Understanding Focal Length - How Different Camera Lenses Will Affect Your Portraits

Understand the focal length: Different focal lengths in portrait photography can affect the composition and perspective of the subject. Shorter focal lengths widen the view, while longer focal lengths compress the image. Choose the focal length based on the desired look and feel of the portrait.

What this tutorial covers:

👁️ Focal length choices for portrait photography vary based on format, with 85mm being ideal for 35mm and 100-150mm for medium format.

📸 Demonstrating the distortion effects of various focal lengths on a human subject.

🔄 Changing focal lengths alters facial features, even with consistent camera-subject distance.

🤔 Comparison of distortion levels between 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm, 135mm, and 200mm lenses.

📷 Explanation of depth of field changes with different focal lengths, affecting perspective and facial features.

🌄 Long telephoto lenses magnify subjects and reduce depth of field, while wide-angle lenses offer a larger depth of field.

🏞️ The choice of focal length depends on the type of photography, with longer focal lengths suitable for wildlife or sports, and wide-angle lenses preferred for landscapes.

[rb]

All we needed was some numbers on the bottom and this could have been Ben’s mugshots!!😂😂

[mohammadvarzideh]

Clear and understandable description . Thanks carl

[iphoneography]

Thankyou for your videos, as a newbie to DSLR photography, I'm rather enjoying your content. I'm starting out on a 1100D, looking at buying a a 70D or 80D in a few months.

[atogweoghieaga]

I see that there is no significant difference between 85, 100, 110, 135 & 200 mm, although there might be considerable change in bokeh also taking into consideration aperture size.
This reveals that 70-200 is the most versatile lens of choice for portrait work, that is, if you are not a prime purist!

Thanks for another educational video with depth. Thanks for always teaching us! I should subscribe to your courses soon, there’s no better way to support the channel

[umtresmeia]

Thanks for the video and explanation. Straight to the point and no BS. I'm assuming this is full frame, and if I'm using APS-C, I should make the conversion, right?

[rolosaenz]

THANKS Karl! it is so nice explained, love the focal length graph at the end.

[mordavian]

First comment and first like. Very interesting results. I mostly prefer 85mm, 100mm. Thank you Karl.

[vynettecleckley]

What type of eyelight catcher did you use?

[normtesch]

can you do same video only doing full body...and also do medium format

[winni]

Stephanie: modeling career interrupted.😢

[MEK]

She's called "Stiff-a-knee" ? She looks stiff indeed 😉