Focal length is measured in mm – millimeters – which throws off a lot of would-be photographers. How do those mm translate to inches and feet, or meters?
Focal length is defined as the distance between the center of a lens or curved mirror and its focus.
Okey doke. English…
The focal length of a lens determines the magnification of distant images. And because of the popularity of full-frame 35mm in the film days – that is the equivalent number by which lenses are compared. In digital photography, the mathy formula of the 35mm film days results in a 50mm lens. So 50mm is the zero point, so to speak, by which other lenses are compared. 50mm is considered the normal lens. (Here’s the geeky explanation from Wikipedia, if you don’t want to take my word for it!)
- Telephoto lenses are those longer than normal, typically 85mm and longer. They result in magnification and a narrow angle in your viewfinder. The larger the number, the greater the magnification over distance, ie 400mm will provide greater magnification than 100mm because less of the subject fills your sensor.
- Wide-angle lenses are those considered shorter than normal. Anything less than 35mm is considered wide-angle. They have a wider angle of coverage in your view-finder. The smaller the number, the wider the angle, ie 10mm is wider than 35mm.
Which lens you choose is determined by how much of the environment you want to capture. It’s a creative decision made by the artist to include or remove what is around the subject. It considers the distance and magnification of the subject on the final image.
- Landscape or photo-journalist photographers usually want to capture a lot of scenery and ambience, and will choose wide-angle lenses to make their images.
- Portrait photographers want to remove distracting elements around their subject and may choose a lens like 85mm to accomplish this.
- Wedding photographers may need shots that include the whole church and shoot with a 24mm lens for that, but then change to a 200mm lens to capture only the exchange of the rings and make the bride and groom’s hands their only focus.
- Sports photographers are often relegated to the distance of the sidelines and may require 300 or 400mm lenses to capture up close action shots.
Here are some shots taken at various focal lengths and distances for you to consider.
10mm wide angle, credit:
24mm focal length, wide angle, credit:
50mm focal length, credit:
85mm focal length, telephoto, credit:
200mm focal length, telephoto, credit:
400mm focal length, telephoto, credit:
Which lens is your favorite? Why?
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THANK you! I think this is the first time I’ve actually understood focal point, and I’ve read explanations several times.
I have a question – I only have a nifty fifty. I didn’t even get a kit lens, since I heard over and over how “useless” they are. It’s great, and I love it (the lens), but the lack of ability to zoom in and out limits my ability to capture the way I’d like in a lot of situations. I definitely need a second lens, something that will allow me some variety, some “zooming,” if you will. What would you recommend for a hobbyist who’s just learning? My main subjects are my kids (but no sports), my home (for my blog), and everyday “stuff.” (I know, so specific.) Thanks SO much!
Zoom lenses are hard for me to recommend. I generally prefer prime (fixed) lenses. The only zoom lens I’ve ever owned and liked is the 70-200 f/2.8 BUT I absolutely don’t recommend that for casual use.
So… there is a 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 that is pretty cheap. In my experience, the lens is fairly slow, experiences lens creep and doesn’t perform well indoors. That said, the price is right and it does the job.
You might try something like a 55-200mm lens too. What I recommend is using a site like borrowed lenses and trying the lens before making such a major investment for a hobby.
Thanks so much!
This was extremely helpful. I like the zoom lens (55-200MM) that I have the best, especially for taking photos of my children. But my husband and I were just figuring out what would be the best lens to have to take photos of whole rooms in our house (for before & afters). So sounds like a wide angle would be the way to go there.
Love this series!
This was extremely helpful. I like the zoom lens (55-200MM) that I have the best, especially for taking photos of my children. But my husband and I were just figuring out what would be the best lens to have to take photos of whole rooms in our house (for before & afters). So sounds like a wide angle would be the way to go there.
Love this series!
This was extremely helpful. I like the zoom lens (55-200MM) that I have the best, especially for taking photos of my children. But my husband and I were just figuring out what would be the best lens to have to take photos of whole rooms in our house (for before & afters). So sounds like a wide angle would be the way to go there.
Love this series!
I’m really enjoying your 31 Days posts. Maybe I’ll actually learn how to use my camera! tfs
My 50mm is my favorite, but I find myself using my kit lens more because it’s usually the one on my camera when I’m heading out the door. (I need a better camera bag!) Next on my wish list is a zoom lens for my son’s sports shots.
As a total beginner with the DSLR, I am understanding this better. Is there a way to explain without taking a lot of your time that when in the store (buying the camera), I had my husband stand in one spot while I played with the lens (kit 18-55) at 55 he appeared the expected distance from me, but at 18mm he appeared very tiny. I understand the lens was taking in more of the surroundings, yet I didnt understand his teeniness!
).
thank you for this series
The surface area of the photo is only so big. The more of the environment you must place on the photo the smaller he is in proportion to it all. With telephoto, so little of the environment is included in the same relative print size.
By narrowing or widening the amount you see on the same surface size – you will see magnification or reduction in size.
Thank you!
This post actually covered some something on topic for what I was going to bring up tonight: I have a 35 mm lens that I use for pretty much everything (in addition to my 18-105). As a hobby photographer, would I benefit from having a 50 mm in my bag, as well?
If you have a crop-frame lens the 35mm is about the same as a 50mm on a full frame lens. So depending on what camera body you shoot with, and depending on what you want to shoot… would depend on which lens you want.
For portraits, I’d probably recommend the 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8.
It will offer a much different shot than the 35, giving you different options.
I learned a lot on how to use my camera. Thank you for the helpful advice on how to effectively take a picture. These are amazing shots. I practice on the advice you gave and hope I can produce the same amazing output.
I love my 50mm best I think. I use it most often, but if I know I am going to the zoo or some place where I can’t move in to get the shot I use my 55-250 which (on a canon) does a really nice job, especially for the price. I would really like to get a 35mm though. But first I want to upgrade my camera body as I am using the bottom of the line Canon Rebel. By the way, I just asked today what the actual numbers meant on a lens. Now to go read the mathy geeky stuff, for my inner geek.
I’m on my second DSLR and have both a 18-55 and a 55-300. I probably use the 55-300 most as I do a lot of wild life, bird and sports photography. I do use my 18-55 for family photos and blog photos of the dogs. I really want either a 50 or macro lens next.
Thanks for the great posts!
My favorite lens I currently have is my 50mm 1.8. I am saving up for an 85mm and 35mm- I think I’m stuck on primes, which is great considering I am into portrait & worship photography. My photography mentor let me borrow her’s for the day and I fell in love.
Your posts are great and I have been enjoying the 31 days so far. Last year’s 31 days opened up my understanding of shooting in manual and I haven’t gone back to auto since! My photos have turned out so much better! Thank you!
BTW, One thing that helped me tremendously to see the difference in the lenses is Nikon’s interactive lens simulator:
http://www.nikonusa.com/en_US/IMG/Images/Micro-Sites/Lens-Simulator/simulator.htm
I have a kit lens and then I bought the cheaper 50mm fixed which I’ve not really had the opportunity to play with but everyone always talks about it.
PS: Love that last photo!
I’m a Tiger.
I love my Nikon 50mm f1.8 for the face shots and the look of the photos, the lens quality shows in the final pics. But I definitely luuuuuuv having the telephoto. Couldn’t afford the dream telephoto lens 70-200, but the wonderful hubby got me the Nikon 70-300mm and it does a good job for a hobbyist like myself. I can do close-ups of small things and also get those sport action shots of the kids on the soccer field or jumping waves in the ocean (without me getting wet!)
I love my 85mm f/1.8! You recommended it last year for portraits. I was able to save up and trade in the kit lenses and bought it this year! I also love how it makes the skin on anybody look flawless without PS. =)
Hi,
the first shoot is actually taken at 200mm with an aps-c sensor (you can check into the exif data available on flickr).
You can notice that also thanks to the compression of perspective
bye!
The first shot was found in the 10mm fisheye label in the commons on Flickr. The exif data isn’t included on the page, but it was shot with a Nikon d50 and a Sigma 10-20mm lens, according to the information the Flickr owner presented. Perhaps you could clarify if you meant another shot? Or where you found the conflicting data on the first shot? If I need to find another example because that one’s been misrepresented, I can easily do that.
Hi, sorry for the delay
In the exif page you can read:
Camera Nikon D50
Exposition 0,1 sec (1/10)
Aperture f/38.0
Lens 200 mm
ISO 200
Also there’s no perspective distortion in this shoot..i think that the author was wrong to insert the tag in the list
Thank you for this article. This made beautiful sense to me. I currently have a Nikon 18-55mm lens that I have been using pretty exclusively. I also have a 55-200mm lens that I am now going to start playing around with. I hadn’t used it much because it seemed so zoomed in. Now I understand why. Besides the 300 – 400mm lens for sports shots, is there another lens that is good to have for beginners wanting to make this a serious hobby? Thanks!
Sounds like you’ve got the basics covered from 18-200mm – which is great for a brand new hobbiest. When you get further in photography, you’ll find those lenses may not meet all your needs and you’ll know when you’re ready for something more specific. One of the draw backs to the kit lenses you mentioned is that they are variable aperture and don’t open up very wide. This will limit the amount of shooting you can do indoors and when the light isn’t perfect.
Good luck!
I am learning lots from your photo tips.Will certainly keep in my mind.I am a new bie food blogger and taking food pics is what i do almost everyday,besides outdoor shoots .My problem has always been taking pics indoor after late evening-night cooking.It looks so flashed out.I have basic Nikon D60.I use 18-55 mm for food,i have to get very close to the subject many times ,to get the shot precise detail shot.Outside,when kids are playing,i switch to 50-200mm,thought sometime i do feel if wish i can zoom it out more then 200mm..like during visit to zoo and places like that.