When is a lens considered wide angle

A telephoto lens has a longer focal length than a standard lens, yielding a magnified image and a narrow field of view. These lenses can range from 70mm - mm. Visually, a telephoto lens vs wide angle lens is very different. In photography, a telephoto lens makes far away subjects appear closer. In wide angle lens photography, the subject becomes further away. Notice how a wide angle camera lens makes the mountain look further in the left photo below and a telephoto lens brings the mountain closer.

Wide angle lens photography is popular among adventure and outdoor photographers because they are able to fit vast landscapes into the frame especially when utilizing an ultra wide lens of 24mm - 18mm. If you are debating whether or not you need a telephoto lens vs wide angle lens and decide on the former because you take close up photos keep in mind the wide angle macro lens. Although a wide lens is great for creating distance from a subject, a wide angle macro lens can be great in close proximity for close up photos.

This does, however, work best with small objects such as flowers, bugs, or other extreme close ups.

Using it with a person as a subject would create a very unflattering photo. When used with the right subject, a wide angle macro lens can result in some very interesting and unique wide angle lens photography.

What is a wide angle lens used for in cinematography? What does a wide angle lens do for a shot? It is important to understand different wide angle lens techniques to accomplish the effect that your shot requires.

One of the most fundamental reasons to use a wide lens is simply because you can fit more into the frame. What exactly would a director need to fit in the frame? The first would be the world of a film.

Normal and telephoto lenses often do not create frames large enough to capture the details of a location or the production design of a scene. Here's a primer on production design from our Filmmaking Techniques Masterclass , which also includes episodes on film tone and color theory.

Wide angle lenses, however, create a frame wide enough to capture expansive settings like empty deserts, concrete jungles, or eerie hotels. This is perfect for shooting establishing shots or extreme wide shots. We brought some of our favorite stills into StudioBinder's Storyboard Creator to take a look at some wide shots that brilliantly establish the world of a film.

With a wide lens, you have many options for camera framing and shot composition. Notice the way most wide shots frame a subject to the scale of its surroundings. Sometimes they are encompassed by the dense cities around them while others face vast emptiness.

In some of these, an ultra wide angle lens is used by the best cinematographers so that the horizon stretches from edge to edge of the frame creating a feeling that the world continues on past what we can see. This is important both visually and emotionally for films that root itself in a world of fantasy or in the historical past. Although normal and telephoto lenses might be great for getting close up shots and facial expressions of an actor, they can fail to capture their actions and movements.

Great directors often use a wide lens to shoot captivating wide shots. When everything is equal distance from the lens it all looks small and insignificant. In this example series I started off with a 17mm again and a super low camera angle down on my elbows on the deck of the train trestle. I wanted to emphasize the perspective with the converging lines of the tracks. Then I found a nail sticking out and focused on that. Even better it was backlit by the sun so it really stood out.

All things working in my favour. Photography is a journey. Do not expect to get your best shot on the first image you take. Work the scene, and shoot until it feels right. Composition is partly about rules and elements of composing, but also about your gut instinct and intuition. Get in touch with yours. Think about what you want the viewer to see in your image , where do you want their eyes to land.

I have many images of the altar shot straight on, but this is one of my favourites. I used a wide lens to put the focus on the statues and pulpit and less on the main altar.

Put the subject off-center a little, it will add interest to your image. Because you see so much going on behind the subject using a wide lens you need the background to complement the subject, add to the story — but not take your attention away too much. Notice how each mistake flows into the next? They are all mostly related. So you decide to take out the wide angle and get the entire shop into one shot.

That may be a good record of what the shop looks like — but remember to use the tips above to make a stronger image. Pick something interesting on the counter to focus on, letting the shop be the background, setting the scene.

Maybe it could even be the shop keeper you decide to photograph you might have to get permission first. Whatever it is, pick one thing — not the entire room, or market, or wherever you are at the moment. The message will be diluted if you try and pack in too much stuff. Often times in photography, less is more. Say more with less stuff in your images. If you do use them, keep a close eye on the effect they're producing. A cheaper alternative to a proper wide angle lens is a wide angle conversion lens, also known as a wide angle converter.

These are a type of accessory lens which screw onto the filter thread of your existing lenses. They and act in the opposite way to a magnifying glass, shrinking the objects in a scene and allowing you to see a wider angle. While these are much cheaper than wide angle lenses, the optical quality is generally quite poor. They also don't accept filters, require you to focus manually, suffer from lens flare, and can stop the lens from zooming.

Because of these drawbacks, wide converters are a fun toy to play and experiment with, but should not be seen as a serious alternative to a wide angle lens. If you shoot using a Canon or Nikon camera, then the best quality lenses are those made by the same manufacturer. However, these tend to be the most expensive, so if you are on a budget you should also consider the excellent alternatives made by other reputable companies like Tokina, Sigma, and Tamron.

Before buying, read online reviews and ask opinions from other owners. If possible, visit a store and try the lens out for yourself. Once you've made your decision, you can find some excellent prices online at places like Amazon and Adorama. Cover image by Alex Holyoake. Photographing sports and action is all about speed.

Discover how to set up your camera to capture sharp, detailed photos full of excitement and drama. Next time you're celebrating a special occasion with fireworks, follow these tips to photograph some truly memorable shots.

Black and white filters let you control how colours are converted to shades of grey. Use them to get the right contrast and mood in your photos.

Underwater photography is the perfect way to explore an exciting and unusual world. Use these tips to take spectacular underwater photos. Monopods are a great alternative to tripods for sports, wildlife, street photography, and more. Learn how to hold a monopod for maximum stability. Digital editing software allows us to remove unwanted objects, adjust colours, and touch up blemishes.

Learn how to digitally improve your photos. Focal Length Any camera lens with a focal length of less than 35mm is considered wide angle. Wide angle lenses tend to be 35mm or lower. Crop Factor The focal lengths mentioned above all apply to a full-frame camera with a 35mm sensor or film.

Ultra-wide angle lenses are often employed in photographing interiors real estate, especially , as the wide field of view makes interior spaces look impressively spacious. So what does an ultra-wide and wide angle of view look like on a full frame camera? Roll your mouse over the focal lengths below to see the difference.