All about wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses

Wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses are essential elements of successful panoramic photography. Even the owners of smartphones, where such cameras are used, often want to know what it is and what it is for. To understand the issue, it is worthwhile to study in more detail Soviet wide-format lenses and their modern counterparts.

Traditions of large-format photography existed in the days of Soviet cameras. Art photographers have used special lenses that increase the angle of view to take panoramic shots.

It is worth talking in more detail about what a wide angle means in relation to photography.

• Wide angle lenses. This type of lenses (optical systems that form an image) has strictly defined parameters. It is suitable for creating landscapes, interior photography. Such lenses have an angle of view from 60 (sometimes from 52) to 82 degrees, the focal length varies from 10 to 35 mm.

• Super wide angle. These lenses have a viewing angle of more than 85 degrees and an ultra-short focus of 7-14 mm. When shooting with such optics, the distortion of objects is more noticeable, there is a certain "barrel shape". At the same time, the frame gets a greater perspective, acquires expressiveness.

All wide-angle lenses today obey general rules. Their focal length is always less than the diagonal of the frame. For example, for small format cameras it will be less than 50 mm, and for digital SLRs - up to 28 mm.

Among ultra-wide-angle lenses, distortion is especially well-known. - the so-called "fish eye" or fish eye. This type of optics creates a "barrel" effect in the frame, the angle of coverage reaches 180 degrees, the focal length starts at 4.5 mm. It perfectly shapes perspective, and the resulting distortion is absolutely indispensable for artistic photography.

Orthoscopic models are also among the ultra-wide-angle lenses. They are used for in-plane panoramic photography. These lenses are distortion-free and maintain a linear perspective.

Soviet lenses were attached to the camera through adapters - most often M39 or M42. They can also be used with modern cameras that support the same ring diameter. Such lenses are called manual - they do not have autofocusing, the adjustment is done manually. The fastest models of that time are still quite popular today.

For example, Mir-1V - 35 mm lens with f 2.8 aperture... The more universal thread M42 is used here, the lens itself has received worldwide recognition in the professional field in the USSR and abroad. The fish eye effect helps to get a different lens - Zenitar-16... This ultra wide-angle version has a focal length of just 16mm.

Every photographer has their own rating of the best wide-angle lenses. Someone prefers budget brands, other professionals choose extremely expensive models that allow you to get the best sharpness without vibrations.

By comparing all the important parameters, you can get an idea of ​​which wide-angle optics definitely deserve attention.

• Canon EF 17-40 MM F / 4L USM. Model from a leading Japanese brand, equipped with a maximum aperture for superior image quality. The mount is well protected from dust and moisture with a rubber ring, the lens itself is positioned by the brand as intended for shooting with a tripod, but practice shows that it is good at creating architectural and interior photos. The optics are compatible with filters with a 77 mm thread, the metal case has a tactilely pleasant polymer coating. The high price is fully justified by the quality of shooting and powerful stuffing.

• Nikon 14-24MM F / 2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor. One of the most expensive wide-angle lenses available for DX series cameras. In terms of its parameters, this model is one of the best, provides excellent sharpness and clarity of panoramic images, a special coating of the hood ensures the elimination of sun glare. With such a lens, you can take pictures at 84 degrees, create photos in dark rooms. This is an excellent professional optics, with which you can create large panoramic shots of landscapes, architectural structures.

• Sigma AF 16MM F1 / 4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E. Not the newest model, but one of the best for lovers of travel, travel, architecture photography. The presented lens is designed for use with Sony E-series mirrorless cameras. The optics are distinguished by smooth focusing, suitable for creating video in motion. This model is considered optimal for beginners - just adjust the focal length, and then move on to shooting.

• Nikon 10MM F / 2.8 Nikkor 1. This mid-range ultra-compact wide-angle lens is considered a versatile travel option. The model has a high degree of protection, the metal body has a protected mount, autofocus is very quiet. The lens has a very well thought out aperture setting, the frame is set in seconds, it shows itself quite well when shooting in the dark.

• Fujifilm XF 35MM F / 2 R WR. A wide-angle lens in the mid-range. It is characterized by a viewing angle corresponding to a person's vision, you can use the bokeh effect, shoot clear panoramas. Autofocusing takes place in tenths of a second, the body of the optics is well protected from splashing water and dust. The model is distinguished by ease of control due to the ring on the body, sufficient aperture makes it possible to create spectacular shots after sunset.

These five lenses can hardly be considered a budget lens, but Canon also has cheaper models for non-professional photographers. In addition, with low requirements for the quality of shooting, you can find very cheap lenses from little-known Chinese companies, but they are suitable only for beginners.

When choosing a wide-angle lens for shooting, you need to pay attention to important points that can affect the convenience and quality of shooting. Among the main criteria are the following.

• Focal length. Ultra-wide-angle models with less than 24mm are more expensive, but provide a truly maximum viewing angle. It is better to choose them if you have experience in shooting. Conventional wide-angle models of the most popular segment have a focal length of 24-40 mm.
• Fix or Zoom. Constant focal length requires more work from the photographer himself, he chooses which object will be in the center of the composition. Such optics are designated as Fix, they have high luminosity rates and an attractive cost. Variable focal length is designated Zoom, such lenses allow you to automatically zoom in or out of objects in the frame.Experienced photographers have both types of optics at their disposal.
• Aperture ratio. On average, F / 2.8 are considered normal parameters - this is enough to ensure the required quality of shooting in different conditions. To create interior photographs, select indicators up to F / 2.0. If there are 2 numbers through a dash, the first is responsible for the aperture ratio on the short part, the second on the long one.
• Security. A good wide-angle lens should have rubber seals to keep it sealed. Protection against dust and splashes is considered the minimum; for filming in high humidity conditions, it is better to choose a model that completely excludes the ingress of water and condensation into the structure.

By using wide-angle lenses, photographs of high artistic value can be obtained. In this case, the correctly chosen shooting angle plays an important role, because it is he who determines how expressive the frame will turn out. When a photographer is shooting a subject with a wide-angle lens, composition is imperative.

The following tips will help you succeed.

• The choice of the central subject of shooting. It should be literally a few inches from the camera. Then the surrounding panorama will look impressive, and the picture will acquire a central idea. In this case, the background will be more voluminous, the photo will gain depth, create a sense of presence.
• The presence of the foreground and background. This moment is directly related to the previous one. Layering a flat photograph requires clear focus on the essentials. The centerpiece can be a nail in a wooden railing, a bicycle tire, a bright leaf or flower, a protruding stone on the facade of a building.
• Bias. By removing the main subject from the central part of the picture, you can not only create the feeling that the viewer is following the photographer, but also show the surrounding space. You can also shift the focus with the right lighting.
• Simplification. The more objects in the frame look equally large or small, the less expressive it will be. When photographing a market stall or stones on the river bottom, it is better to give up the desire to fit everything in one frame at once. It is better to focus on something simple, turning the surrounding environment into an interesting background.
• Correct proportions. Portraits are the hardest part to shoot with a wide-angle lens. In this case, it is better not to make the face the central element of the picture, the figure of the person, his features will look more proportional. But the distortion will remain in any case - this should be taken into account when choosing tools for creating a photo.

See the following video for practical tips for shooting with a wide-angle lens.