PHOTOGRAPHY- 5

  PHOTOGRAPHY- 5

LENSES –II

Next in line comes the category of lens- the Wide Angle. Though, a self-explanatory name, very few exhibit true mastery in handling Wide angle optics. The ‘not-so-happy’ outcome from inept use of WA lenses can be explained as a ‘product revealing perspective distortion’. The image so derived makes the viewer believe that the scene has a very broad foreground while too many items clutter in the interior of the picture. In other words a WA lens gobbles up maximum area of coverage to be presented on a single frame. Consequently, the ‘front end’ of the picture looks wider and items at the far end ‘converge’ into the picture; so, items in the foreground are larger as against the tinier ones at the inner corridor of the picture. Unless, thoroughly ‘well-trained’ using WA lenses and making appealing images may prove tricky. Instead appalling pictures can be made effortlessly with WA lenses.

Does it mean that using WA lenses is a nightmare by itself ? No, not at all. The mere strategy of successful use of WA requires ‘choosing the correct viewpoint’ to avoid ‘vacant foreground leading into a crowded array inward. Simply, routine use of WA lenses and other format optics would teach ‘what to use- when?’ Obviouly, on scenes like vast landscapes, sea scape, snow mountains and carnivals of a variety of activity, WA is an obvious advantage to register most items in just 2 or 3 frames, taking care not to include objects that were registered on previous frame[s]

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

As was laid out earlier ,WA  implies wide angle of vision due to shorter focal length [shorter than that of the standard [Normal] lens

Focal lengths lower than of 35 mm are rated –WA

Ideally, lenses at 28 mm are true WA optical devices by virtue of their ability to render perspectives nearer to human vision [or very low exaggeration of image characteristics].

Items of f l 24 mm are honestly Wider angle lenses with ability to ‘import’ more segments of a scene on to the primary image record.

Focal lengths of 18 mm are called ULTRA WIDE ANGLES

Items of less than 15 mm focal length are SUPER ULTRA WIDE ANGLES

By around late 1970, Camera /Film industry went crazy if not berserk, to keep flooding the market with optics of focal lenghs dropping to 6 mm [FISH EYE LENS]

In extreme cases 3mm lens was used by Crazy American photographers claiming to have used ULTRA FISH EYE Lens.              In my perception, the then Japanese giants NIKKOR, ASAHI made THE BEST OF American frenzy;but later the Camera / Film industry crashed to the greedy DIGITISATION, throwing off gear the entire trade of Photo imaging, Dark room technicians and all related Chemistry, Album, Studios , why that much Camera in its original form is an Antic now-the world over.

To continue….