Welcome to Part 2 of Choosing Manual Focus Lenses. We will now delve deeper into the categories of focal lengths and the differences between them. As in the previous post, we will be looking at this in terms of vintage 35mm format manual focus (MF) lenses, but you can use the principles for more modern glass and other formats. WARNING - There may some numbers involved! (I'll try to control myself ;-)) Fun With Focal Lengths In 35mm format: "Normal" lenses range from 40 - 58mm (with 50mm being by far the most common and was the basic kit lens offered with SLRs for years); Wide-angles go from about 28 - 35mm; Extreme wide angles from 15 - 25mm; Ultra-wide angles are less than 15mm; Telephotos from 65 - 300mm; and Super Telephotos are greater than 300mm. All of these categories are approximate, but you get the general idea. We will look at single focal-lengths and, in the next article, discuss how zooms combine several focal lengths into one lens and the advantages/disadvantages of doing so. Normal Lenses (40 - 58mm)
Moderate Wide Angle Lenses (28 - 35mm)
Extreme Wide Angle Lenses (15 - 25mm)
Ultra-Wide Angle Lenses (Less than 15mm)
Moderate Telephotos (85 - 135mm)
Standard Telephotos (180 - 300mm)
Super Telephotos (350 - 2000mm)
In Part 3 we will the advantages and disadvantages of zooms and how these can impact your lens selections.
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C.J. OdenbachSuffers from a quarter-century and counting film and manual focus SLR addiction. Has recently expanded into 1980's AF point and shoots, and (gack!) '90s SLRs. He even mixes in some digital. Definitely a sick man. Categories
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