Manual Focus Ultra Wide Angle Camera Lenses

Manual SLR Ultra Wide Angle Camera Lenses

It is often said that the human range of vision is equal to a 50mm lens but when peripheral vision is taken into consideration the equivalent lens would be around 35mm. Ultra wide angle lenses increase this field of vision way beyond what the eye can naturally see. In fact, it is generally agreed that to be ultra wide, a lens on a full frame camera will be 18mm or shorter.

Advantages of ultra wide angle photography

Ultra wide angle lenses have a larger depth of field which means more of the subject matter can be kept in focus. They have better aperture settings meaning longer exposures without camera shake and, of course, they include far more in the scene. As such, ultra wide lenses are ideal for landscape and architectural photography as well as taking group shots in, for example, wedding or school photography.

Classifications of manual SLR ultra wide angle lens

There are two classifications of ultra wide angle lens - fisheye and rectilinear. Fish eye lenses are curvilinear and produce barrel distortion, curving horizons or vertical features to produce familiar, rounded photographic effects.

The second classification of ultra wide angle lens is called rectilinear. Rectilinear lenses do not have the extreme distortion of fisheye lenses and are designed to keep lines straight.

Types of manual SLR ultra wide lenses

Theres a comprehensive range of ultra wide angle manual lens available from SLR camera manufacturers and third party lens specialists.

Focal lengths include 18mm, 17mm, 14mm and 12mm right down to fisheye which is around 8mm. There are also ultra wide angle zoom lenses providing a range of focal lengths in one convenient lens unit.

Typical focus lengths can include 10- 24mm and 15-30mm. A novel twist on the fisheye lens is a kit that enables a fisheye converter lens to be attached to the front of an existing lens.

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