Which focal length is suitable for what is a question every photographer encounters in the world of photography. The focal length not only determines the field of view but also influences the perspective of the image and the expressive power of the subject. Don't know how to choose the right focal length in photography yet? Here you will find the answer.
Whether a picturesque landscape, an authentic portrait, or details in the distance – choosing the right focal length makes your shot more vivid. To achieve this excellent photography, it is important to know which focal length is suitable for what. Additionally, the characteristics of the focal length and the appropriate application scenarios of different focal lengths also play a decisive role.
What is focal length?
Focal length is a core parameter of the lens and is given in millimeters, indicating the distance from the focal point to the principal plane.
Simply put, the focal length determines the width of the field of view and the magnification ability of a lens. The shorter the focal length, the wider the viewing angle and the larger the shooting area. The opposite is also true. The composition and visual effect are directly influenced by this property. Therefore, the choice of focal length is crucial in photography.
To make it easier to understand, we can imagine focal lengths like eyes: a lens with a short focal length is like a wide-open eye that captures the vastness of the world. A lens with a long focal length, on the other hand, acts like squinting eyes focusing on distant details.
Characteristics and application scenarios of lenses with different focal lengths
Depending on the focal length, lenses are usually divided into wide-angle, standard, and telephoto lenses. Each type has specific functions and application areas.
Wide-angle lens: fully capture expansive scenes
The wide-angle lens is characterized by a large field of view and is also called a short focal length lens, with a focal length of less than 40 mm for full-frame DSLR cameras, for example 35 mm, 28 mm, 24 mm, 17 mm, or 14 mm.
Thanks to the large field of view, the wide-angle lens can capture expansive scenes with excellent clarity while including multiple subjects in one image.
Wide-angle lens enhances the sense of space and perspective effect of a photo. Nearby objects appear larger, distant ones appear smaller. This is ideal for capturing natural landscapes, city architecture, or interiors.
But when using the wide-angle lens, distortion at the edges of the image is usually unavoidable, so it is advisable to position subjects and people in the center of the image during shooting.
Standard lens: natural angle of view like human eyes
A lens with a focal length in the range of 40mm to 50mm is a standard lens that has a natural angle of view, closely resembling the human visual impression. With a standard lens, the proportions and details of the scene can be realistically reproduced without exaggerating perspective or compressing space.
This feature makes the standard lens the first choice for portraits and street snapshots. When taking a portrait with a 50mm lens, it captures natural facial contours. The SIRUI Saturn 50mm T2.9 1.6x anamorphic Carbon full-frame lens is definitely a good choice. The 50mm focal length is considered the perfect solution for portrait photography, while the large aperture of T2.9 softly blurs the background with shallow depth of field, making the person stand out.
Another key advantage of a large aperture like in the SIRUI Saturn Series is that it allows bright photos even in low-light environments or difficult lighting conditions. This makes the standard lens the ideal choice for photographers who focus on image quality and artistic effect.
Telephoto lens: clearly capture subjects at a distance
A telephoto lens means a lens with a focal length between 75mm and 200mm. It is advantageous for capturing subjects at a distance. With a long focal length, the subject appears larger and the depth of field is shallower, which creatively highlights the main subject. Therefore, a telephoto lens is ideal for wildlife and sports event photography.
For example, if you are watching an exciting football match from the stands, a telephoto lens can even sharply capture the sweat on the players' faces.
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Choosing the focal length
There are no fixed rules when choosing the focal length. The key lies in the photography goals. A wide-angle lens is suitable for capturing landscapes and architecture, a standard lens is recommended for portrait or street photography, and a telephoto lens is ideal for photographing distant animals and exciting sports moments.
Conclusion:
The joy of photography lies in capturing beautiful moments. When you know well which focal length is suitable for what, you can use different focal lengths like different brushes. Choose a lens that meets your needs, pick up the camera, and create your unique works!
