Episode Details
Back to EpisodesYour Kit Lens Says 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 — What on Earth Does Any of That Mean?
Description
🎯 Your kit lens has something printed on the barrel. 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. Confident. Specific. And absolutely meaningless — unless you know what any of it means. This episode fixes that.
In episode 239 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I explain every number and letter on your kit lens barrel. In plain English. Without the irrelevant detail. Including why the aperture numbering system is completely backwards — and why whoever invented it clearly did not consult anyone who was actually learning photography at the time.
In this episode:
● 📏 Tip 1: 18-55mm — the focal length range. What wide angle means. What the longer end does. Why the zoom ring is your best friend.
● 📷 Tip 2: f/3.5-5.6 — the aperture range. What aperture actually is. Why the numbers seem backwards (and they are). What maximum aperture means.
● 🔄 Tip 3: Why the aperture changes as you zoom — variable aperture explained, what a stop of light is, and why your kit lens is actually being very sensible.
● 🌟 Tip 4: What aperture does to your photos — depth of sharpness in practice, a birthday party in low light, and the two things you need to know about f/3.5 and f/5.6.
● 🔤 Tip 5: USM, STM, IS, and Roman numerals — what all those letters mean and why none of it is random.
📖 Full episode notes and blog post: rickmcevoyphotography.com/blog/kit-lens-18-55mm-f35-56-explained
Related episodes 🎧
Episode 60 — What Is A Kit Lens?
If you want to understand more about what a kit lens actually is, what it is good for, and whether you need anything else right now, this is the one to listen to next.
Episode 155 — What Is Aperture In Photography?
We covered the basics of aperture today. This episode goes much deeper on aperture and depth of field (depth of sharpness).
Episode 203 — Understanding Focal Length and Its Effect On Composition
Focal length does more than zoom in and out. This episode explains exactly what else it does to your photos.
Next episode 📅
Episode 240 is out on Friday 28 August 2026. The title? Crop Factor. Sorry — I Know It's Boring But It's Really Important. Here is the question that will keep you thinking: when is an 18mm lens not an 18mm lens? Find out in two weeks.
🎬 Find me on YouTube by searching Rick McEvoy
🌐 Website: rickmcevoyphotography.com
📚 Courses: rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses
🛠️ Resources: rickmcevoyphotography.com/resources
My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your p