Whether you’re just getting started or are a professional photographer, one of the biggest decisions you make when taking a photo is choosing the right lens. Most phones even come with multiple lenses now, so how do you choose?
In this blog, we’ll look at the three most common categories of lenses: Wide, Normal, and Telephoto. We’ll explore the strengths and weaknesses of each one and how they affect your photos. It’s always a creative choice, so there’s no definitive right or wrong answer. However, by the end, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision, whether you’re shooting with a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or phone.
Before we get started, we’ll use full-frame lens numbers as a reference, since they are widely used with both film and digital cameras. Lower numbers mean a wider lens (zoomed out), and higher numbers indicate a longer lens (zoomed in). To get a rough equivalent for APS-C sensors, divide these numbers by 1.5, and for Micro Four Thirds (M43), divide by 2. (This is definitely a heated topic that I’ll save for another day!)
Wide lenses are perfect for capturing the surroundings and context around your subject. Landscape and architecture photographers often favor wide angles, but they can also be great for environmental portraits when you want to show the space your subject is in.
Wide lenses tend to exaggerate the distance between elements in the frame, which can make for dynamic and exciting compositions. But be careful—getting too close to your subject with a wide lens can cause distortion, which can be unflattering, especially in portraits.
On an iPhone, wide angles correspond to the 0.5x and 1x lenses, which are about 13mm and 24mm on a full-frame camera.
The 28mm focal length is particularly popular, with cameras like the Ricoh GR and Leica Q series using it exclusively. It captures a wide view without too much distortion, making it a great all-purpose focal length.
These lenses provide a natural perspective that most people feel mirrors the way we see. They don’t distort or compress the scene, making them great for both portraits and everyday photography.
This natural perspective is both a strength and a weakness: normal lenses present their subjects just as you’d see them with your own eyes, which lets the subject and composition shine. However, some might find this perspective too plain or boring, since it’s what we see every day.
On an iPhone, the 2x lens is similar to a 50mm focal length.
The 35mm focal length is perhaps the most popular of all, as demonstrated by the success of the Fujifilm X100 series over the last decade. The Ricoh GR IIIx and Leica Q3 43 have put the space between 35mm and 50mm on the map recently. And, of course, 50mm is one of the most classic focal lengths of all.
If you’re just getting started with photography, restricting yourself to one of these lenses is a proven way to train your eye to see like a photographer.
Telephoto lenses offer flattering dimensions for portraits, and they have a compression effect that brings distant objects closer together. These lenses let you focus on a single subject while excluding more of the background, which can help eliminate distractions or blur the background for a shallow depth of field effect. This makes them perfect for portraits and headshots.
If you have the space to step back, a telephoto lens can provide a more focused composition, even if you’re not photographing people. The compression effect makes objects seem closer together, which can be either an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on the situation. Excluding more of the background can help eliminate distractions, or it can make for a more bland composition, again depending on the situation.
On an iPhone, this is equivalent to the 3x or 5x lenses, which correspond to about 77mm or 120mm on a full-frame camera.
Lenses can, of course, go much farther than 135mm, but that brings us into true telephoto and super-telephoto territory, where you’re typically carrying a large lens to capture something far away. While this is certainly useful, it’s not an everyday activity for most photographers.
No matter what you’re shooting, each focal length has its own unique abilities. By understanding the stretched context of wide lenses, the natural perspective of normal lenses, and the compressed proportions of telephoto lenses, you can make smarter lens choices for every subject.
That said, you don’t need to use all types of lenses all the time—many famous photographers are known for using just one focal length. So experiment with different lenses, and perhaps even limit yourself to just one for a while to get to know it better. Over time, you’ll start to discover your own style and preferences when it comes to focal lengths.
