Focal length affects the field of view.
Lenses for digital cameras have many special features, but according to Shutterbug Magazine, one of the first features that photographers discuss is focal length. This determines the field of view and the quality of a photograph.
Description
Lenses with a long focal length narrow the angle of view, while those with short focal lengths widen the angle of view, according to Cambridge in Colour, a website devoted to photography instruction. In other words, the longer the focal length, the narrower the view field becomes. This is also true of film lenses, but digital lenses with the same focal length as film lenses actually zoom in slightly more, according to Photo-Facts.com, the Digital Photography Dictionary.
Ramifications
Long focal length lenses with narrow angles of view maximize shakiness. This is similar to users who zoom in on objects with cameras or binoculars and find it difficult to hold the instrument perfectly steady. As a result, users with long focal lengths need short exposure times to minimize blurriness from shaking.
Types of Photography
Different types of shots require different focal lengths for optimal image quality. For instance, Cambridge in Colour states that landscape photography needs a wide angle lens with a focal length of 21 to 35 mm. Sports and wildlife photography require even longer focal lengths of 135 to 300 mm. For portraits, Shutterbug Magazine recommends a variety of focal lengths.
Tags: focal lengths, focal length, angle view, Cambridge Colour, field view, film lenses, focal length
