Four Reasons to Embrace and Utilize Your Camera’s Stock Lens

Are you hesitant to use your stock lens? Don’t be! While having a variety of lenses is ideal, there are plenty of benefits to sticking with your camera’s stock zoom lens. As someone who has shot on a variety of lenses and cameras, I can attest that preferences and needs change from project to project. But, I’ve recently had a revelation and learned to love my stock lens. Here are five reasons why you should too:

1. A True Match For Your Sensor: A stock lens is a trusted, true match for your camera’s sensor. This is especially important if you’re new to the camera or its sensor size. Don’t waste time piecemealing together your rig and mixing and matching lenses to sensors that they may not be ideal for.

2. Solid Range of Coverage: Most stock lenses these days are zoom lenses, which means you’ll have a full range of focal lengths to utilize. From micro for wides to macro for close-ups, you’ll be able to zoom in and out as you shoot.

3. Run-and-Gun Ready: If you’re someone who works on hectic shoots, having a versatile lens ready to go in any situation is highly ideal. While stock lenses may lack in terms of sharp, fast apertures and shallow depths of field, they make up for it with run-and-gun control and solid tools for working in documentary and unreliable environments.

4. Rent Only When You Need Extra Support: A stock lens is a safe investment and not the only one you’ll ever have to make. Instead of investing in lenses that you can always rent as needed, use your stock lens as your main, go-to option. Then, bring on extra support project by project as needed.

5. Budget-Friendly: Let’s face it, not everyone has the budget for a whole kit of primes. A stock lens is a budget-friendly option that still provides solid coverage.

So, don’t worry about using your stock lens. Embrace it and learn to use it properly. For more filmmaking and videography tips and tricks, check out the articles listed below.