Glossary
 

Glossary

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Glossary > Focal Range Focal Length 
The traditional 'standard' lens has a focal length of 50mm, this gives a natural sense of perspective and magnification on a 35mm camera.

Wideangle lenses are ideal for fitting as much as possible into a picture, often used for landscapes, group shots, etc.
They also give a large depth of field, so that more of the scene is in focus, from back to front. Very wide angle lenses will usually cause distortion, so that vertical lines near the edge of the picture may appear slightly curved.

Telephoto lenses bring distant objects nearer, making them a popular choice for sports, wildlife, aviation or action photography. They have a relatively shallow depth of field; meaning that not much of the scene will be clear, to either side of the point you focus on.
Because of their high magnification (and greater size and weight) they can be trickier to hand hold, making a high shutter speed or some form of support a wise choice.

Zoom lenses allow a variety of magnifications without having to change lenses. They are the most popular all-rounders and often come included in kits with new cameras. With the latest lens technology it is possible to get zooms in a wide range of sizes, even up to 28-200mm or a huge 35-300mm.