So, if you’re doing YouTube, or even interview-style, the 35mm will create a more personal, realistic, and comfortable vibe. It actually feels like the same focal length that you’d have if you were talking to a person. With this one, the camera still has a bit of closeness. Nor does it feel too cinematic, which you might start to get with the 50mm. The camera plays at a distance that’s not too far away. I actually think this is probably one of the best focal points for doing the YouTube “talk to camera” format. Now, let’s jump to the 35mm, which is going to give you a little bit more of that cinematic comfort we’re all used to seeing.ģ5mm The 35mm’s focal length creates a comfortable distance between the subject and audience. So, if you want a little bit of an intimate, somewhat obscure, vlog-style flavor, the 16mm is the one for you. As a result, you don’t need to constantly check the monitor because you know this area is in frame.
It’s also a really good focal length to guarantee you’re in frame, which is another reason why it’s one of the most popular lenses-if you’re shooting ultra-wide, you’re definitely in frame. If you’re filming in a cool-looking space, it’s quick, dirty, and great to capture everything. If you’re filming in a small space, its wide-angle allows for more of that space to be captured. So, while the 16mm is good for vlogging, it’s not necessarily the most flattering lens, nor is it the most comfortable to be in front of.īut, it does create an obscure effect. What that does, though, is distort the face. However, shooting on a little bit tighter one-like a 35mm-might be a better choice.Ī lot of us have a microphone on the top of our camera, therefore, the camera is nice and close and so is the microphone. So, if you’re doing an interview or anything with a client, 16mm might not be your friend. And, that means whoever is talking will be really close to the lens.
When people watch TV or movies, they rarely use a wide-angle for the “talk to cameras” because it’s not as flattering.
And, while it’s one of the most common lenses for YouTube, sometimes it’s a bit too wide, creating an obscure angle that’s not commonly seen for “talk to camera” videos. For example, if you’re shooting in a location that doesn’t look good, you’ll have to manipulate the camera position and angle. The 16mm is an ultra wide-angle lens, which can be kind of difficult to shoot with in certain spaces. So, let’s start with the first and most common lens…ġ6mm The 16mm’s ultra wide-angle forces the speaker in close quarters with the lens.Įach focal length that we’ll be talking about has a different vibe and flavor, and with each flavor, a different association.