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The Lens Focal Length
Home » Digital Cameras » Digital Camera Lenses » The Lens Focal LengthThis is the most important part of the lens. This is what determines a lens ability to view an image. Most lenses have the ability to view an image three ways: wide angle, normal, and telephoto. A lens focal length is measured in millimeters (mm) and on a typical camera is usually about 35mm. If the lens is less than 35mm, it is too short and will not take a great picture. On the other hand, of the lens is over 65mm, this is considered too long or telephoto length. The best size for a lens is between 35mm to 65mm. If you have to change focal lengths, you will see two different effects. These effects will be:
• A short lens will have a wide view. If you adjust the length longer, the angle becomes narrower. A short lens will allow you to capture a wide area of a scene. However, a long lens will bring a narrower view and will cause small portions to be more isolated.
• A short lens will include a wide area of the scene, and every object in that scene will be reduced to fit into the image sensor. On the other hand, long lenses have a narrower view, so objects appear larger.
When you go to buy a digital camera, your choice of lens will depend solely in part on what you want to do with the camera. If you are looking to photograph scenes such as landscapes, buildings, and those objects on the street, a wide-angle lens is best. If you are looking to take pictures of portraits and natural scenes, a telephoto lens is best.
Related Digital Camera Lenses Articles
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- The Lens Focal Length
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