Lens Tele
Lens Focal Length – What it is and What it Does
The focal length of your lens is it’s main characteristic. It determines your angle of view, that is, how close or how far away you have to be from your photographic subject to capture it in a certain size. With a short focal length (wide-angle lens) you can stand close to somebody and still capture their full body size. Opposite, with a long focal length (tele-photo lens) you can stand far away from somebody and still get a close-up picture. Briefly, the wide-angle lenses are considered good for landscapes and photojournalism since you can capture the whole scene in the same shot and the long tele-photo lens is considered good for sport, wildlife and paparazzi photography, since you can be relatively far away from your subject, ideal if you don’t want to disturb it or be noticed. The range of lenses and focal lengths available is listed here:
Fish-eye lenses: 8-14 mm
Ultra wide-angle lenses: 15-20 mm
Wide-angle lenses: 20-40 mm
Normal lenses: 40-60 mm
Portrait lenses: 80-100 mm
Moderate tele-photo lenses: 90-150 mm
Tele-photo lenses: 150-300 mm
Extreme tele-photo lenses: 300-1000 mm
Note: The focal lengths given here are by the “35mm equivalent” scale. Modern pocket-size digital cameras use a different scale and you might see something like “focal length 2.8-9 mm” on one of these. This does not mean that everything is taken with an extreme wide-angle / fish-eye look. Refer to your camera manual to see how it converts into the 35 mm equivalent.
Now the question is, what focal length is good to use and in which circumstances?
It is often said that the fish-eye and wide-angle lenses provide an exaggerated perspective and a large depth of field (depth of focus). Strictly speaking though, this is not true since the perspective only depends on where you stand in relation to your subject and the depth of field only depends on what lens aperture you are using.
But these truisms, technically incorrect perhaps, are there for a reason. The thing about the exaggerated perspective comes about since, with a wide-angle lens you’ll normally go closer to your subject in order to fill your frame. Taking a picture of a rose, for instance, with a 20 mm lens you’ll need to be within one foot distance in order to render it in a decent size on your print. With a 200 mm lens however, you’ll normally take a few steps back, thereby changing your perspective. So while the perspective strictly speaking isn’t determined by the lens itself, for practical purposes it is.
In order to avoid the ‘exaggerated perspective’ there is a good rule of thumb saying that you should be at a distance of at least 10 times the depth of your subject. Things like the size of your final print and the intended viewing distance also plays a role, but for simplicity’s sake let’s just follow the rule of thumb: If the rose is 10 cm across, you’ll have to be at least 100 cm (1 meter) away from it to avoid exaggerating the perspective. Once you’ve decided on your distance and viewpoint, just zoom your lens to the focal length that fills the frame with a nice composition.
Now nobody says that you have to get a ‘correct’ perspective, certainly I don’t. But for some purposes it is more important than others. If you’re taking a close-up photo of someone’s face for instance, exaggerating the perspective and making their nose look huge can do bad things for your popularity. Again, determine the depth of the visible parts of your subject, in case of a human face straight-on, it will usually be about 15-20 cm from the tip of the nose to the back of the ear. Then multiply by 10 and move back until you are at least 1.5-2 meters away and zoom in to fill the frame. Your focal length will typically be in the area of 100 mm which is incidentally referred to as a portrait lens.
In case of big landscapes, long streets etc. it is impossible to be 10 times further away from it than the total depth of the entire scene. To capture such scenes from close to far away, you’ll normally need a wide-angle lens and the perspective will as a result be ‘exaggerated’. This has a charm of it’s own though. It can result in a nice sense of depth in the photo.
With a long tele-photo lens your perspective will often become flat since you’ll be a bit far away and the relative distances from you to the subject and the background are not that much different. And thus, the ‘flat’ perspective arises because the background objects aren’t rendered that much smaller than objects a little closer to you.
Now about the depth of field that the lens provides, as I said before, strictly speaking it doesn’t depend on the lens focal length. But for practical purposes, it does! When you zoom in on something, making your focal length longer, you magnify that part of your image more and more, thereby increasing what’s known as ‘the circle of confusion’. It is exactly equivalent to cropping your short focal length photo and thus, since it’s basically the same image, it has the exact same depth of field. Confused? Don’t let it keep you awake at night. When you look through your camera viewfinder or at the LCD screen on the back of it, you’ll see what’s in focus and what isn’t.
A more important thing to be aware of is that when you zoom in and use a long focal length, it gets more important to keep your camera steady. A tripod is best, but it can be a bother to log around with all day long. Instead, try to look around you and see if you can put your camera down on a table or a stone somewhere, making it rock steady. If not, at least try to steady yourself by leaning slightly against a tree or something. And use a quick shutter speed. If you are using a focal length of, say, 300 mm, then use a shutter speed of no more than 1/300th of a second. You might want to make it even less, perhaps 1/500th of a second to be sure not to let that shaky hand of yours blur the picture. Even slight hand-shaking from your pulse can blur your image when using long lenses, so be sure to follow this rule of thumb. Some modern tele-photo lenses have a stabilization mechanism build into them, and this can greatly reduce hand-shake on the lens, allowing shutter speeds to be 4 to 8 times longer.
About the Author
The author, Morten Svenningsen, is an award-winning Danish photographer and journalist based in Asia. Visit his web site www.mortensvenningsen.com to see examples of his work. It’s now even possible to order his photos as fine art prints and posters!
Portarit Canon 5D MarkII with Lens Tele 70 200 :2 8
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2.0X Tele Coversion Lens 58mm $40.95 |
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GREAT CONDITION! Nikon Tele Converter TC-E2 2x Camera Lens $9.99 |
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52MM 2.0X TELE PHOTO LENS + UV FILTER + HOOD + CAP + MICROFIBER FOR NIKON D5000 $22.49 |
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52MM 2X TELE PHOTO LENS + UV FILTER + HOOD + CAP + MICROFIBER FOR NIKON D80 $17.99 |
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52MM 2.0X TELE PHOTO LENS + UV FILTER + HOOD + CAP +MICROFIBER FOR NIKON D50 D60 $22.49 |
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HD WIDE ANGLE & 2x TELE LENS SONY HDR-XR550V HDR-CX550V $24.95 |
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PRO WIDE ANGLE & 2X TELE LENS SONY HDR-XR150 HDR-XR350V $24.95 |
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PRO WIDE ANGLE & 2X TELE LENS SONY HDR-CX300 HDR-CX350V $24.95 |
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PRO WIDE ANGLE & 2X TELE LENS SONY HDR-CX110 HDR-CX150 $24.95 |
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Metal Tele Lens Hood for 58mm Filter Thread MH-58T $5.49 |
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58mm 58 mm 2.0X Tele Telephoto Lens For Canon SONY JVC $29.93 |
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CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE LENS set for HOLGA CANON NIKON $50.90 |
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BK LENS WIDE+TELE+FILTER FOR 40.5mm Pentax Q Camera 8.5mm 5-15mm Lens $42.61 |
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BK 40.5mm 2.0X Tele-Photo Lens For Pentax Q Camera 8.5mm 5-15mm Lens $17.50 |
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Canon USA Pack: T3i 600D + 15-85 IS Lens + Wide + Tele + 16GB SLR Body + Kit $1,449.99 |
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Samyang Tele Lens PRESET 500mm MC f/8,0 for CANON $158.01 |
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Sony VCL2025S Tele Conversion Lens x 2.0 for 25mm Lense $79.99 |
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Video Converter telephoto lens 1.5X Actar Aux. Tele Super $10.00 |
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TELE+WIDE+FILTER+RING+CASE LENS FOR 43mm Panasonic HDC SD90 TM90 $74.88 |
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BK 43mm 2.0X Tele-Photo Lens + Adapter Ring For Panasonic HDC SD90 TM90 $28.03 |
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Acetar 3X Tele Conversion Lens for Digital / Video Camera 28mm 30mm 30.5mm $43.00 |
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SAMYANG 500mm f/6.3 Mirror Tele Lens for NIKON $199.10 |
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Acetar 4X Tele Conversion Lens for Video / Digital Camera 25mm 28mm 30.5mm $80.00 |
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30.5mm 2.0X 2x Telephoto Tele LENS for CAMCORDER $14.99 |
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M42 Tele Lens Adapter for Nikon AI Mount D7000 D5100 D5000 D3100 D700 D300S $22.95 |
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Acetar 5X Ultra Mini Tele Conversion Lens 37mm for Video / Digital Camera $79.00 |
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Tele Vue 9mm nagler eyepiece/lense $155.00 |
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Tele Vue 27mm panoptic eyepiece/lense $203.51 |
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Canon USA Pack: T3 1100D + 3 Lens Kit: 18-135 + Wide + Tele +24GB SLR Body $819.99 |
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Acetar 2X Tele Conversion Lens for Video / Digital Camera 43mm 46mm 49mm 52mm $46.00 |
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registeredAirmail 650-1300mm f8-16 f8 f16 tele lens telephoto lens with T2 mount $349.05 |
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Acetar 3X Tele Conversion Lens for Video / Digital Camera 43mm 46mm 49mm 52mm $82.00 |
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52MM 2.0X Tele photo zoom + lens adapter for Olympus SP-570 SP570 $24.49 |
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FED 4 & RUSSIAN 1.135 F4 TELE LENS WITH LENS HOOD (5052) $39.51 |
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WIDE ANGLE TELE Lens Filter Accessory KIT FOR Canon EFS 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR $79.99 |
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Canon USA Pack: EOS 60D Kit + 3 Lens Bundle: 18-200 IS, Wide, Tele + Case +16GB $1,639.99 |
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M42 Schneider Kreuznach Tele Xenar 135mm F3,5 -rare M42 lens $165.00 |
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Canon USA Pack: EOS 7D + 3 Lens Kit: 15-85 IS, Wide, Tele + 16GB + ETTL-Flash $2,129.99 |
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58mm 2.0x TELE Telephoto LENS for Digi Camera Camcorder $20.89 |
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VIVITAR AUTOMATIC TELE CONVERTER 2X-4 FL-FD LENS MADE IN JAPAN W/ CASE $4.00 |
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Sigma 70mm-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro Tele Zoom Lens f/Canon #508101 $239.00 |
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Sears Auto 2x Tele Converter Camera Lens 4E MC C/FD 271.8103 No ISSUES w Case $14.99 |
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Canon USA Pack: 5D Mark II Body + 3 Lens Kit: 28-135 IS + Wide + Tele & More $2,579.99 |
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RARE NIKON NIKKOR-TELE85/48 1:4 AUXILIARY LENS FOR NIKKOR 35, AUTO 35 WITH CASE $34.99 |
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Rollei Tele-Tessar 200mm f/4 HFT Manual Focus Telephoto Lens 207406 $57.78 |
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Canon FD 70mm – 210mm F/4.0 Lens & Quantaray Auto Tele Converter 2X EXC $60.00 |
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Metal Tele Lens Hood for 67mm Filter Thread MH-67T $7.49 |
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TAMRON AF 70-300mm Tele-Macro LD Di 4-5.6 LENS for MINOLTA AF $60.00 |
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BOWER 2.0X DIGITAL TELE LENS $60.00 |
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KONICA AR -AUTO REFLEX MOUNT 75-150MM F1:3.9 SAKAR TELE ZOOM LENS $49.00 |
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2X Tele+ Filter Lens Kit For Nikon Digital SLR D3100 D5100 D7000 D3000 18-55mm $38.91 |
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Wide Lens + Tele + UV Kit for JVC GZ-HD3 GZ-HD3E GZ-HD3U GZ-HD3US GZ-HD3EK GZHD3 $59.96 |
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Wide Lens + Tele + UV Kit for JVC GZ-HD3EX GZ-HD7 GZ-HD7E GZ-HD7U GZ-HD7US GZHD7 $59.97 |
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Wide Lens + Tele + UV Kit for JVC GZ-HD7EK GZ-HM1 GZ-HM400 GZ-MG555 GZ-MG555EK $59.98 |
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Wide Lens + Tele + UV for Panasonic DMC-FZ18 DMC-FZ28 DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ38 GC-PX10 $59.90 |
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2 SIGMA LENS COVERTERS WIDE CONVERTER & TELE CONVERTER AF VIDEO CAMERA CONVERTER $10.00 |
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Benro LB300 Quick Release Tele Lens Bracket Plate for B1 B2 B3 B4 Ball Head $318.60 |
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Lens and Filter Kit for Nikon D3200 D7000 Wide + Tele + Close Up + UV CPL FLD $61.74 |
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Enna-Werk 100mm/4.5 Tele-Sandmar Lens, Argus C3 $10.50 |
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2X HD TELE ZOOM LENS 34mm FOR SAMSUNG HMX-H200 H203 $24.99 |
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2X TELE ZOOM LENS FOR 37mm JVC CAMCORDER GZ-HD500 $24.99 |
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HD 3.5X TELE ZOOM LENS FOR SONY DIGITAL CAMERA DSC-V3 $59.95 |
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40.5mm 40.5 mm lens Hood Metal Tele Lens Black Lens Hood $11.99 |
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Canon USA Pack: T3i 600D + 17-85 IS Lens +Wide + Tele + SLR Camera Body + Kit $1,189.99 |
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49mm Rubber Lens Hood for Standard & Wide & Tele Focus $2.75 |
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58mm Rubber Lens Hood for Standard & Wide & Tele Focus $2.75 |
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67mm Rubber Lens Hood for Standard & Wide & Tele Focus $3.00 |
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72mm Rubber Lens Hood for Standard & Wide & Tele Focus $3.25 |
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77mm Rubber Lens Hood for Standard & Wide & Tele Focus $3.25 |
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Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Tele Lens Canon Cat# 4412B002 Canon Auth. Dlr. $11,397.75 |
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WOLLENSAK RAPTAR 3 IN CINE TELE LENS-CAN ADAPT TO OLYMPUS & PANASONIC MICRO 4/3 $9.99 |
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2X Tele-Converter Lens Doubler to Fit Minolta MD Film SLR Single Reflex Cameras $16.00 |
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Nikon AF NIKKOR 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Lens with HN-2 Hood – WIDE-TELE PERFECT GLASS $79.95 |
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2X Tele-Converter Lens Doubler to Fit Minolta MD Film SLR Single Reflex Cameras $19.00 |
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2X TELE ZOOM LENS FITS 55mm SONY A330 A350 A380 A500 $29.99 |
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Sony 52mm High Grade Tele Conversion lens X1.5 VCL-1552B $40.00 |
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Tamron 35-135mm F3.5-4.2 CF Tele-Macro Zoom Lens Adaptall 2 Mount System $19.99 |
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Tripod Mount Ring A-2 for Canon Tele Lens & Zoom $14.00 |
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*Pros Kit*USA D-SLR Model T3i 600D +3 Lens: 18-135 IS +Wide + Tele+24GB & More! $1,069.99 |
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D-SLR T3i 600D Body (USA Warranty) +3 Lens Kit: 18-55mm IS + Wide + Tele + 16GB $779.99 |
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2 VIVITAR 2X AUTOMATIC TELE CONVERTER LENS + CASE NR $9.99 |
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Quantaray AF 70-300mm F/4.0-5.6 LD TELE- MACRO Lens For Canon EOS Digital/Film $115.00 |
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*Pros Kit*USA D-SLR Model T3i 600D + 17-85 IS Lens + Wide + Tele + Accessories! $1,189.99 |
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2X TELE LENS FOR SONY DSC-HX1 + Adapter included $59.99 |
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Century Precision Optics 2x Tele-Converter Adapter Lens 58mm $120.00 |
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HOLGA HLW-PLG Lens w/ WIDE TELE for PANASONIC LUMIX DMCGF3 GF2 GF1 G2 GH2 $41.89 |
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HOLGA HL-P Lens w/ CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE FOR PENTAX K-R K-X K-7 $66.89 |
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HOLGA HLW-OP Lens CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE OLYMPUS PEN $66.89 |
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HOLGA HL-O Lens w/ CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE FOR OLYMPUS $66.89 |
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HOLGA HLW-SN Lens w/ CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE FOR SONY $66.89 |
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HOLGA HL-S Lens w/ WIDE TELE for SONY ALPHA A 55 35 A550 A330 $41.89 |
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HOLGA HLW-SN Lens w/ WIDE TELE for SONY NEX-3 NEX-5 $41.89 |
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HOLGA HLW-SSN Lens w/ WIDE TELE for SAMSUNG NX 10 11 5 $41.89 |
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HOLGA HL-O Lens w/ WIDE TELE for OLYMPUS E-3 E-5 E-620 $41.89 |
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HOLGA HLW-OP Lens w/ WIDE TELE for OLYMPUS PEN E-PL2 E-PL3 E-PL1 $41.89 |
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HOLGA HL-S Lens w/ CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE SONY ALPHA 55 a33 33 580 $66.89 |
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HOLGA HLW-SSN Lens w/ CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE SAMSUNG $66.89 |
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HOLGA HL-P Lens w/ WIDE TELE for PENTAX K-R K-X K-7 $41.89 |
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HOLGA HLW-PLG Lens w CLOSE UP MACRO TELE WIDE PANASONIC $66.89 |
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GAMI 4x Tele-lens for GAMI 16 with case, -rare $77.00 |
