Melies

Cinematic Lenses, Focal Length, and Optical Effects

A cinematic lens changes space itself. Decide where the camera stands before naming glass. Distance creates the relationship. Focal length chooses how much of that view to include.

24mm Wide and 35mm Moderate Wide hold person and place. 50mm Normal editorializes less. 85mm Portrait and 135mm Telephoto compress and isolate. Anamorphic and Fisheye are optical events, not moods. Rack Focus and Split Diopter put two planes in play. Do not write a focal length as an emotion. Write the stand, then the glass.

See also Camera Movement Framing and Shot Size In-Camera and Optical Effects

14mm Ultra-Wide14mm Ultra-Wide24mm Wide35mm Moderate Wide35mm Moderate Wide50mm Normal50mm Normal85mm Portrait85mm Portrait135mm Telephoto200mm Long Telephoto200mm Long TelephotoAnamorphicSphericalSphericalFisheyeTilt-ShiftMacroProbe LensProbe LensSplit DiopterVintage Cine GlassVintage Cine GlassTelephoto CompressionTelephoto CompressionMagnificationMagnification