The Focal Length That Changed My Photography.

Hiking to an abandoned homestead in Washington while sharing some thoughts about focal lengths and lenses that I've used - one in particular that's completely changed my photography for the better.
MY LIGHTROOM PRESETS: www.dylanspitz...
--- 35mm Equivalent Lenses I'd Recommend ---
Fujifilm XF23mm F1.4 R LM WR - amzn.to/45NrUVe
Fujifilm XF23mm F2 R WR - amzn.to/45PshP5
Fujifilm GF45mm F2.8 R WR Lens - amzn.to/47SFSXO
Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM - amzn.to/3L4PQf0
Sony FE 35mm F1.8 - amzn.to/3PkuA7A
Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S - amzn.to/47QSPRP
Canon RF35mm F1.8 is Macro STM - amzn.to/47XqB8i
Leica Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH - amzn.to/3L3XdD8
Leica 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Summilux-M - amzn.to/3YUAtLO
Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH - amzn.to/3Z4rJCP
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN for Sony - amzn.to/3YZWb16
Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM for Canon - amzn.to/3Z3U6kI
--- Gear I Use ---
Fujifilm X-T5 (Camera) - amzn.to/3LTcWVx
Fujifilm 23mm f1.4 (Lens) - amzn.to/3BikfRH
Fujifilm X100V (Camera) - amzn.to/42h8jeN
Sony A7SIII (Video Camera) - amzn.to/3HeRztX
Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II (Lens) - amzn.to/42Mchfs
Aputure 120D (Lighting) - amzn.to/3s6LRnI
Light Dome (Modifier) - amzn.to/3L58DXr
Rode NTG4+ (Mic) - amzn.to/44Sd7ZY
Zoom H4N Pro (Audio Recorder) - amzn.to/3IW4BNL
Atomos Shinobi (Monitor) - amzn.to/3s0KWFy
Tiffen 1/8 Black Promist (Diffusion Filter) - amzn.to/3KRjGRF
Follow along on IG: @dylanspitz
Website & Business Inquiries: dylanspitz.com

[@karolkowalski8319]

Just wanted to say that I’m simply in awe of the sound design! It absolutely breathtaking!

[@DylanSpitz]

Aw thank you! Really appreciate it 🥹

[@replicant44]

the colors throughout the video were beautiful, great work

[@-grey]

I shoot in two ways: 1. My perspective. 35mm for memories and life doc where I want to remember it as I saw it. 2. Ideal perspective. The extremes, where I want to represent story in one image. I want to capture exactly what makes a thing visually interesting. I want to represent more than my own perspective. Usually for that second one I'm using the LCD, because it's not supposed to be attached to my perspective. It can be low angle and I work the scene more. 35 really wants to be shoot through the viewfinder for the opposite reason. I think it looks strange to communicate a normal view through a strange camera placement. I recommend trying out a Ricoh GR III if you're curious. The 28f2.8 really makes you work for your images, and is pocketable so you can try it wherever whenever.

[@DylanSpitz]

That’s a great way to work! That’s pretty much exactly what I was trying to communicate about using them with a purpose. Nice job with the explanation 👌

[@henlolneh]

He already has a X100V in his kit which imho destroys the GR III in every aspect outside of say size and a couple of nifty "auto" settings that ricoh offers for blind street shooting (which you can recreate pretty similarly with ergo AF lock settings on the 100v).

[@LeandroBighetti]

Fuji 27mm f2.8 is also a very good contender for similar use, It's basically glued to my XT-1 for a few years now.

[@-grey]

@@henlolneh I have both. It sounds like you haven't used a GR III recently. Neither "destroys" the other. The image quality is a bit better on the Ricoh, plus it has really good IBIS. I'd say that the AF is slightly better too, but that could just be because the lens is wider. Also, those "auto" options are pretty incredible and allow you to customise the shooting experience for maximum versatile adaptability, which the focus mode switch on the Fujifilm does about 10% of the same functionality. Snap Distance priority is game changing especially because you can have it one button away. Infinity focus lock or minimum focus lock is super helpful too. All manual focus options have a tap to focus override so you're never trapped in one mode and punished for not predicting a scene quick enough. One touch manual exposure is also very cool. It let's you jump to +/- 0 eV with auto exposure and then dial in from there your manual settings. Also, the jpeg colour settings are bit more in depth in terms of customizability on the Ricoh. The Fujifilm has the f2 aperture, which is nice when you want to knock an extra stop off of ISO but still want a quick shutter speed to freeze motion. The Ricoh IBIS let's me shoot ISO 100 handheld all the time, but it's at ridiculous slow shutter speeds which isn't always useful. The Fujifilm has more baked-in colour presets - Velvia, Pro Neg H, and Astia are my all time favourites. The Fujifilm is weather sealed, so you don't have to worry about dust. The Fujifilm has a better screen and it tilts - I hate getting in the dirt for low angle shots. The Fujifilm has a viewfinder. Unfortunately it doesn't have any peak UX modes, but most people don't know what they're missing so back button focus in manual focus mode is still a nice to have. I'd compare it like this: The Fujifilm is like a nice sports car - Great performance and easy to master. The Ricoh is like an F1 car - Outstanding performance but difficult to master. It's very easy to miss what makes the Ricoh great. 🏎

[@henlolneh]

I guess we can agree to disagree here. I just don't see any point at all of someone going out and purchasing a GRIII if they already own a X100v in their kit. Way too much redundancy imo even with the niche settings that the GRIII offers for very specific street photography settings. Unless you have a very specific in your face style of street photography (which is where the GRIII shines) I just cant see a justification for owning both of these cameras in your kit. This is the real point that I wanted to drive across.@@-grey

[@aawonnewton]

If you’re gonna be making beats that hard for the intro, ima need to hear you rap over it. Great video as always 👍🏽

[@DylanSpitz]

Hahaha, glad you like it! Had a lot of fun making that one, so I’m stoked you pointed it out. I’ll leave the rapping to the professionals 🤣❤️

[@swaraajxciv7675]

Exactly what i was gonna say mate. My man has got a good taste in music

[@KingSyor]

@@DylanSpitzwait you’re Mr. Spitz and don’t rap? 😂

[@berlyn_]

Hahahahahhaahaha

[@Martin-mt4bo]

Yo I feel you, this slapped haaaard, beautiful imagery with them sick beats made me instantly subscribe

[@rickygeeish]

Completely agree about the 35. I like that it forces you to place the subject in the context of its surroundings.

[@DylanSpitz]

Yessss

[@scottrgarland]

I work at a video production company and I'll take 1 camera and a 35 ALL DAY over different focal lengths. I enjoying having to move around and reframe instead of swapping lenses. Beautiful work!

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank ya!

[@Dmac996]

These pictures are so simple yet so beautiful at the same time. Wow

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you so much 😀

[@WestonWoodfin]

35mm was the first lens I ever purchased and has always been a favorite of mine. It is a very versatile lens, great for photo and video! I enjoyed seeing all your shots man, you have an amazing eye for color and composition. Keep it up Dylan!

[@DylanSpitz]

Can't go wrong with that as your first! Set you on the path to success, haha. Thanks for the compliments, seriously means so much to hear that. More coming soon!

[@etnes10]

Great video man. I really enjoy watching them. Please do some color grading content as well. I really like your visuals. Also, I would be curious to know how you got into color grading - how you started, how you learned it, do you treat photos and videos the same way etc. Keep the good work! 👍

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks so much! I will definitely make some videos about color and my approach soon. Appreciate you coming through with the request - always interested to hear what people want to see! 🙏

[@DayoClinckspoor]

This is that kind of channel that I instantly sub to. Your putting in the work, I can see that. Keep going my friend

[@DylanSpitz]

I appreciate that! Thanks so much for the support 🤜

[@DayoClinckspoor]

@@DylanSpitz do you sell luts ? Or power grades?

[@DylanSpitz]

@@DayoClinckspoor working on it 👀🍿

[@A1000Truths]

I’ve used 35mm for quite some time and it has helped me greatly. Recently, I’ve gravitated to 28mm and 50mm. I think these two lenses offer interesting perspectives.

[@DylanSpitz]

That’s a great pairing! I run that setup on the Nikon F3 🤘

[@teocrawford]

Ohh wow you put into words what I couldn’t when I look at my 14mm focal length photos from a couple years ago - nowadays I shoot 90% 35mm, it’s truly such a good focal length✨☺️

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you, Teo! Funny how so many of us have a similar experience with regards to lens choice. Love your work, by the way! Cheers.

[@catalinbridinel4984]

Genuinely the most beautiful dog I have ever seen!

[@DylanSpitz]

Aww thank you so much. He’s a sweet guy. (This is now my wife’s favorite KZbin comment, lol)

[@Minhchupchoet]

Thank you so much for the beautiful journey. It really did bring me joy watching your clip.

[@DylanSpitz]

Ah thank you! Means so much to hear that.

[@rileyrussill]

35mm is my favorite focal length by far. Think you nailed it with the fact that it just seems to find a natural beauty in each scene that most of our eyes perceive. 28mm is also super fun to play with for a wider interpretation. Great video!

[@DylanSpitz]

Right on! Yeah, I agree - it's brutally honest and I love it for that reason. 28 and 50 are both fun too, that's actually the pairing I run on the Nikon F3 when I'm feeling a change up.

[@RachelSchell]

Cool! I didn't expect to see a place I've been to when I clicked on this video! Beautiful work.

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks so much!

[@brittany32487]

Awesome video Dylan! Currently riding on a mini bus equipped with wifi through a lava field in Iceland. Always love learning about what works for other photographers.

[@DylanSpitz]

That’s awesome, Brittany! Thanks for watching all the way out there, means a lot to me. Can’t wait to see your photos from Iceland!

[@DennisTrovato]

35mm sits comfortably somewhere between 50mm (which is roughly the focal length of one human eye) and 24mm (which is roughly the focal length of both eyes)

[@mattgustafson4729]

My first proper lens purchase years ago was a 35mm 1.8 and I forced myself to use it for a year before I bought anything with zoom. I still prefer it to all other focal lengths, and I do believe that "training" led to me being a better photographer. I built an entire career off of it. Great videos, subscribed.

[@DylanSpitz]

Funny how at the time it probably felt like an annoying limitation, but now it feels like your happy place. Cool backstory to hear man, thanks for sharing that! Glad you're enjoying the videos, I appreciate your support!

[@Eyeofkamau]

One of a kind brother - your work is unmatched. My fav is 27mm on apsc

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you so much, way too kind. That’s a great choice as well! We had a 27mm on the xe4 for a while, super small and light.

[@bodythetan]

35 is great, but I also find it a little boring. 28 is where it’s at for me. Also gives a nice excuse to have a 50 which provides more intimacy without looking like it was shoot on a super long lens which makes things look unnatural. In summary: I find 28 better for life, indoor and general documentary; and I find 50 better than 35 for portraits, for that hint of compression and separation

[@DylanSpitz]

Classic pairing for sure. Can’t go wrong there.

[@simon359]

I think any prime lens is what you’re talking about. If you work with a prime lens, no matter what the focal length is, eventually you get to see much more than you would with the zoom lens! I shoot street with 27 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 85 mm, 135 mm. Really doesn’t matter, as you’re going to work to see a different perspective no matter what!

[@liberatedturmoil]

KZbin algorithm suggested this video since I'm interested in gaining some skills in photography/videography and boy do I love the music accompanying the whole video! And the aesthetic of all the footage - I didn't know I needed to see this today :) it is so pleasing to the eye and coupled with the amazing music - thank you very much for putting it out :D

[@DylanSpitz]

You are so kind. That is awesome! Thank you for taking the time to watch, I’m really happy you enjoyed it.

[@racheljoyfairy]

Great perspective, Dylan! So versatile that you can go from flowers to landscape with Carl in between. Nice!

[@DylanSpitz]

Haha yes! Thanks Rachel, glad you enjoyed it ❤️

[@LyndonPatrickSmith]

Great vid and images. 35mm is also my go to focal length. The extremes can be ok too: I remember a well-known photojournalist told me if he only packed 2 lenses to cover a story it was the 16-35 and 70-200, as the extremes gave him shots the human eye didn’t naturally see so that’s what photo editors usually picked.

[@DylanSpitz]

That’s a great take. Thanks for sharing!

[@7EPLO]

KZbin gods recommended me your channel. And you got me back into photography! Much appreciated!

[@DylanSpitz]

That makes me so happy! Enjoy being back behind the camera 📸 🫶

[@doptimist]

I’ve never gelled with 35s, feels too wide for details and too narrow for context : ) the classic 50 + 28 combo does the trick.

[@DylanSpitz]

Right on! Everyone has different preferences on what feels right for them and their tastes, I definitely didn’t want this to sound like 35 is superior - it’s not. It’s just a tool that forced me to improve and I made this video to kind of thank it in a weird way 😂. 28 and 50 is a great combo - that’s my setup on the F3 actually! 🤘

[@BezpiecznyKod]

Hey Dylan, keep posting! You have potential to be REALLY big - great eye, great craftsmanship, good narrational skills.

[@DylanSpitz]

Really appreciate the encouragement! Means the world ❤️

[@sarmedozil4060]

One of my fav channels on youtube ❤

[@DylanSpitz]

Gahhh shucks, thanks so much 🥹

[@BoostFutbol]

Lovely images on that roll!

[@DylanSpitz]

Many thanks!

[@johncfaust]

I didn't even need to watch the video to know it was gonna be 35. I feel as though it is one of the best focal length. Great video!

[@DylanSpitz]

haha I agree! Appreciate you watching 👊

[@drdrhelmut]

Great points for the focal length! Also both your photos and your video are crushing it in terms of colors. I'm impressed and now subscribed :)

[@DylanSpitz]

Great to hear! Appreciate your support 🙏

[@dquangt]

When i first taught myself and learned photography i had a 35mm lens stuck to the camera for months and primarily used it for years after.

[@DylanSpitz]

That’s awesome!

[@dansedran]

dude, your photography is insanely good. and video grading. really enjoyed the video. keep em coming

[@DylanSpitz]

Really means a lot, thank you so much! More on the way 😊

[@Technicooler]

Beautiful as always. Love your vision 🤩

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you so much! 🥹

[@MattFitzgerald]

Best focal length to learn on without a doubt. It's how I personally teach photography to anyone that is starting to get into the craft. It's good to hear someone talk a bit about focal lengths -- there are inherent strengths and weakness of all lenses. To me the 35 is best to draw your eyes to single subjects, with capabilities of stretching into the 28 or 50 territory. (28 having the capabilities to draw your eyes towards multiple subjects, 50 hyperfocusing on one detail.)

[@DylanSpitz]

Totally! Great explanation

[@nikapolova6107]

Looking at photos made with 35mm lens, especially portraits, they give me the feeling of standing there and being a part of what’s happening in the pictures. 50mm portraits give me the feeling like i am standing too far from the person to interact with them. That’s why i prefer 35mm for portraits, because of the feeling of closeness and even intimacy sometimes that it gives. 🤔

[@DylanSpitz]

Totally agree! That human, immersive feeling is the best.

[@konnrad]

great perspectives man. always learning something new. really inspired by your style.

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks so much for the kind words, really happy you find value in it 🙏

[@nessimbouzaiane7452]

You sir, make really great videos, love it all

[@DylanSpitz]

I appreciate that! Thanks for taking the time to watch 🙏

[@davedemille]

I love this video! I recently picked up the Fuji X-S20 with a 35mm equivalent and I use it every day. Like you said its the perfect way to document what catches your eye in daily life

[@DylanSpitz]

That’s awesome, thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙏

[@matsefcik]

Love this video! My 85mm was attached to my camera body for 6 months and I eventually got bored of it, made the change to 35mm and can confidently say its my fav focal length as well (at least for street photography). Really love your work dude!

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks for sharing! Appreciate the compliment too, means a lot. Yessss 35 is so great!

[@rickbiessman6084]

The other week I went out to shoot for fun and realized I had accidentally put my Samyang 75mm 1.8 on instead of my 35mm 1.8 because they look almost identical. I was SO bummed! :D Especially in street photography, there’s not a lot I hate more than long focal lenghts. For me that’s just lazy - sniping unsuspecting people from a distance like a creep. Separating out a subject at a distance with shallow depth of field is such a cheap trick. I got bored of seeing that kind of photography before I even thought of trying it myself :) So your comment really resonates with me.

[@tonyhayes9827]

Man that was the best description of using the 35mm focal length Ive ever heard. Brilliant. Last photo of your dog is absolutely award winning.

[@AnimationDunk]

My favorite is the carrot shot, I guess question of preferences

[@DylanSpitz]

hahaha I absolutely love that feedback. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers! Carl says thanks, by the way.

[@DylanSpitz]

I can say it was a tasty carrot. 10/10

[@DutchDiederik]

I used a Sony RX1R as my only camera for almost a decade. Having 35mm and nothing else really improved intuition and general creativity for good composition.

[@Dan27.]

Hi Dylan! I really clicked with everything that you were saying in the video. Back in 2021 I fell in love with the Olympus 35rc film camera that I bought as a gift for my girlfriend. At that time I didn't know much about photography, I just liked the form factor, portability and shooting experience of a rangefinder camera quite a lot. I had an X-T30 that I didn't really vibe with so I decided to sold it alongside with all the lenses I had and bought the V. Two and a half years later I am 100% sure it was the best decision I could've make, even though it felt quite counter-intuitive back then. I found out that trough limitations is where the growth begins and the creativity expands. 23mm (or 35ff equivalent) was always my go to focal length so the V fit like a glove. Sure, there were times when I was craving for a zoom, times when I needed something wider, but those situations and struggles helped me grow as a photographer, forced me into thinking and approaching the situation in a different way and forced me into making the best out of what I had. I also believe that it's really important to own a camera that you really enjoy shooting with and ideally have it with you all the time. In this regard, the x100v helped a lot too as it's always in my bag, sling or on my shoulder 😁 Awesome video as always! Keep up the good work, you are such a inspiration for a lot of us here! 🙌🏻

[@DylanSpitz]

So cool to hear your story! Really relatable and perfectly aligns with my experience as well. You’re so right about limitations - they work a different part of the creative brain - such a healthy and fun way to practice and grow. Thanks again for watching and for the feedback, happy to have you here 💥

[@andtheflyinglizard]

Dylan your cg is insane, i hope we will ever be lucky to get some insights :)

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you!

[@jordanmowday]

Pretty sure this is the first video of yours I’ve come across, immediately subscribed. Fantastic work!

[@DylanSpitz]

Wow, thanks! Glad you found me haha

[@Kevodabomb_Media]

This is why I got the Tamron 20-40 for my A7. Not extremely wide, not extremely telephoto. It’s gonna be the only lens I will be taking on future trips. I love 35-40mm.

[@alexheinonen3388]

Man your videos are amazing, super inspiring! Practically binge watching your content haha. I've been eager to hear someone talk more about the process behind taking a photograph, and their thinking to achieve the shot, rather than flashing the most expensive gear and lenses. I loved your video about the composition and this one specially. Some great insight! I would love to hear more about what do you look for in the light, and how do you go about building a composition. Every photo I saw of your roll here is stunning to me, but I don't understand exactly why do they seem so great to me in comparison to my own work for example.

[@DylanSpitz]

First of all, huge thanks for the kind words, it really means so much to hear that. Glad you're enjoying my small backlog of videos, haha - more coming soon, don't worry. Good to know that learning about technique and approach is what you're interested in, most people just want a film simulation recipe or some magic shortcut instead of actually improving their skills slowly over time. I'll for sure try to include more about what I'm looking for in light and such in future videos. As far as comparing to your own work - just know that everyone feels that way and it's a good sign. I feel that way about my own work compared to others sometimes as well, but that's a healthy sign that you're acknowledging that there's always room for growth and improvement in your work. Use that feeling as fuel to get out and keep improving, that's what I do at least.

[@alessandrocitterio]

Hey man, love this video! I'd love to see some videos related to videos too. Maybe you get some inspiration from movies or a general approach to video production would be great too. And of course, a grading approach would be awesome!

[@DylanSpitz]

Sounds good! Thanks for the request, I’ll definitely be diving more into the video side very soon. 🫶

[@goldbecoming]

My Yongnuo 35mm f/2 is my most-used lens, hands-down. It's amazing for everything.

[@treharris1677]

This is why I use a 40mm on Leica and 27mm APS-C on Fuji, which is 40 equivalent. With Canon 5D I used the pancake 42mm. 35mm is a little boring but does everything.

[@DylanSpitz]

Pancakes are sooo handy! Yeah that’s probably a good point to ponder about…I think the focal length being boring kind of means the image has to be interesting in order to make an impact. Good food for thought.

[@tommika900]

Great video and really nice grading both photo and video, I would love to see some videos about how you get to this level of quality.

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks for the kind words! Will definitely cover my process soon, stay tuned 😃

[@MultiSciGeek]

Amazing results honestly! This is what I'm trying to achieve!

[@DylanSpitz]

You can do it! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@bwss101]

All these images were so beautiful!

[@DylanSpitz]

Glad you think so! Thanks for watching, I appreciate it.

[@AJ-em2rb]

1:55 i've got you beat! my zooms cover all the way from 12mm to 840mm (equivalents; 8-400 apsc + 1.4x teleconverter). my primes though are just 27, 50, 85, and 120mm equivalents with the bulk of my shots on 27 and 50mm equivalents (8 lenses total, rarely more than 2 at a time, very very happy with my kit).

[@michivanhalen7086]

Amazing! I feel the same about the fuji 27 f2,8 (equals for about 40mm ff)

[@DylanSpitz]

Yesss that’s a great little lens 👌

[@RobinParmar]

Stumbled upon this video after watching other malarkey about how one has to have this special camera or that expensive lens. No, all you need is a 35mm! Well, most of the time. I appreciate your natural manner and insight.

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks so much for watching! Appreciate you taking the time and for the kind words. Cheers!

[@RandomThinker10]

You are spot on. Was stuck using the standard 24-70 + 70-200 combo for my professional work, but have been jumping into the world of prime lenses recently. Picked up a 18mm prime and a 45mm prime from samyang. Been eyeing the compact 35mm 2.8 lens from samyang for a while and I think after this video I’m ready to make the purchase. It’s been so much fun using primes and has really refreshed my passion for photography.

[@DylanSpitz]

Happy that you found it relatable! Sounds like you've got a nice kit going. Glad you've found your groove with it.

[@JoshSherrill]

Loved the video! If anybody is looking for a cheaper alternative to something like the X100 series, I highly recommend the Canon M200 + 22mm F/2 lens. Can be had on the used market for ~$400, smaller than the X100, faster lens that is arguably sharper and it's an overall smaller package. It gets you that 35mm equivalent and is cheap/small enough that you don't mind carrying it around all the time which leads to capturing everyday moments more and improving your craft (as pointed out in the video). It's been a great backup to my X-T4 when I don't feel like thinking about lens selection, film recipes, focal length or standing out with a big camera when taking photos of my kid.

[@slothsarecool]

ahh you’re the cinestill in the forest guy 😊, I remember that photo!

[@DylanSpitz]

BRB making myself a shirt with that title on it 😂

[@Andrew_McNeil]

I really resonate with this sentiment - wish I discovered 35mm much sooner on my photography journey. Cheers!

[@DylanSpitz]

You and me both! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@jamesHiggin5]

A photography channel with a modular synth in the background. I take it you enjoy photography more than going down the modular rabbit hole, I certainly do :)

[@DylanSpitz]

That is QUITE debatable actually, haha. Like choosing a favorite child...🤣

[@images7]

Loved it. I'm going to try the 35mm only for a while.

[@DylanSpitz]

Have fun! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@christopherleecowan]

I agree I picked up a 35mm this spring and it really makes me work and think about what I need to do to get the image. It's not such a point and shoot lens.

[@DylanSpitz]

Absolutely!

[@xqrtnek]

I rarely post comments on KZbin. Really liked the video, you earned yourself a new subscriber, thanks for the awesome content!

[@DylanSpitz]

Well I feel honored that you broke your silence to leave such a kind comment! Thanks for being here. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andrew_nayes]

I really enjoyed this video! At 5:24 I was intrigued by what you call "a very normal human perspective", and I tried to look it up the human Field of View. According to an article on PetaPixel, the equivalent focal length of a (single) human eye is 24mm FF (84 degree FOV), and the aperture of the human eye is apparently measured to be f/3.5. However, "Studies have measured the cone of visual attention and found it to be about 55 degrees wide." 55degrees FOV is approximately a 35mm lens in FF when only measuring horizontally. So I guess, what we would consider a normal human perspective concerns our visual attention, which is interesting, because our actual human perspective is very much wider than this, having two eyes stereoscopically stitching together a set of 24mm lenses. But obviously, this stereo 2x 84 degree FOV perspective doesn't feel so natural. Unfortunately I have not found any studies into what kind of aspect ratio best correlate to the human perspective. Somehow, after reading about this and thinking about it, it feels like the most natural human perspective is probably an ultrawide lens, BUT where everything outside the 55 degree FOV (like a 35mm lens) is severely blurred and vignetted. This would reflect both the actual field of view of human perception (steroscopic 2x 84 degree FOV) as well as the field of view of human visual attention (55 degree FOV). Thinking about it, a picture with a rectangular frame with very abrupt frame edges does not feel like the normal human perspective. But obviously it is more practical to present art in rectangles.

[@andrew_nayes]

Another interesting thing: At 5:33 you show a lot of (amazing and beautiful!!) photos shot in vertical portrait mode. This presents a problem for your motivation of shooting according to the "natural human perspective". Because we have two eyes, our perspective is naturally wider than taller, and that is why the field of view of our visual attention seems to fit the perspective of a 35mm lens in FF (55° horizontal and 38° vertical). For a photo taken in vertical portrait mode, however, the 35mm lens will be too wide, as it will have a vertical FOV of 55°. This is 17° more than the natural human perspective. If you aim for having a natural field of view, it seems that you should shoot your horizontal photos in landscape mode using a 35mm lens, but you should shoot your vertical photos in portrait mode with a 50mm lens! A 50mm lens (in portrait mode) have a vertical field of view of 39.6°, which approximate the "natural human perspective".

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks for all the info - you’re quite the investigator haha! Appreciate you taking the time to watch and for the kind words. Lots of food for thought there on the human perspective topic - interesting to ponder. Cheers!

[@Humungojerry]

it’s impossible to really recreate how the human eye sees. maybe one eye has a 55mm FOV but with both eyes open, which is how we normally see we have almost 180 degrees…but our perception is very different to a photographic frame

[@andrew_nayes]

​@@Humungojerry Well.. if we actually had a stereoscopic field of view of 180°, then the very least amount of FOV each eye would have would be 90°, and then each eye would have to be aligned without any overlap. Obviously, if one eye has 84° FOV, as the article stated, then our stereoscopic FOV is at the very widest 168°. As there is much overlap between each eye's FOV, our stereoscopic FOV will be smaller than 168°. (You write "maybe one eye has a 55mm FOV". I don't know if this is a typo (you say millimetre instead of degres), and if you misread my summary of the science. According to the article, and as I write above, the human eye has a FOV of 84°, while the "visual attention" of our stereoscopic perspective amounts to a FOV of 55°. These are measured in degrees, not in millimetre. A 55° FOV equals a 35mm lens on FF.) But, as I wrote, and as the PetaPixel article highlighted, we apparently have a "visual attention", which will make us inattentive to anything beyond a 55° field of view. It is this visual attention that is taken to be "the human perspective", and why we say that a 35mm (horizontally) or a 50mm (vertically) correspond to the most natural human perspective. I suggested that to attain a more truthful human perspective (and not just visual attention), one ought to photograph with an ultrawide lens, but blur and distort anything besides the center 55°. The center 55° would correspond to our visual attention, which is in focus and sharp, while the rest of the picture corresponds to the wider visual capacity of of eyes, which would be blurry/inattentive. I think this will be the more accurate representation of "the human perspective".

[@Humungojerry]

@@andrew_nayes that’s why i said “almost”

[@TJ-po9ol]

A lot of movies have been filmed mainly with 20-22mm on S35, which is roughly 28-30mm FF (depending on film/sensor size).

[@AndysCuts]

Bro, i really love your photography style. Amazing stuff

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you so much 🫶

[@nerwin]

Man I feel you so much on this and I struggle with it still haha. I've tried 28, 35, 40 and 50 and I can't decide which one I prefer. They are all good in their own right but I really enjoy seeing photographs that are taken with a 35mm equivalent, there's something about them that I like as if it tells the story better but when I go try, I just can't see to connect with it and its possible that its not the focal length for me or not yet anyways but I keep trying. Great video!

[@DylanSpitz]

Everyone has different preferences for sure, I think if you find yourself feeling confident with a lens and it doesn’t feel like it gets in your way - that’s the one to go with!

[@nerwin]

@@DylanSpitz Have you ever felt the same way about a particular camera before? Like it gets in the way more than you'd like kinda thing?

[@DylanSpitz]

Definitely. One example is how I had to stop using longer telephoto focal lengths in particular because I’d always feel like “ohh I can get a closer view of that” but then never connected with the photos because it’s not how I saw the moment or remember it. They felt heartless to me. It’s all a journey of trial and error and learning about yourself, really…and that’s half the fun. 📸

[@nerwin]

@@DylanSpitz I kinda feel that about macro photography. I keep buying and selling my macro lenses, not really sure why. Sometimes I feel like I am influenced by others - "This is a MUST HAVE lens" or "5 reasons you need to buy this lens" and it gets in your mind like hmmm okay, maybe I do need this but after a while you realize you don't connect that much with it. Its weird man.

[@WidePhotographs]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the 35mm. I started with a 50mm and plan on buying a 24mm as my second lens.

[@DylanSpitz]

Those will compliment each other nicely! Enjoy 👍

[@Chromatomic]

I need to get back to this honestly, something I’ve noticed is my work over time becoming less experimental and candid and as my lenses got bigger and more professional I was less likely to use them to just document short trips or friends or travel.

[@DylanSpitz]

I totally feel that. Well said.

[@aravindvinayakan]

The vast majority of my images have been taken on 35mm equivalent lenses. I've gotten so comfortable with it that I know how many steps forward or backwards I need to take to compose a shot just how I want it, before I even look through the viewfinder. At this point it's kind of a problem, I feel weird shooting on anything other than 35!

[@DylanSpitz]

I totally get that! I kind of feel the same way 😅

[@spidermann5000]

If i had to choose i'd go 40mm. 35 feels to wide at times and 50 to long. 40 can do both i think but id rather use 35 then 50. Sometimes i really have to work and think to put it in frame, get close or find an intersting angle but thats the fun part. Another thing is shooting people with relative short focal lenght gives me a better chance of interacting with the people. If we are on good terms they sometimes even let me show them what minimum focus distance really really meand, which always ends up with hilarious results.

[@DylanSpitz]

40 can definitely give you a similar constraint and shooting experience! Down to preference at that point for sure. Same goes for 28mm - also love that perspective. If there was a 28-40 1.4 it would be eternally mounted on my camera 😂

[@spidermann5000]

@@DylanSpitz Shut up and take my mone!🤣😂🤑

[@DylanSpitz]

Hahahaha

[@mariopvaldes]

love this content, very inspiring and motivating!

[@DylanSpitz]

Glad you enjoy it! More on the way 🤘

[@nasseral-rawi1353]

Killer work Dylan. I would love to see some more C4Ds though.

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks Nasser! Lol you and those darn c4ds

[@nasseral-rawi1353]

It just makes the photo pop!

[@SlickyJeffy23]

You and I share the same philosophy in photog, love this vid! Subbed

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks for the sub! Glad it’s relatable for ya 🫶

[@SpirusFilms]

28, 35, and 40 (especially on a crop sensor) is my go-to range

[@DylanSpitz]

yessss

[@duprebushnell2488]

man as a Seattle resident, theres soooo much to shoot in Eastern Washington its insane..i need to get out there especially the Gorge

[@DylanSpitz]

Dude everyone from back home in the Midwest thinks the entire state is Seattle rain and mood🤣

[@duprebushnell2488]

@@DylanSpitz lmfao they are sadly mistaken!! amazing shots as always my friend!

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks so much!

[@mariusrichardmuller6726]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I can totally relate with your thoughts. :)

[@DylanSpitz]

So glad to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@christianpetersen1782]

Wow Dylan! Another excellent video. I’m loving your colours here. I have a 26mm 2.8 on my (full frame) Z7 as a walkabout combo. With the flick of a switch I can change to APC-S crop to 40mm, but sadly don’t have the colour toning skills. Do you think it’s even possible to get that Porta film look with colour editing a Nikon Raw?

[@DylanSpitz]

Ah, thank you so much for the kind words! Really happy that you're enjoying the videos. That's a very handy walkabout combo you've got there. To answer your question: yes, you can get very close with the proper processing on a Nikon raw file. I actually just released my first ever Lightroom preset system and I'm quite proud of it. One of the looks is inspired by all of the Portra that I've shot over the past few years. If you're interested, the link to them is in the description of this video. Cheers!

[@christianpetersen1782]

Thanks very much Dylan.

[@ivanmoreno137]

Oh shoot Dylan posted 🎉🎉🎉

[@DylanSpitz]

🕺💃

[@Pysees868]

Your work is beautiful.

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you very much!

[@Matt-Sh]

That picture of the tree in California oh my god what a shot. Was that on Film, or how else did you get that look??

[@DylanSpitz]

ahhh thank you! That was actually on my old sony camera I had at the time, the A7RIII. Shot in raw and edited in Lightroom to taste. Incredible conditions that day, hard to go wrong!

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

I had a very similar experience. I ever started to hate on blurry background images 😂 . But 35mm is definitely my go to focal length now ❤. Great video man!

[@DylanSpitz]

Thanks man! Yesss 35 all day

[@RandomRouletteFun]

Beautiful video (and stills)

[@DylanSpitz]

Thank you very much! Appreciate the love.

[@tyinkwell4731]

really good video , I enjoyed every second of it . I think I'm going to pick up A 35mm prime as well

[@DylanSpitz]

Appreciate that, have fun!

[@futc.photography]

Making me wanna get a 35mm lens 🥴😂 This is such a good video!! Love the color grading on your footage as well 👌

[@DylanSpitz]

I'm not going to say you need one but....you kind of need one. 🤣

[@george_edward_]

love the shot at 6:12 👌

[@DylanSpitz]

Ahh thank you!

[@RobtJMooreII]

I love that you live in the Northwest. I'm not a native, but I was born here!

[@DylanSpitz]

It’s beautiful out here! I’m from the Midwest, been out here for about two years. Been enjoying the change of scenery.

[@RobtJMooreII]

I'm not well travelled (We're flying to London tomorrow!), but I do love my Pacific Northwest.@@DylanSpitz

[@DylanSpitz]

@@RobtJMooreII enjoy the trip!

[@wheelthegamer]

SHOOOOOT!!!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAMERA WAS USED TO FILM THIS VIDEO!!! THE VIDEO QUALITY IS CRAZY!!!!

[@DylanSpitz]

Hahaha just my trusty ol A7Siii

[@cookedbymike]

bro i LOVE the 35mm

[@RolandsDad]

Read the title, immediately thought to myself "bet it's 35mm." Heh. Same bro.

[@DylanSpitz]

Haha, nailed it 🎯

[@gabrielbrown28]

Ngl, at :34 I had to look around to see where the knocking was coming from before realizing it was music lol

[@DylanSpitz]

Hahahaha love it

[@mikeybjones]

That eastern Washington summer heat and the back sweat tho 🥵 Also, the backyard garden 😩😩😩 So wholesome.

[@DylanSpitz]

Hahahaha dude if you look closely you can see a mosquito on my back actively murdering me. It was secretly a brutally terrible hike with tons of ticks and rattlesnakes but I was trying to be positive 🤣

[@renatobfa]

I'm undecided about the 28mm and 35mm (i'm also on fuij, so, it would be between the new 18mm f1.4 or 23mm f1.4). It seems to me that the 28mm is so great already that I could crop the images to my liking to a 35mm fov equivalent with no issues. But at the same time, If I crop all the images, its better to just get the 35mm. I've watched some videos on both and they don't seem too far apart. Hard decision. I already have the 33mm f1.4 and the 27mm f2.8, both great.

[@DylanSpitz]

If I was going to carry multiple lenses like you are - just get the 28! The 35 is great for if you don't want to haul anything else around, though.

[@JakeSimpsonVisuals]

I just want to know how you color everything because, damn

[@DylanSpitz]

Appreciate that! Takes me forever so I’m glad it’s worth the work 🫡

[@xTeaZeR]

Hey man, I just discovered your channel and I really enjoyed watching your videos! The shots in the intro are insane, love this style! Is it also shot on 35mm focal lenght? Is this an anamorphic lens?

[@DylanSpitz]

Hey! Thanks for the kind words, really appreciate that. The video in this episode was all shot on the Sony 24-70 2.8 GM ii. I shoot with my preferred aspect ratio guidelines on in camera and then just add the bars in post to match. Hope that helps 🤘

[@paxpaxman4423]

I have never had a 35mm prime and it's wearing on me. WIll change that soon

[@DylanSpitz]

I’m in support of your new endeavor, haha

[@alex.muntean]

Great video. ❤

[@DylanSpitz]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cameraprepper7938]

There is a reason why 35mm are so wide used by many and why millions of compact Cameras have a 35, 38 or 40mm Lens, it is a more "normal" and pleasing perspective for the human eye than fx a 50mm or 28mm or wider Lens, I use any focal length, but NOT 50mm !!! I also like a 35mm a lot, but if I had to go to a desert Island and only have one Lens, then it has to be a short tele macro Lens.

[@PhotoRam405]

My favorite lens is definitely a 35mm

[@DylanSpitz]

Can’t go wrong 👌