Chapter 5. UNDERSTANDING LENS CHARACTERISTICS

GHOSTING

LENS FLARE

CHROMATIC ABERRATION

MOIRÉ PATTERNS

FALSE COLORS

DIFFRACTION

EVALUATING COLOR AND CONTRAST

PINCUSHIONING AND BARREL DISTORTION

VIGNETTING

©Serge Timacheff

One of the best things about dSLR photography is the tremendous variety of lenses available to capture virtually any subject. However, with such a diversity of glass, there are many phenomena and characteristics affecting how lenses perform depending on light as well as optical design, complexity, and quality. Some of these effects can have artistic value under the right conditions, while others can be avoided by using lenses and light according to standards and practices that optimize their best application. This chapter explores these factors, how they apply to the kind of photography you want to pursue, and how to work with them for best results.