Wide-angle lens

A wide-angle lens is an objective whose focal length is shorter than that of a normal lens. Such devices allow you to cover a much larger angle of space than the human eye can see. Due to the fact that the frame size does not exceed the usual, all objects that fall into it are obtained in the picture smaller than when shooting with a conventional lens. The degree of reduction directly depends on the length of the focal length. Wide-angle lens gives an opportunity to get a very interesting result in terms of optics and expressiveness, as when shooting with it, the effect of removing different plans from each other and from the photographer becomes more noticeable. It is considered that such devices have a greater depth of field than telephoto lenses or standard models. However, this is a very common misconception, since in a picture with the same size of the subject, the depth of field, for example, a telephoto lens or a standard one, will be exactly the same as in the case of a wide-angle lens.

Wide-angle lens has the following main features: wide viewing angle; A lower minimum focusing distance. All other characteristics are not unique. Wide-angle lenses are also considered to be ultra-wide-angle. Regarding this type, there are no specific restrictions on which models to call it that way, but in the photographers' environment, they are considered to be those whose focal length does not exceed 24 mm.

Due to some specific properties of wide-angle lenses, shooting with their help has a number of features. One of them is considered to be distortion of the perspective, when the objects nearest to each other are transmitted much larger than actually, and the remote ones seem to be smaller. To maximize the use of this effect, you need to approach the main subject as closely as possible, necessarily including an object in the background in the frame. This distortion of perspective is very useful especially in the case of landscape photography, with the scene acquiring additional volume. However, it is this feature that does not allow people to be shot, because it greatly distorts the proportions of the body and face.

You can use a wide-angle lens to shoot architecture or other objects, while avoiding tilting the axis of the lens with respect to the horizon if there are many parallel vertical lines, as this will noticeably distort the space. This will give a snapshot effect of the falling buildings. When professional photography of architecture is carried out, masters try to avoid this effect, but it can be used in some cases as an artistic effect. It is important to note that for photography of architectural structures it is worthwhile to use a special type of lenses equipped with the possibility of tilting the optical axis and shifting it, which will allow correcting the perspective of distortion. For example, a wide-angle lens Nikon is quite capable of coping with such a task. But during shooting in closed confined spaces such devices become generally practically indispensable, because the photographer does not have the opportunity to step back to fully cover the scene. When shooting interiors, this quality is highly appreciated.

Due to its optical features and design, Canon's wide-angle lens has a much greater exposure to ambient light and glare. This forces you to use a protective lens hood during shooting that protects the front lens from direct sunlight and reduces the chance of glare in the picture.