Street Photography: Choosing your Focal Length (85mm, 50mm, 35mm, 28mm)
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- čas přidán 19. 11. 2022
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In this video I share some thoughts around choosing your focal length in street photography. My focal length journey took me from 85mm, to 50mm, to 35mm, to 28mm, and each had something to teach me as I worked to take better images on the street. Hopefully some of the advice I offer here will help you find your own focal length of choice.
Share it on if you found it helpful.
#streetphotography #focallength #photography - Jak na to + styl
I shot with a 50mm for over 15 years. As a way of self improvement I set myself a "1 year only 35mm + f8" challenge. As you, I learned a lot about composition / framing. Now I shoot mainly with a 40mm lens, which has been my ideal focal length for the last 5+ years.
For my street photography, which is all I do now, I’ve whittled my kit down to the Canon R5 and Ricoh GR II, the 35mm and 100mm (macro).
I use a 70-200 zoom. I prefer a longer lens for all my photography.
Hello, what setup you use for street? thanks
@@bogdan.g6403 Canon R5 with Canon EF 35mm f1.4L USM II lens for most of my work. Also carry a 100mm macro for tighter shots. Also use a Ricoh GR III (Street Edition).
what's the reason behind F8 only?
note to myself
85mm for potrait photography
35mm for wider scene (great for travel), most accurate to human eyes
Last year my mother died, at the respectable age of 92, and she left me some money. I wanted to buy something that would last and would be special to me. She liked my photography and bought me my first full frame camera years ago. I decided to buy a Zeiss lens, they last a lifetime and feel so nice when used. I was struggling a bit to decide on the focal length, 85 or 35 , in the end I decided on 35 and I’m very happy I did. It is such a nice focal length and so versatile. When I go on my daily walk I always take the 35. If I had to live with just one lens, that Zeiss 35 would be it.
Which zeiss is it?
@@bijosnThe one made by Carl.....Carl Zeiss 😉
@@bijosna Distagon 35mm f2 might be the lens this person loves, or a Biogon 35mm f2. Both renders beautiful pictures. When an artist photographer loves a lens its mainly due to the rendering, color, contrast this lens gives, regardles of MTF charts sharpness etc.
Sean, your content is so rich and meaningful. Been following your channel for years.
Oh, and I'm a 24mm weirdo. I've always been a 24 to 35 sort of guy. I like the environmental context, I like the distortion, I like getting in close and interacting with my subject.
I believe Alan Schaller is also a 24mm guy! His work is really interesting.
It definitely depends on the architecture of your place and what you want to show. Sadly I feel bored shooting with one focal lenght all the time which makes the hobby really costly... haha
I love 24mm too. I can't get along with 35 or 50 unless I'm doing street portraits but I'm always on 24mm.
@@jaredgotcher I just bought a 16mm (24mm eq) after shooting a lot on 18mm (28mm eq). Thanks for the insight
I like 85 mm. To show the small things that no one sees, but tell a story is what I love most at all the moment.
For me i prefer 100 macro
I find it hard to believe how a photo taken with a 85mm lens can tell a story, for context one would need a 28-35mm focal-length.
@@PSYCHIC_PSYCHO 85 can. But more personal. Try it.
@PSYCHIC_PSYCHO 28-35 is completely wrong for me, 85mm can have all the context if you have the imagination
For the last few years I have been around the 24mm area. I love the flexibility that it provides in street shots allowing a bit of openness and give things a sense of scale as well as the ability to move closer to subjects in order to get something more intimate.
Thank you Sean. A real pleasure to hear you tell your story.
This is such a balanced approach to discussing focal length. I shoot 75% at 50mm and the rest at 35mm but I keep a 28-80mm zoom handy just in case. If I had to have just one lens it would be 50mm, it’s just so versatile for portraits, documentary, street, family and even landscape with some stitching in lightroom.
120-300mm equivalent was a revelation! Living in Japan, I was quite conscious about respecting people's privacy here, it allows me to be further away without disturbing the scene.
I also love being able to pick out details of the daily life that people might not have seen. You don't need to travel to a famous IG spot to find beauty :)
Yes, I shoot video and I find that at times, a bigger focal lens allows me to shoot people without them getting uptight [as we all do when the cameras come out]
35 mm was at one time a standard…when people differentiated from a point and shoot 50 years ago they would say “I shot that on a 35mm”- just some history from an old guy
@@jsaproductions5That's funny. In my era when people said, "I shot that on a 35mm" they were actually referring to the 35mm film they were shooting with not the focal length.
@@JiminSC yeah. It was both actually. Strange
@@JiminSC strangely: In motion pictures that record on film, 35 mm is the most commonly used gauge. The name of the gauge is not a direct measurement, and refers to the nominal width of the 35 mm format photographic film, which consists of strips 1.377 ± 0.001 inches (34.976 ± 0.025 mm) wide.
If you're not sure which focal length you choose, first look to your lightroom catalogue. You may be surprised what you use the most. As ever a great video, Sean.
I generally prefer longer focal lengths. I don't like to be up in people's business. I like 85, but if I had to choose an all-around focal length, it'd probably be 50.
Your photos combine with your choice of music gives me goosebump. You are special.
This is great, really confirmed why I like the 35mm focal length. I went through the work by these and many others and then looked to see what focal length they used and it was the 35mm almost every time that caught my eye, not too impersonal, and not too personal yet gives the sense of being involved with the subject just enough. It also includes enough of the surrounding environment to complete the story without the subject being lost in it.
I normally use 2.8 zooms for my work and always been a telephoto guy. But on my recent trip to Rome, I could not bring my big full frame kit, so I challenged myself with a 28 mm equivalent compact. I struggled in the start but found comfort in Sean’s old gr videos where I learned to look for scenes with interesting lighting instead of only subjects.
One of the most well articulated and well explained videos I have seen on photography.
Perfect timing for this subject, im going through a debate in my head about my focal lengths of choice. Thank you so much for another fantastic video. Really love all your videos!
This is a fantastic video! You have really explained the differences very clearly. I especially like the comparison to other photographers and their own work.
Sean, seriously what an incredibly good video. You have explained this so well... love the scenery and your storytelling style ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for sharing your journey, I'm in love with the 35 mm APSC right now. Once I realize how close it is as "real vision" I found myself composing pictures even without my camera. As always, and inspiring joy watching your video.
This was the most helpful video for figuring out what lens I want. The way you described the focus on a subject vs the context made so much more sense than any other video or review of focal lengths I have seen or read. Thank you.
My most used for well over a year now are 50mm and 40mm. I have 40mm fixed on a rangefinder film camera that I feel I appreciate more because of it being that slight bit wider than 50 without completely altering my perspective. I plan to get 40 on my mirrorless and stick with that. I also love how compact 40 is. I'm more likely to use it instead of my phone, which I appreciate
This is really the best how-to-choose-a-focal-length video I've seen. Your approach to making a choice is very helpful. I thought the phrase "I went from looking for subjects to looking for scenes" was very well put when comparing something like an 85mm with a 35mm.
I absolutely love that you talk about what lens choice does for one’s visual communication as opposed to meaningless specs like sharpness and speed. Poor photos shot with an ultra sharp lens are still poor photos. Thanks for talking about what matters.
I've recently started using a 11 to 16 for street photography in crowded streets in small town India during my travels.. hugely rewarding in capturing the large canvas .. some distortion does add charm.. depending on the composition. Loved your talk and sharing.. more power to you brother 🙏🏽
"wrangle all the elements together" - what a great way to describe the almost frenzied effort of keeping everything under control in a 28mm composition.
This is by far the best video on this topic for me. Very simply explained, it can only be done by someone with great experience and talent. Perfect guidelines and it made it a lot easier for me personally to find my way around, helping any of us who have not yet clearly established our photographic techniques and preferences. A big thank you
I use a 16-35 zoom on a full frame camera. I probably use it around 24mm the most. I like taking photos of buildings, and I like photos where I have small things in the foreground. Like a flower up close, with a mountain in the background.
Out walking, I use a 30mm macro lens on a Micro Four Thirds camera (60mm equivalent). I like how it both constrains the view a bit and also brings in more context than I initially expected. It's my go-to for urban landscapes. Since it's a macro lens, I can get very close when that's what has my attention. ... Sean's journey with the different lenses and cameras is a good reminder of how I've learned what works for me through the circumstances of particular cameras, their default lenses, and purposeful experimentation. I enjoy the combination of personal, philosophical and practical in the videos. Thanks!
Hey Sean i really appreciate your videos and the time you give to educate us Amateur photographers or to people just starting out. since i was blessed with CZcams pointing me in the direction of your channel i have learned so much by watching your video's. so massive thanks buddy
Thanks for the inspiration as always Sean! I really appreciate the content of this video. I have filmed short documentaries with a 50mm and a 24mm with an APSC camera and so far have never felt that I've missed out on any focal length. But to find what's my focal length and more deeply thereby, what's my way of viewing the world is definitely worth exploring. I am an admirer of Yasujiro Ozu's films and he stuck to one focal length. I would love to have that one focal length with which to view the world...
always a great day when another sean tucker video comes up.
oh, and I'm a nifty fifty kinda guy - I find it always works for me in numerous situations and it's been my go-to for years now.
Loving the content and thoughtfulness.
My personal journey, 75mm to 50mm to 35mm to 28mm... now I'm going back up to 85mm. I spent a lot of time at 28mm with the GRs, I do have to crop but it has taught me a lot about the scene like you said. Now I'm experimenting with abstraction and feeling my new 85mm.
Anyone struggling with gear acquisition syndrome (new lens addiction) needs to watch this video. Such good points about the gut feeling of how you see the world and considering if you always back up vs have to crop images
Great video, as always it's truly enriching to hear about your experience and your point of view Sean.
For me my favorite lengths are the 85mm and the 35mm, as for the 50mm it's a bit of a love hate relationship. For the 85mm, I love how it allows me to isolate a subject, to make it stand out, to bring it closer to the "eye", to only focus on details and to be more creative with the depth of field. For instance, the video you've done featuring Maarten Rots inspired me to try to keep an eye out for any smaller details or "narrower" abstract compositions in the urban landscapes.
Then the 35mm, is my sweet spot for when I want to focus in larger scenes, to get more of the context in my picture, to capture crowd movements... Anything wider than that feels awkward and only works for me on a case to case basis. While the bigger frame is great to use in some instances, it feel more often like I'm facing a discrepancy between the frame that I have and the picture I want to frame. But that may also be originate from the fact that I'm more drawn to telephoto lengths than wide ones, as I love how those lengths can the things that are far closer to the eye and make them keep their immensity.
Finally, the 50mm, is a lenght I keep on trying to get more comfortable with. While some of my own favorite shots were taken with it, more than often I feel like I'm stuck in an awkward position, somewhere halfway between having a field of view that's to wide for me to isolate or get as close as I'd like, but at the same time too narrow to capture the scene.
Thank you for your time and effort making this for us. I appreciate it very much.
I went from a Leica Q2 to a Ricoh GRIIIx because I felt 28mm was too wide. 40mm is really comfortable now.
Really enjoy your videos Sean. So eloquent, clear and meaningful.
Great video Sean! I love the metaphor you used of starting out with a "narrower" field of vision to your now "widened" perspective on the world.
I typically shoot all over the focal length spectrum but quite enjoy a 35 to 50mm as you said (and coupled with an APS-C sensor)
Lots to think about here. I am on the same journey to finding my comfort zone. I suspect that I ,too, am a 35 to 55ish photographer. I have noticed that when using zooms I am using them more like a prime and not really zooming in and out. A fun ( but expensive) voyage of discovery!
This is a perfect topic for me. I am working through this right now. I tend to be most comfortable with the 50mm perspective but have given myself a challenge to only use the 35mm lens for a while. I do feel I am learning for sure. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.
This might be the smoothest and clear video I've seen on focal lengths. I've been shooting in a zoom lens on digital and started shooting film with my moms old pentax camera that I found on my grandpa's house. I found a 50mm and a 28mm that both were in good shape still and decided to start with the 50mm. That was my first experience with a prime lens, making each shot worth it. When I switched to the 28mm I realized it felt really good for me. This made me start shooting even more in this focal length and practicing it by keeping my zoom lens wide open at 18mm (27mm eq.). I really enjoy shooting wide open because composition is what attracts me to photography. I had been doing this for a while now, exploring the wide view and getting better at balancing, composing and getting the feeling of the 28 images. Recently I bought the Sigma 16mm 1.4 (24mm eq, slightly wider than what I got used to) in a effort of getting sharper images and more light. I'm excited and grateful for this way of approaching focal lengths that you just described here: how do you actually see the world and which focal lengths represents that more accurately for you. I'll have that more present in mind whenever switching lenses. Thank you, Sean.
PS. This is the first video I have seen from you. New subscriber here
Of all the lenses that I use, 35mm focal length seems to be my go to. I also love 28mm, however it is very challenging at times where with 35mm, I always can figure out how to frame my shots.
For close to 35 years I reported news throughout Africa with 17-35mm f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. I am no longer working as a news photographer but as caregiver in Seattle. I am struggling to "unlearn" photojournalism and to learn to shoot "for myself". I am using Nikon D610 with 28mm f2.8 and 35mm f2.8. For years, the focus had to be sharp, exposure correct with details clear in all the photo. I worked to show faces and emotions, I worked hard for action photos, tight without wasting frame space...now I have to purge that off my photography. its an exciting journey and glad Seattle is the take off point. Does anyone here any know how I can go about this? or anyone who has done this in the past?
I loved my Nikkor 35mm when I used to shoot Nikon. It is still my most favourite lens in my memory. I don’t know how to unlearn photojournalism but maybe you can join a camera club and I’ll explain why. My husband I joined a camera club last year. Apart from the social activities, workshops and presentations to grow our techniques and skills, there’s the monthly competition with set subjects. One year ago I was just happily photographing my garden and roses. That was the limit of my skills 😂. Being in the club challenged me to try other genre, develop new skills and crank up my creativity. The most challenging for me was the subject “Stairs/Staircase/Escalator” how do I go from shooting pretty roses to ugly industrial looking stairwells? It was a huge leap for me if you know what I mean. In the end I was lucky enough to find a pretty set of stairs in a public place that I could shoot with some creative flair 😜 So in my humble opinion, joining a club which sets you monthly challenge will in a way force you to move out of your comfort zone, seek genre outside of photojournalism and provide you with a platform to showcase your work. Good luck! 😊 P.S. We have recently signed up with a second club as social members, meaning we go in for the gatherings to learn, socialise and shoot together but we just don’t compete there. I explain to everyone that asked “Why two clubs?” that we have fun in one club while we compete in the other club, the best of both worlds. 😂
As an ex press photographer I can totally relate to your comment.
I decided to start posting to Instagram as my scrapbook. This may puzzle some viewers as my images don't necessarily follow any theme or style. It's just a collection of ideas and moods of how I feel on a given day or time. The rules are no rules.
Have fun.
Your compositions are as clear as your way to speak. Thanks a lot for the video ! I pick a 35mm first, regularly next to it is a 75mm.
since i've been on an automotive journey with filming and photography as of late, I have almost exclusively shooting on the Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2.0 on full frame. And I absolutely love the 40mm focal length.
33mm has been almost glued onto my X-T4 for over a year - that's how I see the world!
Brilliant video! Thanks for challenging and encouraging us to explore and discover which lens works best for us. I tend to use a zoom for my street photography, most often a 28-300 full frame equivalent on my M43 camera.
Such a great video Sean. There are many thought provoking points for me in these 15 mins. As a relative beginner, it really has me thinking about "subject vs scene". I have also realized that I crop more than I probably should, and as a result I completely agree with your points around initially being more comfortable with one specific element of a photo, and being worried that the composition is not right. So, many thanks for the video, I think it will really help me to set out a bit of a roadmap for my photography journey
This is by far, without a doubt the best video I have seen that illustrates the different focal lengths for full-frame and crop-sensors cameras.
I just purchased my Sony FX30 (APS-C) and plan to do a ton of street videography with it. I've yet to purchase a lens because there are so many out there that it has become slightly overwhelming. Watching this video has allowed me to narrow my options down to a 35mm lens and a 50mm lens after days of deliberation.
I've been stuck in a state of analysis paralysis, neglecting to explore my videography style. Your video allowed me to recognize the importance of experimenting for myself and purchase a damn lens already.
Agreed with you totally the 35mm is the idea lens.I am an urban sketcher and most of my sketches are like the 35mm focal length. Thanks for sharing.
My absolute favourite lens on my crop-sensor Sony is a Voigtlander 15mm (equivalent to 24mm) That focal length makes it easy to compose scenes with a strong geometric feel. It also allows me to get super close to my subjects. 85mm is my favourite for posed street portraits of strangers. And for night street work I use a Voigtlander 35mm or 50mm Zeus's. Great video. Thanks
Just like you Sean, my favorite portrait/headshot lens is the 50 mm. For the last 5 years, I’ve been using the 24-70mm mostly for everything else. Traveling, lifestyle, street and even some commercial work.
I have three focal-length sweet spots: 135, 70, and 35mm. Today, I am learning my way around 45mm. It is stretching me. But, my composition skills have been steadily improving along the way.
Sean, your videos and approach to photography are such a breath of fresh air! Thank you!
Interesting topic, Sean! The 85mm was also my starting point in photography but I moved very soon to wider lenses. My most used focal (about 75% of my photos) is the 50mm (equivalent), and that’s because is the normal. In my eyes, 50mm is the only area that renders totally uncompressed and without exaggeration. Going to 35mm things starts to look smaller than life (it includes some of our peripheral vision in the field of view), while anything narrower than 60mm includes compression and things are looking bigger. As for the lenses, I was a prime lens person during my early days in photography but today I am using only one lens: Sony E PZ 18-105 f4 G OSS. it has the flexibility I want for any shooting situation, it’s a quality lens and it’s first party (no AF issues at all). In the end, what matters is the ability to take the photo the way you want, not to adjust yourself to a single focal length for a bit more sharpness or a wider aperture.
Hi Sean, I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your videos on CZcams. Your philosophical approach to gear has really helped me understand photography better. I've been using a 100mm macro lens to shoot insects for the past four years, but while the pictures have been decent, they lacked emotion. So I decided to try something new and picked up a secondhand X100 V (35mm equivalent) for street photography. It's quite scary and a constant struggle for me, but I'm really enjoying it. Thanks for all the great content!
It really depends on subject matter. I often shoot ultra-wide 20mm to shoot cityscapes/landscapes, but I always carry a 24-240mm telephoto lens too for flexibility.
I really enjoyed listening to tire journey of identifying what works best for how you see the world. This video definitely pointed me in the right direction in my photography journey. Thank you 🙏🏽
It’s take me 2/3 years to find the focal length that works for me. I like your comments about find one or two and stick with them. My focal lengths are now my loved 35 and 85mm. Covers all the areas I want. Love the video look forward always for the next one.
Great video as I'm considering between primes and zooms and focal lengths. I have a really nice 24mm 1.4 but considering a 35mm 1.4 to add
Thank you so much. Really appreciate this video and I really love you talking about when you would use your 35 or the 50 depending on a more or less contrast day. Would love to hear more about this as my favorite time to shoot is with high contrast light using a 35mm but struggle on the many cloudy days here. ❤
Maaan the way you tell the story is incredible ❤
Thank you for the timely video Sean, as I'm sure there's never a bad time to check on how photographers are struggling with the balance between the focal length of choice, budgeting, and personal composition style development. It was quite eerie how my journey was similar to yours: I also started out with a Canon APS-C body (except I had a kit lens) and was lent a full-frame 50mm lens from a friend during my trip to Japan, which made it an effective 85mm lens. It was my first time playing with a semi-telephoto lens, and I loved that experience so much so that I upgraded to a used full-frame Sony A7 II body with the equally budget-friendly Sony 85mm F1.8 lens. It didn't take long before I started realizing this wasn't the right focal length for me even if I was in theory very comfortable with it; too comfortable, perhaps, which made me become increasingly aware of the potential room for development in my composition and how I view the world. After a lot of research and photo digging, I decided to go for 40mm - the in-between of 35mm and 50mm. I also made additional purchases afterward including a 21mm and a 100-400mm telephoto lens. Even if each of them were better at different things or just downright had better image quality and handling than my 40mm, I always gravitate back to the 40mm in a way that's less similar to falling back into the comfort zone but more akin to returning to my natural way of framing the world. Hearing about your experience made me want to experience 35mm and 50mm as well, which I intend to do through a combination of discipline and a 24-70mm GM ii lens that I plan to purchase by the end of the year, which will serve both my street photography needs and the more general personal/ family/ workplace related shots.
I bought an 85mm lens mainly because I was asked to photograph a friend’s wedding, after the wedding I realised quickly it was a lens I wasn’t going to use as it was so limiting, I think I’ve always seen life around me in scenes, I love 28mm, it seems you’re better able to tell a story.
Excellent video! I couldn't have explained it any better. You just found the right words to express not only the technical part but also the emotions behind your decision which focal length to choose. Greetings from Vienna, Enver
50mm here, for almost everything. It's just the perfect fit for me. I'm kind of a shy guy, I realized recently that it unconsciously forces me to stay halfway from my subject, without getting too far away neither, at least for the kind of compositions I like... Thanks for the great content, as usual ;)
I love my 85mm 1.4. Sure I often fins myself moving further away, but I really love the compression and how it isolates my subject. 2nd lens is my 35mm 1.4.
Bro... Your videos and work is simply next level. Thank you for sharing SOOO much info and detail fro your journey (for "free"). You're a legend mate!
i've been waiting for your content man. thank you so much !
I shoot mainly on a cropped body, so 23mm, and 56mm became favourites for me. I never really got on with 33mm, but think i'll give it another go. I love shooting street and portrait, and find these focal lengths just work. I had considered getting a 16-55mm lens for my X-T5, as this gives me options, when i'm out. Like having several primes all in one lens!
You have to go through all that experience to realize what you like the most and thanks for share it with us now is easier to figure it out
I quite like an 18-55mm lens, I'm not on the streets everyday and don't like to be limited to a certain perspective or be messing around changing lenses so this works for me when the light is good and I dont need a fast prime.
I find myself returning to the Fuji 55-200mm over and over. I had always shot on primes and I still use the Fuji 35mm for it's lovely softness. But, the 55-200mm just gives my what I need every time because I shoot various styles whenever I go out. The thing is, I bought one because it was a good deal rather than really wanting it.
I’m in love with the focal length 85mm f/1.4 ❤
It gives me the possibility to take ownership over what I want to draw attention to, and just that. I’m moving a lot around if I want more in the frame though, and that’s just fine! If it’s in the frame, it’s there because I put it there.
Hi. I’ve just invested in an 85mm lens being a 35mm guy. I’d love to see how you use it for things other than portraits. Are you on instagram?
Same!!!! I want to be deliberate and specific with what I’m conveying to the audience and using my composition and subject matter to bring the abstraction and uniqueness.
I use iPhone but I've watched tones of POV's and 85mm is my favorite all the way. It focus on the subject and pushes the life to it like a soul of it. What's the difference between F1.4 and F1.8 ? I noticed many details in F1.4 but photographers say it's not a rule for taking sharp pics. What's the truth?
85mm is an Instagram/CZcams disease. This is only my opinion.
I wish I had a teacher like you during my school days. The way you explain things explains so much and so nicely. Thanks. I like 105mm, it's let me concentrate on lesser details and focus more on singular objects.
Great food for thought Sean and the stunning images at the end were like free dessert! So well done! Thanks for continually inspiring!
Wonderful advice and so enjoyed your journey to understand the type of lens and the lens you see the world. I gravitate to 50mm with 40mm ideal but lens choice has kept me more at 50. I am experimenting with 21mm and surprisingly enjoying the process of how to think about visual impact with such an extreme view. Thanks again Sean for your videos and journey in photography.
Thoughtful and thought provoking content and beautiful images - thanks for sharing Sean. In my heart of hearts I’m a 50mm guy, but this year I’m challenging myself to shoot the 28mm field of view and see what I can make of it. Great for personal growth and to stretch those compositional skills.
After my camera was stolen, I took on the challenge to use my phone as my main camera. It was quite frustrating at the begging, I was so used to my 35mm lens on my Fuji X T1. And after 5 years I was able to see the photos in my head, I got used to my phone’s limitations and found a way around them. I loved the 2X zoom it offered as I also love street photography.
Now I have a new phone and I’ve lost that 2X zoom, I’m faced with the endeavour to work with a wide and super wide angle lens. Looking forward to the photos!
Thank you for your videos, I always come back to your channel when I’m losing inspiration! 😊
My favourite focal length is 35mm on APSC. My passion is woodland photography and that 35mm (50mm full frame equivalent) is somehow the way I see those woodland scenes in front of me. Now and then I use the 50mm (75mm full frame equivalent) when I do not have the possibilty to get close enough when composing the scene. Both focal length do give me the feel that I can create a image of a woodland scene that can give the viewer the sense to being in the scene.
I love my GRiii with its 28mm to shoot landscape photos on my walks. We live in the country. I added an IR converted GRiii with its 28mm for my other coat pocket. The 28mm fits my view very well and I’m not afraid to crop from there.
Excellent video, I learnt so much... Thanks!
I love the classic 50mm… but i’m learning to love 28mm as well. I used to do real state shots… love the 16mm for that… and wider lenses. I really want a tele to play now.
I like the 50mm. The 46° viewing angle is almost always ideal for me. It's easy to step back or forward to adjust the framing from there.
40mm for me. It is wide enough for context and narrow enough for isolation. It's closest to a "normal" view for me. Your method for determining which focal length is a good and practical one. As always your content and images are first rate.
I like to use three lenses for street and travel photography - 20mm, 40mm and 85mm. If I had to just choose one focal length it would be 35mm. Excellent video as usual Sean, thank you.
I’m so glad I found this channel just now. Excellent content. I look forward for more videos. Cheers
Hey Sean - always enjoy your content. This one is especially valuable and well said. You did such a great job articulating your focal length journey. I think we all have to cross this bridge when we need some peace when it comes to not carrying 100lbs of gear. I to have concluded I’m a 35mm~50mm person and to your point, it took a journey to get here and I learned so much along the way. But there’s no greater feeling than knowing when you go out to shoot, you know in your head how you’re going to see things, not what you’re going to see and that’s the exciting part. Keep up the great work.
That’s it, the last bit you wrote “how you’re going to see things, not what you’re going to see”. You’ve summed it up for me. Thanks, bro! 😅
I love the 50mm focal length, it is my comfort zone; however, I use the 28mm to spark creativity and to force my brain to see different. Then I go back to 50mm, re-inspired, re-purposed. Thanks @seantucker for sharing this video.
Awesome video. I started with a 28-75 on apsc. Switched to 35mm prime and now it’s taken some getting used to but a lot of fun composing as you said. All of your points were spot on. Good job. Looking forward to checking out more or your content now
Back in the film days I did street and race track photography. I carried a Nikon F2 with 105 and a Nikkormat F with a 28. Now I find myself swapping mostly between a Q2Monochrom (28) and an X-Pro2 with a 16-80, giving me essentially the same focal lengths. Must be the way I see the world. Thank you for your excellent content!
I shoot with all focal lengths from 16 to 200 on different cameras and lenses from canon and Nikons and today I only shoot 28 with Leica Q2. I think it’s not the focal length, but what you choose to use, that teaches you the most. Coming further or closer will solve most of the problems with how you see it, but sticking with one lens whatever it is will teach you to just keep focusing on what’s matter, the images that you’ll be able to produce.
Great worrier will fight equally well with sword, arrows, fist and bad one will aways be afraid to fight.
Great tips of how you tell if you like the distance, thank you Sean🙏🏻
Great video, Sean. I find most of my compositions between 35mm and 90mm. My least used lens is 16-35; hopefully I'll be able to travel more and get into some landscape shots. My most-used lenses are 24mm-70mm and 35mm-150mm.
Thanks!
This was a great perspective on focal lengths- thanks for sharing and keep posting!
Quite helpful! Starting my journey with prime lenses, having always used a zoom. Starting with the 50mm that came with my new Lumix full frame.
Sean, your advise always inspire or ring my thoughts to be better photographer 🙏🏻
I have only 4 years experience in photography.
But I really like the 35mm f/1.4 (environnemental portrait or street photography) and 85mm f/1.4 (isolate portrait photography).
This video give many differents way of thinking about focal lenght choice, so I will give a second look and maybe think in other way to chose my focal length .
Thank you Sean for sharing your experience!
It’s great to watch this video again Sean. I recently acquired the Viltrox 27mm 1.2. That Lens feels so perfect for my eyes. 40mm is a beautiful frame. Great video 👍🏽
Thank you for detailing your journey in such a crisp and succinct summary. I shoot with an aps-c camera Canon 200Dii. Lately I’ve been using the 50mm for children portraiture project at my place of work. When photographing children, I realised very quickly that it’s better if I were playing with them, and constantly chatting with them, esp toddlers. Using a longer lens is useless when they are sitting within arms length. So the nifty fifty became my lens of choice in this project. It is light enough for me to hold with one hand, and its focal length is just wide enough for me to get the details on the child’s face even when only an arms length away. It’s also my favourite street photography lens nowadays because of its lightweight. I can walk and shoot for 2-3 hrs with this lens. I’ve used the 24mm in nightscape and I love the simplicity it projects. The Nikkor 35mm remained my most loved lens of all time when I used to own a Nikon aps-c. It was so easy to “see” with that lens what I wanted to shoot and how I wanted to shoot even back in those days when I didn’t know anything about photography. I thought that lens was magic. 😂
I have explored a variety of focal lengths also. I didn't realise until checking my Lightroom data that I mostly lean towards the 50mm. It is one lens I could do 75% of what I photograph with. Great video, Thank you.
Thanks for another outstanding thought-provoking video. I don't have a favorite focal length. I favor using a zoom lens, i.e. 16-50 or an 18-135 on an APS-C camera, so that I can choose the focal length appropriate to how I am seeing the scene before me.