Help Needed?

[Chasing Myths]

Ok this may sound like a bit of of a daft question, I am a Novice just starting to learn photography and I want to learn about which lens is used for what Situation. I have searched online and cant really find any help.....I use a 18-55mm lens with my Nikon D40 but want to look at other options to hopefully improve my pictures.
I have seen lenses upto hundreds of mm would these be used for distance and zoom?
If someone could point me in the right direction via a book, webpage or just a bit of help that would be great.
I feel like a right Pillock asking this:bonk:

 

[DinoS]

There are lots of different types of lenses

Telephoto- counted as 55mm+ most commonly 200mm - 300mm. The bigger the ???mm the closer you can zoom in,

Macro- However a macro allows you to get very close for close up shots.

wide angle -18mm below. I have just brought a sigma 10-20mm and it is wiiiddddeeee. You can fit a very wide area into a photo.

standard zoom - is basically from wide to telephoto 18-55mm and that is why it is standard as that is the most common used,

 

[Steep]

As long as you don't feel like a haddock!


There's a very long article here by a guy called Ron Reznick, which might help you to understand a bit more about focal lengths etc.

http://www.digital-images.net/Lenses/lenses.html

 

[Chasing Myths]

Thanks for the info guys, thats a great help