Changing DSLR Lenses
One of the main reasons photographers move up to DSLR cameras is because It allows them to use a variety of lenses.
Unfortunately, changing from one lens to another is possibly the most annoying, inconvenient part of the image-making experience.
Out in the field one normally doesn’t have flat, clean surfaces to place equipment while the lens-switching is taking place.
What to do. There is a technique that will work for many of your lenses. I used it to switch lenses 4 or 5 times during my ‘show & tell’ at the Feb. 4 meeting.
First step, of course is to turn the camera off, then follow the steps outlined in this linked video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBNyBnA-MFg
Other alternatives:
- Don’t switch lenses. Use a long zoom lens. Mine reaches from moderate wide-angle (18mm) to moderate telephoto (200mm). There may be some slight compromises in image quality and distortion, but today’s zoom lenses are far superior to those of the film era; and post-processing in Lightroom or Photoshop, for example can make up for many, if not most, of the deficiencies. However, even I will often carry either a 50mm 1.8 lens (the ‘nifty 50’) for low-light situations or an ultra-wide 10-20mm lens for more creative challenges. So again the above technique becomes useful.
- Use more than one camera with a specialized lens on each. Instead of switching lenses, just switch cameras. Many photographers use this technique at weddings or other special events where changing lenses would be too much of a hassle.
Using the technique in the video gives you the option of using several lenses if that is your preference. Do practice it in safe conditions before trying it in the field, and remember to guard against situations where dust can be introduced into the chamber where the sensor resides.
Good luck.