Photography

24 readers

1 users here now

A place to politely discuss the tools, technique and culture of photography.

This is not a good place to simply share cool photos/videos or promote your own work and projects, but rather a place to discuss photography as an art and post things that would be of interest to other photographers.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

communick@viewfinder.pro

Let's Discuss Focal Lengths Beyond 150mm (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by billingsley@alien.top to c/photography@viewfinder.pro

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

At what point does longer focal length no longer matter? I want to take photos of things far away, like across the street.

I would do a camera test if I still owned my 70-300 Canon kit lens but I don't. Right now the longest focal length I own is a 24-70 for my Sony.

I remember about that lens, once I got out past 150-175m, it seemed like the FOV was just cropping in more rather than actually feeling closer to the subject. But that was a cheapo kit lens that had a terrible reputation. Does that just apply to cheap lenses or do more expensive lenses have more magnification?

Is there really a significant difference between 300, 400 and 600m lenses? Of course I have no physical access to any such lenses at the moment.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] f_14@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I’d say the real answer depends on what conditions you’re shooting in. If you have a 400 or 600 2.8 they make a gigantic difference over a 200mm lens both in real reach, sharpness and importantly bokah. But if you’re shooting on a hot football field for instance you’re going to run into distortion from the atmosphere.

Honestly there is just very little comparison between a 200 and 400, let alone a normal focal length lens.