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Okay, quick example: The lens that's generally bundled with digital SLRs is an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
This means 1. It is a zoom lens (i.e., it has a range of focal lengths instead of just one. If it has just one, it's called a "prime lens") 2. The wide angle end of the lens is 18mm 3. The telephoto end of the lens is 55mm 4. The maximum aperture of the lens is f/3.5 at the wide end and f/5.6 at the telephoto end. Aperture is a lesson unto itself.
The focal length determines how near or far things look. A wide angle makes things look further away, a telephoto makes things look closer. A "normal" makes things look about like they would to your eyes at the same distance as your camera lens.
For older 35mm film cameras, normal lenses came in the range of about 40-60, with 50 being by far the most common. Longer than that is telephoto, shorter is wide angle. Digital sensors are smaller (usually) than 35mm film frames, though, so the focal lengths are different. With most digital SLRs, normal is around 28-35mm, and the classic 50mm length is a medium telephoto.
Any questions?
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