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Essential Lenses and Focal Lengths – What to Use and Why

Essential Lenses and Focal Lengths – What to Use and Why

As an amateur photographer, understanding focal lengths and lenses will help you capture better photos for different situations. Let’s break it down in a simple, practical way.

1. Wide-Angle Lenses (10mm - 35mm)

📏 Short focal length = Captures more of the scene (wider view).


📸 Best for: Landscapes, architecture, interiors, and street photography.


🔹 Why?
Makes small spaces look bigger.
Great for dramatic shots with leading lines.
Adds depth to landscape photography.

 

🔻 Caution:
🚨 Can distort faces if used too close (not ideal for portraits).

 

📷 Popular choices:

  • 16-35mm f/2.8 – Great for landscapes & travel.
  • 24mm f/1.4 – Amazing for wide environmental portraits.

2. Standard (Mid-Range) Lenses (35mm - 85mm)

📏 Balanced focal length = Looks natural, like the human eye.


📸 Best for: Portraits, street photography, and everyday shots.

 

🔹 Why?
35mm – A great “walk around” lens, perfect for storytelling and environmental portraits.
50mm (“Nifty Fifty”) – Super versatile, sharp, and works well in low light.
85mm – Ideal for portraits, giving a flattering background blur.

 

🔻 Caution:
🚨 85mm and longer need more space—hard to use in tight indoor settings.

 

📷 Popular choices:

  • 50mm f/1.8 – Affordable, sharp, great for beginners.
  • 85mm f/1.4 – Beautiful bokeh for professional-looking portraits.

3. Telephoto Lenses (100mm - 400mm)

📏 Long focal length = Brings far subjects closer.


📸 Best for: Wildlife, sports, concerts, and compressed portraits.

 

🔹 Why?
Captures details from far away.
Compresses background for a cinematic effect.
Great for isolating subjects (background blur, separation).

 

🔻 Caution:
🚨 Heavier and more expensive.
🚨 Need a steady hand or tripod to avoid blur.

 

📷 Popular choices:

  • 70-200mm f/2.8 – Great for portraits, sports, and events.
  • 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 – Perfect for wildlife and outdoor sports.

4. Specialty Lenses

📸 Macro Lenses (90mm – 100mm) – For close-up shots of small subjects like flowers, insects, or jewellery.


📸 Fisheye Lenses (8mm – 15mm) – For ultra-wide, distorted creative shots.


📸 Tilt-Shift Lenses – Used for architecture and product photography to avoid distortion.

Quick Cheat Sheet – Which Lens for What?

Landscapes Wide-angle (16mm-35mm)
Portraits 50mm, 85mm, 135mm
Street Photography 35mm or 50mm
Sports/Wildlife 200mm+ Telephoto
Macro (Close-ups) 100mm Macro

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Essential Lenses & Focal Lengths

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Hi I'm Monique

Personal and business brand image expert. Photographer and educator who is super passionate about empowering business women and men to have a positive self perception, with the right tools and guidance so they can share their gifts with the world.

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Essential Lenses & Focal Lengths

Download PDF version here

Essential Lenses & Focal Lengths

download

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