What is Focal Length in Photography?
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Loading... - Josip Nikolic
- 08 Feb 2023
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One of the most basic and common terms in the world of photography is the focal length of a lens. In this guide, we will dive down deep into what focal length is and how it works.
Photography revolves around capturing moments, whether it be an amazing misty landscape in the mountains, a colorful bird soaring through the sky, or a child at home eating their first slice of birthday cake. Each of these scenarios dictates the use of different techniques, equipment, and knowledge to capture the scene to the specifications of the photographer’s imagination. Whether you are a newcomer to the world of photography or a seasoned pro, it is important to know the basic science of your equipment in order to get the best output from your efforts.
The focal length of a lens will determine not only how much of a scene you will be able to capture at certain distances, but also how the objects in the scene will appear on the camera’s sensor. So, what is it, exactly, and how does it impact the photos you take?
Table of Contents
- 1. What is Focal Length?
- 2. Angle of View vs. Magnification
- 3. Prime Versus Zoom Lenses
- 4. Categories of Focal Lengths
- 5. Distortion, Compression, and Depth of Field
What is Focal Length?
First of all, it is important to know that we are not talking about your camera when we refer to focal length. The camera of course plays an important role, but it is the job of the lens to take the light and focus it at a particular point. The light from the scene hits the object and bounces from the object to the lens, which then focuses the image through its optical center and transposes it back out to the sensor. Read More…
