A Focal Length Masterclass
- Gary Holpin
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
Focal length is one of the most powerful creative tools in landscape photography, yet it’s often misunderstood or underused. Whether you’re shooting with a zoom or a prime lens, understanding how focal length shapes your images can transform the way you see and capture the landscape.
What Is Focal Length?
Focal length, measured in millimetres (mm), is the distance between your lens’s optical centre and the camera’s sensor when focused at infinity. In practical terms, it determines how much of the scene you capture (angle of view) and how “compressed” or “expanded” the elements in your frame appear.
Wide-angle lenses (e.g., 14–35mm): Capture a broad view, exaggerate perspective, and make foregrounds appear larger.
Standard lenses (e.g., 35–70mm): Offer a natural perspective, similar to what the human eye sees.
Telephoto lenses (e.g., 70mm and above): Narrow the field of view, compress distances, and isolate distant subjects.
The image below shows the field of view at different focal lengths between 14mm and 300mm.
Understanding Sensor Size and Field of View
When you see a lens labelled as, for example, 24mm or 200mm, that number refers to its focal length on a full frame camera (one with a sensor the same size as traditional 35mm film). However, many cameras—especially entry-level DSLRs, mirrorless, and compact models—use smaller sensors, such as APS-C or Micro Four Thirds.
Why Does This Matter?
A smaller sensor captures a smaller portion of the image projected by the lens, effectively cropping the scene. This is known as the crop factor, and it changes the field of view you get from any given lens.
How to Calculate Your Effective Focal Length
APS-C sensors (common in many Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm cameras) have a crop factor of about 1.5x (Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm) or 1.6x (Canon).
Micro Four Thirds sensors (Olympus, Panasonic) have a crop factor of 2x.
To find the equivalent field of view:Multiply the lens’s focal length by your camera’s crop factor.
Examples:
A 24mm lens on an APS-C camera (1.5x crop) gives a field of view similar to a 36mm lens on full frame (24 × 1.5 = 36mm).
A 50mm lens on a Micro Four Thirds camera (2x crop) gives a field of view like a 100mm lens on full frame (50 × 2 = 100mm).
Why It Matters: Understanding this conversion helps you choose the right lens for the composition you want. If you’re aiming for sweeping wide-angle vistas on a crop-sensor camera, you’ll need a shorter focal length than you would on full frame.
How Focal Length Affects Your Landscape Images
1. Perspective and Depth
Wide-angle: Emphasises foreground interest, stretches the sense of depth, and can make distant mountains seem further away. Great for dramatic skies.
Telephoto: Compresses the scene, making background elements appear closer to the foreground. Ideal for picking out distant details.
2. Field of View
Short focal lengths (e.g., 16mm): Include more of the scene—perfect for sweeping vistas or when you want to show context.
Long focal lengths (e.g., 200mm): Narrow the view, allowing you to focus on a specific subject or section of the landscape.
3. Subject Emphasis
Wide-angle: Makes close objects dominate the frame, which is why foreground interest is so important in wide landscapes.
Telephoto: Flattens perspective, making distant subjects more prominent and reducing the sense of space between foreground and background elements.
How to Master Focal Length in the Field
Try the extremes: Shoot a scene at both the widest and longest focal lengths you have. Notice how the mood and composition change.
Look for compression: Use a telephoto to stack hills, trees, or clouds, creating a sense of depth and drama.
Emphasise the foreground: With a wide lens, get low and close to rocks, flowers, or textures to anchor your composition.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Relying only on wide angles: Not every landscape needs to be shot at 14mm. Sometimes, a tighter crop tells a stronger story.
Ignoring the background: Wide lenses can include unwanted distractions. Check the edges of your frame.
Over-compressing: Telephoto lenses can flatten a scene too much if overused. Balance is key.
Final Thoughts
Mastering focal length is about more than just knowing your numbers—it’s about seeing how each lens and sensor combination changes the story you tell. Next time you’re out in the field, take a moment to experiment with different focal lengths.
Want some help improving your photography skills?
Don't forget that if you want some direct help with your photography, I offer a range of 1-2-1 photography courses for Devon based folks. If you're not nearby then I also offer residential workshops for beginner photographers or improving photographers.
About Gary Holpin Photography
As a professional photographer based in Devon, my journey began along the stunning South West Coast Path. Disappointed with my initial attempts to capture its beauty, I embarked on a second 630-mile journey, this time dedicated to mastering photography. Today, I'm a nationally acclaimed photographer with award-winning landscape photos.
I specialize in providing top-notch property photography, business photography, and drone photography services to businesses across the South West. Additionally, I offer comprehensive photography training courses tailored for both businesses and individuals. Whether you're looking to enhance your corporate image or improve your personal photography skills, my training programs are designed to help you capture stunning images.
As an award-winning and widely published photographer, I frequently share my passion for photography and Devon through engaging talks at local camera clubs and community groups. My expertise spans the entire South West region, ensuring that clients from Devon, Dorset & Somerset benefit from high-quality photography services and training.
