If you are new to photography or video, choosing the right lens can be a challenge. The focal length of a lens determines how much of the scene you can absorb and how far away objects appear. Together with Viltrox, we offer you a number of lenses that are suitable for different requirements and styles. In this article you will learn which focal lengths are best suited for different motifs and how to select the right lens for your needs.
What is the focal length?
The focal length of a lens is a fundamental term in photography that refers to the distance between the lens and the focal point. It is measured in millimeters and influences the perspective shown.
The focal length is the distance between the lens and the point at which the light is bundled, the so -called focal point. Light rays that fall through the lens meet in this focus. The focal length determines how strongly the image is enlarged or reduced. A long focal length brings distant objects closer, while a short focal length shows more from the surrounding area. In cameras the bundled light hits the sensor that takes up the picture.
Fixed focal length vs zoom lens: what is what and why are fixed focal lengths so popular?
With a lens with a fixed focal length, the image section cannot be changed, so the same image angle is always recorded. In contrast, you can zoom in and out with a zoom lens- the name already says it, so it reduces and enlarge the image section. So these offer greater flexibility compared to the fixed focal length. However, this is at the expense of image quality: a large focal length area is covered with a zoom lens and this creeps in. Fixed focal lengths provide optimal image quality and light intensity, which can also be achieved better bokeh effects. In addition, they are smaller, more compact and often cheaper than zoom lenses and are suitable for special fields depending on the focal length.
Overview lenses
Super wide angle (below 24 mm): Lenses with a very short focal length (e.g. 13 mm to 24 mm) belong to the category of super wide -angle lenses. These offer an extremely wide angle of view and are ideal if you want to capture even more of the scene. They are particularly useful for dramatic landscape shots, architecture or narrow interiors, where you need a particularly large field of vision.
Super wide -angle lenses can also create creative effects by offering a pronounced perspective distortion and a strong spatial effect.
Ideal for: Landscapes, astrofotography, narrow interiors
Our tip: lens AF 13 mm f/1.4
Viltrox lens AF 13 mm F/1.4 DX with Nikon Z-Mount-Rollei
Viltrox lens AF 13 mm f/1.4 E with Sony E-Mount-Rollei
Wide angle (below 35 mm): A lens with a short focal length (e.g. 24 mm or 35 mm) has a wide angle of image. This means that it captures more of the scene and that objects continue to appear smaller. Such lenses are, for example, ideal for landscape and architectural recordings.
Ideal for: Landscapes, architecture, interior shots
Our tip: lens AF 27 mm f/1.2 per
Objective | AF 27 mm | F/1.2 Pro XF | Fuji - roller egg
Objective AF 27 mm f/1.2 Pro for APS-C cameras with Nikon Z-Mount-Rollei
Objective AF 27 mm f/1.2 per e for Sony with aperture f/1.2 - roller egg
Standard focal length (35 mm - 70 mm): An objective with an average focal length (e.g. 50 mm) is also called the standard focal length, because it offers an image angle that is quite close to the human field of vision. This makes it easier to focus on the main motif and you get a feel faster for the right image section and the perspective. Therefore, the standard focal length is particularly suitable for beginners.
Standard focal lengths are generally very versatile and are well suited for everyday shots, portraits and street photography, as they offer a natural perspective.
Ideal for: Portraits, everyday photography, landscape photography, street photography
Our tip: lens AF 50 mm f/1.8
Viltrox lens AF 50 mm f/1.8 FX with Nikon Z-Mount-Rollei
Viltrox lens AF 50 mm f/1.8 Fe with Sony E-Mount-Rollei
Tele lens (70 mm - 200 mm): A lens with a long focal length (e.g. 85 mm or 200 mm) has a narrower image angle and can use distant objects. This is useful for photography of animals, sports events or detailed shots, as it enables you to enlarge and focus far away motifs. Lenses with a focal length of 70 mm to 85 mm are also very suitable for portrait shots.
Ideal for: Animal photography, sports recordings, detailed shots, portraits
Our tip: lens AF 75 mm f/1.2 per
Objective | AF 75 mm | F/1.2 per Z DX | Nikon Z-Mount-Rollei
Objective | AF 75 mm | F/1.2 Pro | Sony E-Mount-Rollei
Objective special features:
Macro lenses: A macro lens enables high enlargement with a low close range, since they usually have significantly shorter close-up limit than normal lenses. So you can approach your motif incredibly close to your motif and still get high -resolution pictures. It is specifically designed to grasp tiny details. Macro lenses are also possible to create a low depth of field in order to highlight the motif. In macro lenses, the focal lengths are typically between 50 mm and 200 mm. The longer the focal length, the higher the distance to the motif. This is suitable, for example, on photography of insects, which are often very terrible.
© Stephan Wiesner
Great lenses (from 300 mm): These lenses bridge very large distances when it comes to mapping a motif. Therefore, for example, they are particularly suitable for Safari photography if you cannot approach a motif. They are also used in sports photography if, for example, a footballer is to be photographed in a very large stadium. With a focal length from this length, it is very easy due to the low depth of sharpening to solve the motif from the front and background, so that, for example, the bird can still be sharpened in wildlife photography despite obstacles such as bushes and branches. However, it must be noted that lenses become very difficult with increasing focal length.
Additional aspects of the focal length:
Depth of sharpness: A longer focal length can reduce the depth of sharpness (i.e. the area in the image that is shown sharply). This means that the background becomes blurry and so-called bokeh effects arise, which is particularly advantageous in portraits or in the withdrawal of motifs against the background.
The aperture: With the aperture you can determine how much light falls on the sensor. It also plays a major role in the depth of field. The further the aperture is open, the fewer depth of field is generated. If the value for the aperture is very small, for example F1.8, the aperture is wide open. The higher the value when setting increases, the more the aperture is closed, for example F18. The aperture is still very important for the exposure of the motif. The further the aperture is closed, the less light the sensor can absorb. This can happen that the result is underexpected or blurred.
Perspective distortion: Short focal lengths can lead to a stronger perspective distortion, which means that objects in the corners of the image can appear more distorted. Long focal lengths minimize this distortion and bring far away objects closer.
To visual representation of the focal lengths and their angles of view, you can see a graphic here:
Conclusion:
The choice of the right Viltrox lens depends on your photographic style and your requirements. Whether you want to create breathtaking landscapes, detailed macro recordings or impressive portraits, Viltrox offers the right lens for every opportunity. Discover the variety of Viltrox lenses and find the model that best suits your creative vision.Do you always want to be informed about news first? Then follow us Instagram, Facebook or Tiktok
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