. Wide-angle
d. Macro
2. How many pixels are in a Megapixel?
a. 1,000
b. 100,000
c. 10,000
d. 1,000,000
3. Which of the following lenses would be most useful for taking a photograph of a wild animal from far away?
a. Telephoto
b. Macro
c. Portrait
d. Wide-angle
4. Which of the following lenses would be most useful for taking a picture of a person?
a. Selective focus
b. Pixel
c. Wide-angle
d. Portrait (normal)
5. 20mm, 40mm, and 100mm are all examples of different what?
a. Pixel dimensions
b. Focal lengths
c. Macros
d. Lens distortions
6. What is the name for a lens that CANNOT zoom?
a. Prime
b. Macro
c. Telephoto
d. Portrait (normal)
7. If you needed to take a very close-up photograph of a bug, what type of lens would you use?
a. Prime
b. Macro
c. Wide-angle
d. Portrait (normal)
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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8. A lens that is 22mm would fall into what lens category?
a. Portrait (normal)
b. Telephoto
c. Wide-angle
d. Selective focus
9. A lens that is 400mm would fall into what lens category?
a. Portrait (normal)
b. Telephoto
c. Wide-angle
d. Selective focus
10. A fisheye lens has what kind of lens distortion?
a. Barrel distortion
b. Pincushion distortion
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
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Types of Lenses Assessment Answer Key
(All answers to questions are bolded and italicized.)
1. Which of the following is NOT a type of camera lens?
a. Zoom
b. Pixel
c. Wide-angle
d. Macro
2. How many pixels are in a Megapixel?
a. 1,000
b. 100,000
c. 10,000
d. 1,000,000
3. Which of the following lenses would be most useful for taking a photograph of a wild animal from far away?
a. Telephoto
b. Macro
c. Portrait (normal)
d. Wide-angle
4. Which of the following lenses would be most useful for taking a picture of a person?
a. Selective focus
b. Pixel
c. Wide-angle
d. Portrait (normal)
5. 20mm, 40mm, and 100mm are all examples of different what?
a. Pixel dimensions
b. Focal lengths
c. Macros
d. Lens distortions
6. What is the name for a lens that CANNOT zoom?
a. Prime
b. Macro
c. Telephoto
d. Portrait (normal)
7. If you needed to take a very close-up photograph of a bug, what type of lens would you use?
a. Prime
b. Macro
c. Wide-angle
d. Portrait (normal)
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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8. A lens that is 22mm would fall into what lens category?
a. Portrait (normal)
b. Telephoto
c. Wide-angle
d. Selective focus
9. A lens that is 400mm would fall into what lens category?
a. Portrait (normal)
b. Telephoto
c. Wide-angle
d. Selective focus
10. A fisheye lens has what kind of lens distortion?
a. Barrel distortion
b. Pincushion distortion
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
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Types of Lenses Handout
Directions: Describe the characteristics of each of the following types of lenses. Make sure to
describe when each should be used.
Telephoto:
Wide-Angle:
Portrait:
Selective Focus:
Macro:
Additional Notes about Lenses:
Additional Lens Exploration Activity
Directions: Go online and find the strangest or most expensive type of lens you can find. Come
back to this handout and write down the name of the lens, the price, the focal length, the
maximum aperture opening and what it could be used for.
AAVTC: Commercial Photography: Types of Camera Lenses
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