Does The Focal Length Of A Fixed Focal Length Camera Changes
East very choice you make as a filmmaker will change your footage. Some choices are bigger than others, ane of which is f ocal length.
What is focal length? Information technology's a measurement that specifies how your lens interacts with your photographic camera. On a applied level, focal length determines field of view, or how much of a view volition be captured . It also indicates how big subjects and elements in that view will be, or the magnification.
In this article, nosotros'll explain information technology in item. Nosotros'll look at different lenses and focal length examples. You'll come up away knowing why focal length matters, and how and when to employ a variety of focal lengths to generate intended feelings.
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Table of Contents
Everything you demand to know virtually Focal Length.
- Understanding Focal Length
- Focal Length Essentials
- Wide-Angle Lens (23mm-35mm)
- Standard Angle Lens (35mm-55mm)
- Long-Focus Lens (55mm-500mm)
- Field of View
- Artistic Uses of Focal Length
- Compress Space
- Expand Space
- Capture Action
- Exaggerate Motility
- Move the Camera
i
Understanding Focal Length
THE BASICS OF LENS FOCAL LENGTH
1.1 FOCAL LENGTH ESSENTIALS
The basics of lens focal length
Your camera and lens are the audience. Your audition sees no more and no less than what you show them. Information technology is crucial that when telling your story, you consider all the aspects of visual storytelling for your moving-picture show.
All the modest creative storytelling choices that you brand for each image of your motion picture are of import. These small choices coalesce into the powerful furnishings your audience will feel as your story unfolds before them.
Focal length affects how "zoomed in" an image appears. The higher the millimeter (mm) number, the more than "zoomed in" the image appears.
Focal length is measured as the distance from the focal point where light rays converge in the lens to the sensor or picture in the camera, as illustrated in the diagram below.
The measurement from the focal point, or indicate of convergence, to the sensor or flick
Your shot begins with the focal length of your lens. Here's a more detailed focal length pregnant:
FOCAL LENGTH DEFINITION
What is focal length?
Focal length is the distance between the optical middle of the lens, and the camera sensor or film plane when focused at infinity. The optical eye is where light rays converge inside the body of your lens. The focal length defines the magnification and field of view for a given lens. This value is most commonly measured in millimeters. Prime lenses have prepare focal lengths whereas zoom lenses have variable focal lengths, and whatever modify alters the visual properties of your footage.
Why is focal length and then important?
- Dictates your field of view (what is in frame)
- Generates visual context for your shots (how we experience)
- Alters the visual properties of your shots (how it looks)
"Which size lens do you want to shoot this with?"
At times you may hear someone utilize the term lens size, which is the same thing equally the focal length. Very rarely will you lot hear someone respond to the question with something general like standard lens or long lens. More than often you lot will hear the specific mm value.
When it comes to narrative filmmaking, your focal length will permit you lot to capture footage with different visual properties based on your lens choice.
The deviation is obvious
In that location are both applied and creative consideration when making these decisions, so understanding focal length might be the well-nigh important visual tool for a director to embrace.
A longer focal length, such as 135mm or 85mm in the diagram beneath, results in a narrower angle of view and greater magnification. Meanwhile, a shorter focal length, such as 24mm or 14mm, translates to a wider angle of view and less magnification.
In this commencement instance, below, the photographic camera is positioned the same distance from the field of study and unlike lenses are used:
Aforementioned distance, dissimilar furnishings
In the next focal length example, the camera is positioned at varying distances with different lenses, as indicated in each photo:
Dissimilar distance, different effects
And so think:
The lens mm number refers to the focal length or magnification. This tin also be casually referred to every bit the lens size.
In StudioBinder, you can easily select the lens' via your shot specs cavalcade. Take a wait below to run across it in activity:
View the various options you can pick
Earlier we get into the different focal lengths, take a minute to download our Costless Ebook — Camera Lenses Explained Vol. ane — where cover everything you lot demand to know about the dissimilar types of photographic camera lenses, their unique visual characteristics, and how to use them.
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Camera Lenses Explained
Every type of camera lens has distinct qualities and visual characteristics that every prototype-maker should empathize. Download our Costless e-volume to get in-depth explanations on prime vs. zoom lenses, anamorphic vs. spherical lenses, broad angle, standard, telephoto and fifty-fifty specialty lenses that all tell a slightly different story.
1.2 Lens FOCAL LENGTH
Wide-Angle Lens (23mm-35mm)
A wide-angle lens is any lens with a set focal length that is shorter than the length of the sensor or movie (measured diagonally). For a full frame sensor, your wide-angle focal length would be anything below 35mm.
Broad angle lenses explained, with wide angle lens tests
Oftentimes whatever lens with a focal length that falls between 23mm and 35mm can be categorized as a broad-angle lens. To go downwardly any lower than 23mm would notwithstanding exist considered wide-bending, simply it pushes the lens into fisheye territory.
FISHEYE LENS Definition
what is a FISHEYE LENS?
A fisheye lens is an ultra wide-angle lens (frequently called a super wide-angle lens) that captures an extremely wide image, generally around 180 degrees.
Fisheye lenses produce distorted, curved images. As the name implies, a fisheye lens is based on how a fish would view things below the surface of the water.
Any broad-angle lens with a focal range of 1mm to 23mm tin can be labeled a fisheye lens. They are ofttimes used to shoot buildings, large rooms and open spaces, and birds-centre views, as they curve direct lines to dynamic effect. Fisheye lenses are too pop for creating funny, warped images, such as close-upwardly shots of faces.
1.3 CAMERA FOCAL LENGTH
Standard Lens (35mm-55mm)
A standard lens has a fix (prime) focal length that is around the same length as the sensor or film (measured diagonally). For a full frame sensor, your focal length would come up in right around 42mm.
Often a lens falls between 35mm to 55mm can be categorized as "standard" focal length.
Standard lens test
Standard lenses are purported to have a similar field of view to that of the man center, though this has been disputed considering that the homo heart has a truthful field of view closer to that of a 17mm to 25mm lens, with a f/three.2 aperture rating.
The true reason 35mm to 55mm are similar to the human being eye is that of our cone of visual attention, which thins the field of view of the human being center.
1.4 FOCAL LENGTH comparison
Long-Focus Lens (55mm-500mm)
A long-focus lens is whatsoever lens with a ready focal length that is significantly longer than the length of the sensor or pic (measured diagonally). For a total frame sensor, your focal length would exist annihilation above 55mm.
Long-focus lens test
Ofttimes whatsoever lens that falls between 55mm to 500mm can be categorized equally a long-focus lens. You may hear a cinematographer or camera operator refer to them but equally "long lenses."
Some long lenses are too telephoto lenses, just this only occurs in a specific situation where a telephoto group of glass is congenital inside.
TELEPHOTO LENS Definition
what is A TELEPHOTO LENS?
A telephoto lens is a specific kind of long-focus lens. Its internal blueprint provides a focal length a great deal longer than the length of the lens itself. Like other lenses, telephoto lenses are available in fixed (or prime) focal lengths, every bit well as zoom varieties.
Telephoto lenses in general have focal lengths over 70 mm, and come in dissimilar sizes. Whatever telephoto lens with a focal range of 300mm or higher would be considered a super telephoto lens.
Telephoto lenses are oft used to shoot wild fauna or sports. They can make distant subjects appear closer. Also, in close-upwardly portrait shots, telephoto lenses tend to keep a field of study's features in proportion, with minimal to no distortion.
1.5 FOCAL LENGTH explained
What is field of view?
Field of view is the amount of space you see on the epitome plane. It's how much of a scene is captured in your image.
If you were to record footage of your hero role player:
A wider lens might show the torso, which is a larger field of view.
A longer lens might testify only their face, which is a smaller field of view.
To expound upon what we've discussed in department one in a higher place, a lens with a shorter focal length (i.e., a lower mm number) gives you a wider field of view. A lens with a longer focal length (i.e., a college mm number) gives you a narrower field of view.
This diagram illustrates the principle:
Focal length and field of view
With each shot, whatever your aim, you lot'll want to label intended focal length in your shot list and proceed track of the lenses y'all'll need on set for a particular 24-hour interval.
It'south a lot to consider, and a lot to retrieve, but planning is disquisitional. Fortunately, shot listing tools make your piece of work easier.
Utilise your shot list to keep runway of the lens and intended focal length of every shot
Some films are shot entirely with broad or long lenses considering of the type of images they create, and in other cases directors will elect to testify a gradual change in a story through a gradual change in focal length.
Check out the video below to see how DP Roger Deakins chooses which lens to tell a particular story in every shot.
How to Choose a Lens w/ Roger Deakins • Subscribe on YouTube
Focal length might seem like a purely technical consideration, and at that place'southward a lot of detailed mechanics involved . But as the video makes clear, technical details similar focal length and lens choice exist to serve your story .
An understanding of focal length, field of view, and lenses gives you the power to orchestrate your shots and convey intended emotion. This is what we'll explore farther in the side by side chapter.
2
Creative Uses of Focal Length
CINEMATIC TECHNIQUES WITH LENSES
2.1 short FOCAL LENGTH
Compress Infinite
Longer focal lengths compress the prototype past causing the background to appear closer to the subject. This pinch likewise causes objects (or actors) that are backside one another to announced closer together than they really are.
In essence, you can create a shallow depth of field and "flatten" subjects and their background past shooting from a altitude with a longer focal length lens. This is a class of distortion known as lens compression.
You can compress space to achieve the following results.
Build suspense
This clip from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a highly exaggerated example since they used an incredibly long focal length of 2000mm. Most long telephotos commonly used top out at around 300mm.
This video highlights that a long focal length can be used for interesting artistic applications, such as creating a sense of danger within this scene.
Still, it also fills a practical application by manipulating perspective and assuasive dangerous special furnishings, activeness sequences, or perhaps landing planes to be further than they appear, eliminating risk for actors.
Focal Length and shallow depth of field in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Create intimacy
Another lens compression application is to make two characters feel closer, and therefore the shot more intimate, such equally in this scene from The Role.
If you lot look at the difference between the 2 shots in the scene, the ones with the longer lens make Holly and Michael feel much closer, which is advisable in context.
Focal length and lens compression in The Part
In this shot, Michael is reconnecting with Holly. They are merely friends now, but he's trying to woo her. This shot establishes the scene, but also has some level of intimacy — as you might have noticed, the filmmakers used a long focal length to isolate Michael and Holly and drown out other distractions — their interactions here are the focus.
Focal Length and shallow depth of field in The Office
The filmmakers go on using a long lens hither, which makes Holly and Michael appear even closer than they did in the previous shot. Information technology's a very cozy image. In the last shot, the filmmakers zoom in even closer. Note the blurred groundwork.
Focal Length enhances intimacy in The Role
Information technology appears that Holly and Michael are shoulder-to-shoulder. The intimate moment, and Michael's intent, is sold with the way he looks at her when she's grabbing and eating her strawberry.
If you sentry the scene, information technology'south articulate he's still in honey with her. The shot helps visually communicate this information to the audience.
Get a voyeur
Longer focal lengths isolate a field of study from the background. This perspective is very different from how we normally perceive the world.
Because of these effects, a longer lens can create the sense that a grapheme is being spied on (especially when combined with other techniques).
This can be literal, or washed so the audition has a sense that they're watching a private moment.
Long focal length in a short picture show: Sacramentum
In this frame from the short film Sacramentum, a combination of techniques requite the feeling that something secretive is going on.
Specifically, a cultist has dragged a man into the woods to sacrifice. Looking down at the unconscious man from above (like a security camera), with a long lens (similar binoculars), and with objects in the foreground (as if someone is watching), all enhance this feeling.
2.2 long FOCAL LENGTH
Expand Space
Wider focal lengths exaggerate the appearance of distance between objects. In other words, they actually have the normal perspective y'all have that objects become larger as they go closer, and smaller as they become further, and intensify this difference.
Use wide focal lengths to do the following.
Enrich setting
Here'due south a buzzworthy example of wide-angle lenses expanding space. Watch the trailer for The Favourite below, and count how many times wider focal lengths (and fifty-fifty fisheye lens shots) enrich the world of early on 18th century England.
Cheque out how the fisheye lens expands space in the trailer for The Favourite
The far objects announced even smaller, and the closer objects even larger, than they would commonly appear to the human eye.
This includes causing backgrounds to appear farther away compared to normal and long focal lengths. This is often used for landscape and architecture every bit it enhances the existing shapes and leading lines of the image to create visual interest.
Isolate characters
Since wider focal lengths exaggerate the size of things shut to frame, this can give the audience a sense that they are right there next to your character, up close and personal.
Wide focal lengths convey isolation in a sci-fi micro moving picture
Information technology's a more objective perspective for the audition to experience because this perspective is like sitting next to a friend.
Using a long lens would accept flattened the features on his face up, giving the audition the impression that they are watching him from distant, as opposed to experiencing events with him.
It'south a fairly subtle divergence, but all your small-scale visual choices will add together upwards. In fact, yous could achieve the opposite effect — making your graphic symbol seem solitary — past using a broad angle lens to exaggerate the perception of the space they are in, making them appear modest.
2.3 FOCAL LENGTH: CREATIVE TOOL
Capture Action
Longer focal lengths exaggerate lateral movement. That is, move perpendicular to the camera will exist intensified by increasing the perceived speed of a subject compared to its background.
Why is this?
Reason number one is that due to pinch of space with longer focal lengths, the field of study in the frame appears to be moving more speedily against its background.
We can't explain this much ameliorate than past showing yous this great scene from Fast & Furious. The filmmakers use this lateral action technique throughout the movie, just there are some great examples in this particular scene.
The focal length definition is on the movement in Fast & Furious
The other reason is that due to the magnification of longer lenses, fifty-fifty the slightest movement by the camera operator tin can be greatly exaggerated. Combined with visual pinch, this results in camera shake which tin can exist a desirable effect that creates a sense of urgency and energy.
Notwithstanding, information technology is easily overused and tin can be besides disorienting for the audience if used excessively, so keep this in mind.
two.4 FOCAL LENGTH in motion
Exaggerate Movement
Wide lenses and shorter focal lengths increase the perception of speed when a field of study is moving toward or abroad from photographic camera.
This is a sort of side effect from the fact that wide lenses exaggerate the distance between objects. Since closer objects appear larger, the wider your lens, the more than rapidly an object grows in the frame equally information technology approaches.
Lens size heightens the hunt in Minority Report
This increases the perception of speed when something moves away or toward camera. Since wide lens exaggerates altitude to camera, to create more intense outcome of moving toward or abroad from camera, yous need to use a wide angle lens.
A secondary consequence of wide lenses is that they minimize the perception of photographic camera shake, thereby smoothing out your shot.
Wide lenses tin can be used to exaggerate the following.
Speed of characters
Foot chases are once again a smashing example of how to use wide lenses to your reward. If you'd like to evidence the baddie chasing your hero through a hallway, you tin can make their movements appear faster than they are by using this technique.
Running the focal distance in No Way Out
This not only makes the scene more exciting, simply information technology raises the stakes for your hero because you almost feel that they cannot escape.
Movement of objects
Of form, exaggerating the rapid approach of a person isn't the only application. Information technology works with pretty much anything including cars.
Focal length in focus in American Graffiti
Having something like a machine approaching the audition at rapid speeds adds intensity to your scene.
Facial features
Since long and wide lenses compress or exaggerate the perception of how close an object is to frame, this also affects how faces wait in the frame.
For example, facial features will be evened out in proportion, or 'flattened', past longer lenses. On the other hand, wider lenses tend to exaggerate facial features, or at least any is closest to the lens at the time.
Of grade, if your subject is pretty far from the camera, this effect won't be very noticeable, if at all, just if the subject is close, it will have a significant bear upon on your image.
ii.5 CHANGE PERSPECTIVE
Move the Photographic camera
When you add camera movement, things get more complicated, as you are then changing the perspective of the audience by physically irresolute proximity to objects, subjects, and your background.
You may be excited to film a large tracking shot in your side by side project, which means you'll be moving the camera with your subject.
Think almost how you want the viewer to experience, and then make focal length, camera stability, movement speed, and production design to generate that intended feeling. The more thoughtful, the amend the effect.
Motion the photographic camera and use different lenses to tell your story
Depending on what lens y'all are using, your epitome will and then change according to the effect that focal length creates.
That is why it's so important to learn the dissimilar effects that focal length has on your image, and ultimately, your audience.
When you lot know how to use the tools available to y'all, yous can twist them to your purposes, such every bit for comedic effect.
A unique technique that uses the ability of focal length and camera movement is the the famous "vertigo" effect popularized by filmmakers such every bit Alfred Hitchcock and afterwards Stephen Spielberg.
Dolly zoom and focal length can crusade vertigo
The reason this effect is possible is because it is using the relationship between how the lens compresses the image and the physical movement of the photographic camera in unison to warp the visual perspective.
Some other utilize is the iconic 'Bayhem' shot, which adds drama to a shot.
It creates parallax move and depth by having the subject area move opposite the direction the camera is moving, with a long lens, which exaggerates the movement.
The background appears to whip past the actor due to image pinch.
Michael Bay uses focal length to bring the "Bayhem"
Your photographic camera and lens are the audience. Your audience sees no more and no less than what y'all evidence them. It is crucial that when telling your story, you consider all the aspects of visual storytelling for your movie.
All the small creative storytelling choices that you make for each image of your picture are important. These small-scale choices coalesce into the powerful effects your audience volition feel as your story unfolds before them.
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Camera Lenses Explained
Every type of camera lens has distinct qualities and visual characteristics that every image-maker should understand. Download our FREE e-book to go far-depth explanations on prime vs. zoom lenses, anamorphic vs. spherical lenses, wide bending, standard, telephoto and fifty-fifty specialty lenses that all tell a slightly unlike story.
Upwardly NEXT
Understanding Depth of Field
At present that you take a meliorate grasp on focal lengths, check out our post, The Essential Guide to Depth of Field.
Depth of field and focal length are some of the near powerful visual tools for any filmmaker, regardless of whether you are shooting music videos, television shows, or online content.
Up Next: Guide to Depth of Field →
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