Lenses

You cannot detect the camera brand from a photograph, but you immediately see the lens quality. Every camera is as good as the quality of its lens. Some modern compact and bridge cameras have excellent lenses, and are well suited for macro photography. And a cheap third class zoom changes a very expensive SLR (Single Lens Reflex) into rubbish.

Many modern zooms are of excellent optic quality. They permit you to react quickly without adding weight to your camera bag. For a small budget and light traveling, one trans-standard zoom like a digital 18-55/70 mm or an analog 28-70 mm covers most of your subjects. If you add a second 70-200 mm zoom you are able to photograph 90 % of all your subjects (including macro, wildlife at moderate distances, landscapes, portraits, architecture etc.)

Aperture

Professionals pay big sums for lenses with 2.8 or even bigger apertures. Specially in fast journalism and sports photography you gain several stops of light. And these professional lenses contain lens elements of special (expensive) glass which improve optical quality and sharpness. Do you need them? It depends on your kind of photography. Try not to buy lenses with maximum apertures smaller than 5.6.

Specialized lenses

For specialised subjects and techniques nothing equals specialised fixed focal length lenses and specialised cameras. But for most Phot-O-Vergne workshops you don't need them.

An exception is the 50 mm macro lens which becomes a 75-80 mm small tele on a digital SLR. This makes it excellent for portraits, landscapes, plants and insects, etc. A very versatile lens which forces you to compose better than zoomlenses do.