How is Field of View Determined?
Most beginner photographers think about focal length only when they buy a new camera lens when in reality, the field of view should be what they should be focusing on.
In this blog post, we shall be looking at how the field of view is determined.
How is the Field of View Determined?
The sensor size and the focal length determine the field of view.
The field of view is also known as the viewing angle, and it’s what the camera can capture or see and is measured in degrees.
As a photographer, you should know the larger your field of view, the wider your lens, and the more view you will see on your camera.
What Affects the Field of View
Two things affect the field of view.
- The sensor size.
- The focal length.
The Sensor Size
The sensor size is determined by the number of pixels on the sensor and the size of the pixels.
Different sized pixels use various applications; the smaller pixels are used for higher-dimensional resolution while the larger pixels are used for higher sensitivity.
The smaller sensors have a narrower field of view, while the larger sensors have a wider field of view. Smaller sensors capture a smaller image.
Therefore, they have a smaller field of view, while a medium format camera with a larger sensor will have a huge field of view.
The Focal Length
This is the distance between the lens and focused image on the sensor and is measured in mm. The lens’s intense light determines the focal length distance to focus on the subject.
The angle between any light captured horizontally and light captured at the edge is known as an angular field of view and is required to determine the field of view.
Shorter focal lengths have a larger angular field of view and thus a larger field of view; hence they get the term wide-angle lens.
Wider lenses like 24mm are used for cityscapes, landscapes, and astrophotography.
A normal lens has a natural look of the field of view whereby there is no noticeable compression or expansion.
A field of view offered by a 50mm or 80 mm lens is best for a natural look. The 85mm prime lenses are what portrait photographers love.
Long lenses are great for getting up close and personal with your subject.
They have a longer focal length than wide angles or normal lenses, so you can get really tight shots that show every detail of what they’re doing.
A telephoto lens with a 200mm-300mm range is the best for level magnification, and they are what sports and wildlife photographers love.
How to Compute the Field of View in Photography
When the field of view is measured in degrees, it’s known as the angular field of view. A horizontal field of view is measured from the left edge of the frame.
The vertical field of view is measured from top to bottom. While the diagonal is measured from one corner to the opposite corner.
Angle of view (in degrees) = 2 ArcTan( sensor width / (2 X focal length)) * (180/π)
If your calculator works in radians, you should use the (180/π) at the end, and if it works in degrees, you shouldn’t use that last part.
The equation contains the sensor width, which determines the crop factor. The smaller the field of view, the smaller the sensor, and the larger the crop factor.
Field Size
Field size is a concept you need to understand when discussing the field of view.
Field size is determined by the distance connecting your camera and subject and the focal length of your lens.
A narrow field of view will have a smaller field size, while a wider field of view will have a larger field size.
A wide-angle lens will expand a view, thus providing a larger field size, while the telephoto lens will compress a view, thus enlarging the subject.
When you’re using a 50mm lens and want your subject to be three times larger in the frame, use a 150mm lens.
Picking the Right Camera Lens to Capture the Shot You Want
A wide-angle lens camera captures fewer details but more objects.
They are favorites for larger spaces and businesses, too, since they can capture any abnormal activity or movements on the property.
A narrow-angle camera lens captures fewer objects, yet they are very detailed.
A telephoto lens camera captures images in the distance, thus making them look closer based on the lens’s focal length.
When using a telephoto lens, you should remember the shorter the focal length, the wider your view, and this limits the quality of the actual image you are capturing.
Final Thoughts
The field of view is an essential factor you should bear in mind since it will help you determine the look of your shot.
Choose a wide-angle lens if you are looking for many dimensions and depths.
Looking for a narrow and a more intimate shoot, choose a telephoto lens. Lately, looking for a natural look, choose the normal length lens. Have fun as you take your shots.
