What is a wide angle focal length lens?

Answer 1

On a digital SLR camera, anything less than about 32 mm (50 mm for a 35 mm film camera). The focal length of a wide angle lens varies depending on the size of the negative or digital sensor. Most camera manuals for smaller cameras will give you an idea for that camera, often in 35 mm equivalents, so use the 50 mm standard for those.

Answer 2

A wide angle camera, or a camera set to wide angle, will see more of the landscape, though the scene will appear in the viewer further away. Having a wide angle means the camera can be used in smaller spaces, such as indoors, etc. As the camera lens zooms out, so the landscape appears narrower, closer, and has to be kept steadier to avoid camera shake.

Answer 3

Photographic lenses with extremely wide angle of view are also known as 'fish eye' lenses, and usually have an angle of view of 100 - 180 degrees. They are also commonly used as 'peephole' viewers in entry doors. The actual focal length description rather depends on the associated technology - for short focal length purposes such as a video camera, they may have focal lengths of only a few mm. For standard 35mm equivalent, the focal length will be between 10 and 20 mm.

Answer 4

With a 35mm sensor a wide angle is 24mm to 35mm and a wide angle is below 24mm.