What is wide angle lens

Focal lengths between 35mm and 24mm are considered standard wide angle. Between 24mm to 16mm is what we usually refer to when saying wide angle. Focal lengths below 16mm are considered ultra wide angles. The most popular wide angle zoom range is mm. Most kit or standard zoom lenses go down to 24mm or 28mm. The widest lenses on the market are 10mm rectilinear and 8mm fisheye. Fish-eye lenses are special ultra-wide angle lenses. They have a distinctive, hemispherical type of lens distortion.

They cram in as much information as possible. There are also fish-eye zoom lenses though only a few , such as the Canon EF mm. Most action cameras, like the GoPro s, also feature built-in wide fish-eye lenses. Rectilinear wide angle lenses are the other type.

These are not free from distortion either, but they keep lines close to straight. You might still notice moderate barrel distortion on some.

It is more obvious in architectural images, where the lines bow outward, away from the centre. You can get lenses with shorter focal lengths, but they are solely for cropped-sensor cameras like the Sigma mm.

Keep in mind that you cannot compare a 16mm fisheye with a 16mm rectilinear wide angle lens. Because of the distortion, the fisheye lens will give a different, slightly wider image. Neither of the previously mentioned two lens types allows you to correct for perspective distortion. This type of distortion is especially prevalent in wide angle lenses. With a standard rectilinear lens, they would converge. They project much larger images than the full-frame sensor. You can move the lens on the plane parallel to the sensor both horizontally and vertically.

Thus, they can make converging lines parallel, or parallel lines converge. These lenses are extremely sophisticated and very expensive. They are the most popular lenses among professional architecture and fine-art photographers. You can even attach a teleconverter to make it a longer tilt-shift lens. So, what is a wide angle lens used for? Wide angle lenses are generally used for scenes where you want to capture as much as possible. Landscapes , cityscapes, and architecture are the main categories that use a wide angle lens.

A fish-eye lens captures even more of the scene but is mainly used for artistic and creative purposes. They are wide enough to nicely capture the two-worlds scene that I am sure we have all seen and admired. Be aware that you have to be very conscious of your composition to work well with a wide angle lens.

It is easy to fall into the trap of showing too much. I often use my wide angle lens for street photography. If I need to get closer to a subject, I move there myself. This can be a pain with wide angle lenses, as you need to get in really close. I recommend a fast 35mm or 24mm prime lens for street photography, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

Lighter gear means more room to pack other stuff or more convenient travel. So, most photographers opt to choose a standard zoom lens , maybe an extra telephoto lens. If your kit lens goes as low as 24mm, it might be enough. Common uses for wide angle lenses include landscapes, cityscapes, starry skies, architecture, panoramas, wedding receptions and events. Ultra-wide angle lenses are often employed in photographing interiors real estate, especially , as the wide field of view makes interior spaces look impressively spacious.

So what does an ultra-wide and wide angle of view look like on a full frame camera? Roll your mouse over the focal lengths below to see the difference. Composing a compelling image with a wide angle lens can oftentimes be a challenging task. Note that the wider the angle, the lower the focal length number is on a lens. For example, a 15mm focal length will offer an ultra-wide field of view. Because wide angle lenses have such a large field of view, they distort things.

This means that objects in the foreground of your frame will appear larger and more exaggerated than those in the background. When and how you use a wide angle lens is important for composing good photos. Fisheye lenses are a type of wide angle lens, only they go well beyond the 10—15mm wide angle focal length. The primary difference with fish angle lenses is the significant barrel distortion, or what appears to be a circular image. This is intentional and due to the fact that the field of view extends to degrees.

The truth is that wide angle lenses have a variety of uses. Below we cover some of those most common considerations when composing photos with a wide lens. One of the main perks is the ability to squeeze more into your frame. This also makes them a favorite among real estate and architectural photographers as they can be incredibly useful when shooting interiors — in other words, when your movement is restricted by the walls of a home or building.

Because a wide angle lens allows you to fit more into your frame, you can also use this as a powerful storytelling technique by introducing more elements in a single photo.

With the focus on your subject, but still enough room to capture the background, you can tell a more comprehensive story through your shot. On the other hand, space for too many elements in your photos can also work to your disadvantage since there is no clear subject and a lot of negative space. Always consider what you want the viewer to see in your image and where you want their eyes to land. In some cases, this may mean getting physically closer to your subject or changing the subject entirely.

If your goal is to exaggerate or emphasize the difference in size between foreground and background objects, then a wide angle lens is an excellent choice. Below we highlight some of the best wide angle lenses on the market for Here are some of the best Canon wide angle lenses for both DSLRs and mirrorless cameras available on the market today.

Autofocus speed and accuracy is also improved, along with a reduction in chromatic aberrations, flare and ghosting.