Concepts in Photography

Correlation between focal length, angle, and perspective

Focal length, which is measured in millimeters, is the distance between the middle of the lens to its focal point. It affects the angle and perspective of captured images. A short focal length translates into a wide angle, which allows you to capture a wide shot. A long focal length translates into a narrow angle, which allows you to capture telephoto shots.

Short focal length

wide-angle lens

wide shot

wide angle

Long focal length

telephoto lens

telephoto shot

narrow angle

Look at these photos below and compare the changes.

20 mm angle

50 mm angle

200 mm angle

Normally, a lens with a wide angle is suitable for shooting landscapes and a lens with a narrow angle is recommended for shooting sports events or portraits.

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