How to Use Wide-Angle Lens | Pro Tips for Everyone

The wide-angle lenses are one of the attractive lenses for most professional photographers. These lenses, as opposed to conventional as well as telephoto lenses, may capture much more field view in a single image. The broad perspective creates a large depth of field, which draws the viewer’s attention. So, are you interested to know how to use a wide-angle lens?

Learning the proper use of a wide-angle lens can play a vital role in getting an impressive outcome of photography. We’ll go through using the proper use of a wide-angle lens. These tips and tricks will help you to capture praiseworthy pictures.

What is a wide-angle lens?

A wide-angle lens is such a kind of lens that has a smaller focal length than a conventional lens. These lenses are generally capable of displaying a wider field of vision than we are, which is considerably shorter than the focal lengths of other lenses. This lens is capable of capturing more scenes in photography than the conventional lenses.

Used in foreground and background and landscape photography where the photographer is not able to go far to take pictures to point out differences in size or distance between objects. Wide-angle lenses provide a much extensive image circle than standard lenses. It also enables larger picture frames to be transmitted or capture a wide range of field views with the help of a view camera.

How to use a wide-angle lens

It is important for you to know the proper use of the lens to get maximum results when capturing the scene using a wide-angle lens. You will be able to capture better when you are aware of the proper use of wide-angle lenses. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of wide-angle lenses.

Shoot an establishing shot

Using a wide-angle lens to construct a set and introduce your viewers to a scene is perhaps the most apparent use for this kind of lens. This kind of lens will provide your audience with a broad overview of the period and location in which your tale takes place. It also allows you to better understand the setting and get a feeling of scale and perspective.

Wide-angle lenses allow you to catch more of a character’s movement as well as body language since they can take in more than just a scene. Rather than concentrating on little elements in a closer view, you can observe how someone engages with the full picture. A wide-angle lens can help to make it even more of a long shot if you’re going for it.

Positioned close to the subject

When using such a wide-angle lens, you should consider positioning close to the subject. As a result, foreground things look huge in the frame, while distant ones appear extremely little. The distance among objects may also be exaggerated by using wide-angle lenses. It makes things at intermediate and long distances seem to be farther away than they are in reality.

You may apply this effect to draw attention to foreground topics by isolating things from the backdrop and expanding them to fill the frames. It also gives them more impact in the photograph.

The wide-angle lens, on the other hand, enables you to capture a great deal of background information in your photograph, which may be excellent for adding interest as well as context to the primary subject.

Avoid using filters

You should avoid using filters while you are using a wide-angle lens. This is because shooting with a wide-angle lens can produce effects from the filters that you never want. When using polarizing filters, this is especially relevant since the impact is dependent on the angle among the lens and also the sun.

When using a wide-angle lens, the angle of view might change dramatically during a single photo. Depending on the camera, there will be a distinct difference in brightness from one side to another. When shooting with wide-angle lenses, it is advisable to avoid utilizing filters wherever feasible. If you do decide to use them, maintain a careful check on the effects they are having on you.

Keep the sun out of your frame

Because of the large area covered, it’s usual to include the sun in the photographs, which might result in a lens flare or improper exposure. Lens hoods aren’t a proper solution because a lens hood can block some part of the frame or view. And in this case, a lens hood and cannot play an effective role as they block some part of the scene.

Despite this, wide-angle lens makers are aware of the issue and are designing their lenses to lessen lens flare at the same time. Unfortunately, these procedures may not always give the best as well as an effective answer to this problem. As a result, you should make every effort to keep the sunlight out from the frame or to conceal yourself behind anything in the background.

Hold the lens angling down

People utilize wide-angle lenses to catch more sky; however, it isn’t the finest use of a wide-angle lens. The ideal method to utilize a wide-angle lens should be to capture both foreground and backdrop. This function is especial for photographing mudflats, meadows, or beaches when you want to catch every little detail.

Wide-angle lenses can catch enough of the background to give the spectator a feeling of location if you hold it angling down.

Wide-angle lenses can catch enough of the background to give the spectator a feeling of location if you hold it angling down. The sky can be photographed everywhere, but the earth is unique. Taking shots like this at dusk or dawn adds drama by extending the shadows. The textured foreground shadows create contrast by lowering one side as well as emphasizing the other.

Exploit the Scene’s Layers

When photographing with a wide-angle lens, you must learn to think in concepts of layers. I’m not referring to Photoshop layers; rather, I’m referring to the kind of layers that may be found practically anywhere. All you have to do now is be a little more selective in the assistance you provide to other individuals.

When you try to shoot a scene with a wide-angle lens, the scene may have multiple objects. You consider each object as a layer, such as the nearest object is the first layer, the farthest object is the second layer. Now assemble each layer seamlessly where it will take you from the tip to the distant background.

Recommended post: How to use a wide-angle lens with macro

When to Use Wide Angle Lens?

So, what is the purpose of a wide-angle lens? The usage of wide-angle lenses is mainly reserved for situations in which you want to catch as much more as necessary. Among the most common subjects photographed with a wide-angle lens are landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture. Fish-eye lenses catch much more of the picture than a standard lens. However, they are mostly utilized for creative and artistic endeavors.

They are broad enough to capture the two-worlds scenario that I’m sure we have already seen and appreciated in movies and television shows. Be aware that using a wide-angle lens requires being very attentive to the composition to achieve success. It is quite simple to make the mistake of displaying too much information.

When should you put away your wide-angle lens?

Just as it is essential to know when to use a wide-angle lens, it is also essential to know when it should not be used. This lens is not suitable if you are going to capture a scene where the subject is relatively far away. The primary reason for this issue is that using this lens will make distant objects look very small.

For example, a wide-angle lens will be more of a problem than an assist if you’re on a mountaintop attempting to shoot a photo of a sweeping scene. For one thing, when there are no following lines, defined objects. Even with other forms to generate contrast and draw the eye into the image, the scene may seem cluttered.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is a wide-angle lens worth it?

A wide-angle high aperture ensures the use of quality as well as the sharp focus of the landscape. There are several reasons why landscape photographers value wide-angle lenses. When buying a wide-angle lens for landscape photography, you need to opt for a specific camera type, as opposed to most lenses. Wide-angle lenses give more depth-of-field than telephoto lenses and make nearby objects appear larger and more distant.

How do you focus on a wide-angle lens?

Typically, a wide-angle lens focuses one-third of the view from the bottom to the top to get the best depth-of-field. These lenses focus much more than standard lenses to provide greater depth-of-field for landscape photography. Even the simplest way to calculate hyperfocal distance will tell you where the camera should focus.

Do wide-angle lenses make you look fat?

The wide focal lengths of wide-angle lenses work much shorter and vice versa, making the person in the center of the image look wider and taller. Having a super-wide field of view can create a fish-eye effect that makes your face look swollen and outward. These lenses are capable of magnifying objects near the camera while making objects far away smaller.

Is a wide-angle lens good for landscape?

Wide-angle lenses are useful for landscape photography because if you are unable to go farther or closer, you will have to take advantage of the lens. It is easy to frame the landscape precisely and get sharpness from front to back and down stop. The wide-angle lens attracts the viewer through the image and adds a different feeling of feeling the horizon farther than the real.

How Wide Is a Wide-Angle Lens?

Wide-angle lenses have a focal length between 35mm to 24mm. The wide-angle generally refers to 24mm to 16mm. Ultra-wide angles are defined as 16mm or less. The most common wide-angle lens is 16-35mm. A 24mm or 28mm kit lens is common.

Final Thought

A wide-angle lens is such a kind of lens that features a smaller focal length than a conventional lens. This enables you to come closer to your topic or fit so much into the screen without cutting corners off. By ensuring the proper use of this lens, you will get an extraordinary outcome. Hopefully, now you know how to use a wide-angle lens properly.