My Favourite Focal Length, and Why...

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In this video I talk about my favourite focal length (or range) for landscape photography and street photography while taking photos in Snowdonia, Wales.
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[@victorsalvi_]

In the beginning of the video I heard a bee noise and I thought "lol it's funny". Then I rewinded to hear it againt but there was no more bee sound. Turns out there was a bee landed at my headphones 😂

[@uptown3636]

I heard it, too. And now I’m looking for a damned bee in my bedroom.

[@Relyse]

Hahaha, not even a minute in and you had me laughing out loud. Don't ever lose your sense of humour James, makes it an even more enjoyable video to watch. Definitely food for thought on the focal lengths and agreed that the original image was better than the wide angle. I reckon you'll ace the building in the right conditions, maybe over your winter? Noah just gives you a deadline so not all that bad, sometimes we can have too much free time as creatives. Look forward to the next video!

[@kmbrco]

Can I just say, I love your videos. The subject matter, your sense of humor, always something to take away to apply to my own photography world. Thank you for what you do!

[@alanplatt888]

I have a full frame rangefinder with a 50mm lens and a 1.5 crop sensor which I use a 35mm manual lens on. I think for me, the 50mm focal length is the one that I use the most. Probably because I have to concentrate more on my composition and zoom with my feet. Very rewarding. Thanks for another great video.

[@oscareklund7459]

I completely agree with you! When you subtract frome the scene, the things that you DO have in the scene become more impactful! You dont need more than the essential. Great video and keep on inspiring photographers!🔥

[@antoinelasalle3767]

I was in your country for a roadtrip one week ago, and I loved it (even if it's a little bit rainy and cloudy). A big thank you from France for your videos, which are very inspiring.

[@michelleelliot9380]

My husband and I absolutely love your videos. This one was particularily informative and capturning the low level fighter jet was a such a joy! Thanks for all your content, as always. Michelle

[@bobmcdonald4834]

That was excellent. Thanks so much, James. Your explanation around your favourite focal length was fascinating and has really set me thinking. Many thanks 🙂

[@florencequinn7720]

Loved the comparison of the same shot with two focal length and the simple explanations. Makes so much sense. Thank you!

[@Photosbykimrcanada]

Keep making these great videos. Engaging and informative!!👍🇨🇦📸

[@CarloFriscia]

0:42 "please don't unsubscribe" 🤣 I love your videos 💪🏼😎

[@damianmidro4500]

“Please don’t unsubscribe “ love it.

[@NeonShores]

I carry an 85mm and a 50mm. Works for most things for normal walkabouts.

[@valid_Nevery]

Great Video, thanks

[@steveboys5369]

Hi James, another interest ( and comical ) video ... thanks for sharing. Being fairly clueless I don't have a favourite focal length as yet, but I can see how you can gravitate to one over a period of time .... and talking of time ( to take photos in your case), having kids they say, it's the first 25 years that are the worst .. and if a bit of mango on the T shirt is the worst you get, you'll be doing superbly!

[@alejawndro]

I know it’s not for everyone, but cycling and photography are two of my hobbies/passions so this is fun to see the crossover. Honestly it’s a great tool to get out to great locations, not only in the country but also for street photography. Keep it up!

[@SolarPowerChannelwithChris]

Me too, I have different bikes also.

[@JFW5358]

Thanks James. A very interesting and informative video. I must check my own focal lengths closely, using mainly a 24-70.

[@minus1db]

Thanks James thoroughly enjoyed it

[@hankroest6836]

3:12 "Pretty nice actually." Yep. Classic Popsys, foreground, something in the middle ground, background, even-further-back ground... ;-)

[@dillank3240]

I am happiest between 35mm and 50mm. I was quite set on 50mm, but I decided to buy a 35mm lens, just to try it. I like it too. Now I am not sure which I like better. I love the last photo, by the way. Excellent!

[@stuartdrury4253]

Interesting point Regarding your favourite focal length. I liked the way you explained “Its more about subtraction than addition” I real got that when you made the comparison to the wider shot. Glad you made it back in time to pick up baby.

[@martin9410]

I think your photos of the house and its environment are wonderful. But I must admit that my favorite is with the 24mm vantage point. It just comes down to personal preference like most photos come down to. But I do agree with you about the 45mm -50mm distance. Probably my favorite walk around lens is The Sony 50mm g f/2.5 lens.

[@whatkevsaw]

If pressed to choose, I loved the fist image of wall with steps! Even more "panache" at 9:18!

[@paulcollingridge8387]

I agree, my 24-105 f4 does most landscape shots between 45 and 60mm. There's an abandoned cottage with half a roof down a high walled serpentine road on the Mawddach side of Barmouth at SH 627166,bathed in green foliage light with old iron gates... I can't resist a picture every time I walk past

[@barbarachamberlain6918]

Very helpful and loved the panache!

[@ShawDAMAN]

My favorite photography channel on the tube !

[@leanderhoefler576]

My favorite lens is also my 50mm f1.2. Lovely perspective and with the wide aperture you get even more room for creative shots. Pair it with a 24mm prime and I‘m ready to travel the world (photographically).

[@davidskinner274]

Well explained James, well done

[@iankellam6440]

Great video as always James. Got to agree on the focal length , I am a 50 to 85mm fan. Not so sure agree on the light blue coat even coming close to panache!. Keep it up mate and deffo don't be late picking up the kids. Did it once 30 years ago and she still brings it up.

[@ymn3112]

Have you ever talked about what bike(s) you use? How you've set them up and why? I'd love to hear more about that!

[@-grey]

10:30 This is true, if you shoot 24mm like it's a standard focal length. If you were to get closer and really use that depth difference to contrast subjects, then you'd be utilising the characteristics of the 24mm more. I think this is what makes our favourite focal lengths. It's how we most comfortably pre-visualise a composition. Trying to make a 24mm realise the 40mm scene you imagined is always going to cause friction.

[@AndrewBerube41]

I love your comedic take on photography!

[@mrjiggawatt]

I love that image of the house with the curving road.

[@clarkejones8090]

Well done.

[@Fr0z3nFL4mE]

It always feels great to get shots at your favourite focal length! My personal favourite is 35mm. Funny little story: I was shooting with a 50mm prime to challenge myself on one of the days during a sightseeing trip recently. There was a scene that I liked from where I was standing, so I put the viewfinder to my eye only to find that I couldn't see some of the stuff I wanted in the frame. I realized that I was standing too close -- at 35mm however, the stuff that were out of the frame would definitely be in the frame where I was standing. Pretty safe to say my eyes are used to framing scenes in 35mm 😅 I do fancy taking photos of people with a 50mm though!

[@diasdigitales5548]

Interesting... i´m used to frame scenes in 85mm. Whenever I shoot with a 50, 35 or 24mm I feel everything is so wide and reminds me of the feeling I get when I take pics with a cellphone. I like 85mm cuz it is tight and forces me to be creative with my framing

[@KarySchump]

I like the 50mm focal length as well! I just found you and watched all of your videos in the last couple of weeks and loved every one. I do enjoy the 50, at first because that was the one suggested to me, so I have the equiv for a Nikon aps-c (a 35mm) and for m43 (25mm). I also have a Ricoh gr (the first one) with the 28mm and also enjoy that one as well! Anyway, thanks for helping to remind us to get back to basics with a focal length! Love your channel! Thank you!

[@ThePurpleHarpoon]

I think if you take the 24mm version of the mountain scene (10:30), crop the bottom by 10% and the top by 15%, you end up with an image that works very nicely.

[@ateswierjr]

Loved this video, i think im gonna also buy a bicycle like that and make some content through my area, great vid, great ideas. Love 👍🏻👏🏻😊

[@aboynamedjamil]

This was actually very useful. Thank you James.

[@wordreet]

Hehe, well at the moment my fave length is 20mm, and my 18-55 kit lens is sidelined, mostly due to my new used Canon EF 20mm F2.8 USM! I absolutely love it! Of course, I mostly prefer landscapes and skyscapes, etc. Camera is an EOS 4000d.

[@jonmnelson]

50mm is such a great length. It can be a bit tight at times, but I love how intimate it feels.

[@BlancGivre]

James, love all your vids. Great sense of humour and entertainment. :)

[@Erez-the-Berez]

Oh thx that’s helpful! Ur videos r crazy good and i’ve been enjoying them for 2 years currently :))

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@cccycling5835]

Nice gravel bike! I ride and photograph a lot, but mostly with my Ricoh GR III. As far as the WTB Byways: I like really really knobby tires for any sort of conditions like that. I use the WTB Raddlers myself.

[@ludgeisatmcdonalds]

I used a Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 basically glued to my old Nikon d3200 for years and loved the 24mm equivalent. I switched to m43 and haven’t gotten something similar yet. I miss it for sure, planning on picking up a 14mm 2.5 soon.

[@sarewalton5666]

Hahaha you crack me up. Thanks for the laughs and the info

[@spvidz]

Great vid and an amazing part of the world. I will be up there this week. Ogwen Valley is my favourite part of Snowdonia

[@hamsterneckliving]

The shot of the lane and the house is a beautiful composition. I agree and much prefer the version more close in with less of countryside. Leaves more to imagination without living anything feeling left out or cutoff.

[@stevewturnbull]

The trouble is you see a lot more of the cars.. But I get your point and really like who you got this across with the subtraction rather than addition idea.

[@onaugh]

I'm here for the photography and your fashion sense. You've got lots of panache 🚴🏼‍♂

[@pathogan4854]

great video I always struggle with the crop / focal length

[@Brock_in_the_North]

Came here for fashion tips, found a panache style. Thanks. My favorite focal length are 85mm, 50mm and 35mm in that order. All f1.8 Nikon lenses. 3 primes to rule them all

[@YoSpiff]

I was thinking just the other day that I hadn't seen any bike videos from you recently. Getting ready for a road trip of my own, including lots of cycling. Going to Lake Michigan to photograph lighthouses and there are many bike trails that match up with where I want to go. I use a padded Topeak rack trunk for my big camera (an EM5 MK2). I tend to prefer the wider perspectives and will probably be taking the 12-42 and 7.5mm on the bike.

[@MichaelRBlair]

gotta love the old Mach Loop

[@mack_solo]

I'm one of the few people on the planet who doesn't like 50mm lens. When I was a kid, it was never wide enough. Ever tried taking photos of people at chrismtas dinner table without walking out of the room first (unless you live in a castle)? It'd be either that, or I'd get a portait of a spoon lodged in someone's mouth with another person's shoulder or elbow in the forground. Needless to say I prefer photos where people's presence is in context of the surroundings (and thus not necessarily is about people). To me a favourite focal length (apart from a precondition of what is actually available in ones own lens assortment) is highly dependant on what the subject is. I have an old manual 135mm i call "my ZOO" lens, because it gave me my favourite shots from the ZOO. Where's for walkabouts the 20-35mm zoom is the one I'm the most happy with. And I was even thinking that if i had an option to start with a new sony camera i'd opt for 16-35mm as my first lens. And YES, you look GOOOD 😃

[@jwate]

I don’t know if I have a favorite? Prob 35-50 for people, around 20 for scenery. If I’m recording it’s similar, but slow motion I prefer 70+. Thought I’d contribute.

[@sue.Hoo123]

Strange, I’ve been having hay fever symptoms the last few days after being out walking. Loved the bike pose shot 👍

[@travisbrown2459]

I love your videos and have learned a lot from you, also though, you seem like you’d be a fun guy to hang out with too!

[@brianmckeever5280]

I had a little laugh when I saw that building again. Good stuff.

[@thomashextall8398]

Please please make a video of all the wonderful locations you visit around Snowdonia :)

[@RandyPollock]

I can live with a helmet, but when I would ride centuries and other bike races it was common courtesy to take the sunglasses off when carrying on a conversation with someone. That just seemed awkward...photography wise...another great one!

[@500gtsnake]

Hello, my baby boy Nathan is 11 days old today, I'm starting to see what you mean about time, or better said the lack of it. Great video as always been learning a lot from your vídeos and it's starting to show in my photos which have gone from awful to sometimes pasable 🤣🤣🤣.

[@pasqualray1337]

0:38 How could I when I’m learning so much from your channel 😘

[@robertnelson3179]

Sheepies and Tornado above your head so cool

[@bfs5113]

While I haven't used a 50 mm prime for more than 40 years since the kit lens, and start using a 50 f/1.2 again recently, but 40mm is my most frequently used focal length based on statistics since EXIF is available.

[@peterlawson4978]

A 50mm is considered natural not because of the angle of the image but due to the relationship between the foreground, middle ground and background. Compare that photo with the actual scene and this relationship will look natural. A wide angle lens expands the difference and a telephoto compresses the difference between foreground and background.

[@TheGreyOx]

Funny how I am getting several suggested videos regarding favourite focal lengths...I was debating between 24, 35, and 50, even with this video I am going with 24, mostly due to its versatility for street, portrait, landscape, and astral photography. Great video nonetheless!

[@andrewroland]

I agree.

[@churchill378]

tbh for the shot you showed I preferred the 24mm version.

[@fotografi4fun]

Hahaha… Nope. I will never unsubscribe from this channel. Don’t you worry. Even though you just costed me a GR IIIx. I’ve been on the fence for a long time, but you pushed me over the edge. No regret’s though. I love that little thing…

[@anakinsand1192]

Good video bro

[@kevinsim1514]

Dear James, you just validated why I love my favourite lens - the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (for Sony APSC) - which is 45mm Full Frame equivalent. Some guy somewhere said the proper measurement of the standard focal length is the equivalent to the diagonal of the sensor, which is 45mm. So there you have it. Between 40mm to 50mm is truly the sweet spot.

[@grumpyrocker]

Similarly I love the 27mm pancake on my Fuji camera. Very similar focal length.

[@JeremyHalterman]

Yes! If I remember correctly, the diagonal of a FF sensor is ~43mm, and I find that I also gravitate to right around that same range! My go-tos are a 40mm prime and 42-44mm on my zoom. Interesting how that focal range just sort of clicks, and a little unfortunate that there's a smaller selection of 40-45mm primes compared to 35mm and 50mm lenses.

[@myNamezMe]

Think 24mm works well on scenes where you just look straight forward without much focus and 40-60mm when you find something of interest to stare at. Mostly using the >24mm focal lengths as a cropping tool. In order to try to keep it normal looking, the image should have a size and viewing distance where it matches the lens FOV.

[@przybylskipawel]

You can calculate Standard Deviation of focal lengths of photos from your portfolio.

[@alb1rdy547]

Hey James! Love the content! I was wondering if you have ever considered using old manual lenses on your Sony bodies? Sincerly a guy who mainly shoots on a a7iii with a helios 44m

[@biancanieuwkerk7216]

Hi James! Nice video. I love 50mm to 60mm a lot and love to use good vintage glass (and Lensbaby 😁). How are you on old lenses? There are some pretty sharp ones which also have very nice rendering of contrast and color that probably would fit your style.

[@gardamis]

My most used lens is the Olympus 12-40mm f2.8, but I find myself going on either side of 25, like 12-20 or 30-40. In fact, i'm about to sell my 25mm prime lens because I just never bring it with me, partially because of the aforementioned lens, but mostly because I just don't favor the focal length for whatever reason. I have a 15, 30, and 45 that gets used much more for when I need DOF or lower light capabilities.

[@thegrayyernaut]

I recognize that house from a previous video you made xD (Unless it's another brick house in the middle of nowhere in Wales and they all look like that)

[@dylanqxc]

Good morning mister james,i was wondering how you call those yellow flowered plants at min 2:00, bcs here in galicia, former celtic land we call them toxos Been watching most of your videos lately and im really liking it!

[@alexphillips5233]

That cottage is the place we took shelter on DofE - it’s so strange seeing it for The 4th time haha.

[@gunterlaschober5423]

You´re driving on the wrong side of the street OMG!! Greetings from Austria.

[@brettbaker7049]

Saw the cottage and HAD to stay

[@davidellinsworth22]

The 40-50mm thing doesn't relate to the field of view of human vision (that's much wider), but looks natural because the spatial separation of near and far objects does closely resemble what the eye sees.

[@kerry5586]

Please will you do a video showing how you clone out as I a rap at it and would love to see how people do it successfully. P.S. I preferred the wider image.

[@craiginthemud7086]

Great video as always James. Btw, I'm sure your friends at MPB could hook you up with the small sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN for Sony that's great value second hand so you can split the difference?

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Love my 35 f1.4 and 50 f1.5 Voigtlanders. Must admit that the 28-70 kit (Sony) isn't bad at all at €200.

[@L.Spencer]

I like how you said you'd clone out the cars, I was wondering about them as soon as I saw them. :)

[@chrishowell5718]

Me at 0.00: The Hut! Is James going to do a weekly video from the same spot while he tries to get his definitive image (this week, I are moastly bin shootin' in the rain!)? James at 0.48: I'm going to start all my videos with the week's shot of The Hut.

[@MichaelGarbarinoPhotography]

I had to go back and look to see if you were shooting full frame or not. I shoot 50mm a lot but I have a crop sensor so....

[@RealRaynedance]

I honestly didn't know if I hated 50mm or the 50mm lens I had when I started using a proper camera in 2017. I had a Nikon 50mm f/1.8G at the time, and I don't know if it was the focus or something else, but I just didn't like it. Loved the D600 it was mounted on, but not the lens. And it turns out the lens itself really was the issue. Fast forward four and a half years, I bought a $20 non-AI Nikon 50mm f/1.4 on a whim and as a sanity check and I can't seem to get it off my camera while I'm out. Now I want the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO more than any other lens after swearing up and down that 35mm was my happy place. Still couldn't tell you why I like 50mm since it's not the whole "it matches the eye" thing, but I do. Also, the whole "what the eye sees" thing is because 40-50mm mostly eliminates any sort of distortion and size inconsistencies you'd normally see with any other focal length versus our eyes, and 43mm provides the least. Kudos to Samyang for making a 45mm f/1.8 for the E-mount. The problem is that no one can make up their mind when explaining lens FOV versus the eye. People always refer to a human's cone of visual attention being 50-55 degrees _wide,_ which is a horizontal measurement (and accurate for both eyes together), but lens FOV is measured _diagonally._

[@marklawson8346]

Bracken 🌿 James I enjoy your videos and watch them all , silly question you use full frame camera so when you say 50mm you do mean 35 mm film equivalent focal lens ? As I say great videos keep them coming 👍🏻

[@Boyiobikes]

That's a pretty epic bike ride, did you make it back up to the Owen without stopping? 😁

[@capturedstates]

I’d love to see you do a video at the Mach loop. My bad if you have and I’ve completely missed it. It was the hawk that flew over you head that made me think it. I know loads of people go there but would be good to get your perspective

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Keep meaning to get there :)

[@longrider9551]

Most folks don't know why the 40-50 range is so natural but it is what your eyes see "IN FOCUS" and 43.3mm is also the dead normal point with zero distortion. Mathematically it is the radian of the image circle on a FF camera. If you google normal lens there is more information but this pursuit goes back to observable views in paintings made by Leonardo Da Vinci.

[@my_everyday_carry]

Thumbs-up for cycling !!!

[@EastFB72]

Noah is going to love watching this video back when he's older 🤣

[@tuuchen2990]

I use 35mm and crop if I need a more tight shot.

[@PhilSledge]

Some great information, James I love my 50 mm prime in all three of my bodies. On the hay fever front, try buying local honey. I thought it was an old wives tale, too, but my hay fever has never been under control since using my own honey.

[@billkipper3264]

Along with that fighter buzzing you I could hear aircraft in the background. Live near the Mach Loop do you? While it's not landscape photography, I would love to shoot military aircraft blazing through there.

[@MarkGilligan4]

James give the barn a rest 🤣🤣🤣