What focal length do I need on a Canon 60D to frame a 2 ft × 2 ft area from 2 ft away?
Asked 7/26/2021
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I’m using a Canon 60D and want to photograph an area about 2 feet by 2 feet while the camera is about 2 feet from the subject. I was considering lenses around 35mm or 50mm, but I’m not sure how to choose the right focal length. What focal length would give roughly that field of view on a 60D?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
4y ago
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A focal length equal to the short dimension of the sensor or film frame will produce an image that can (nominally) capture a square that is the same height and width as the distance from the camera.
For example, 35mm film (or a "full frame" sensor) is 24mm high and a 24mm lens will fit a 1mx1m square at a distance of 1m. However because 35mm film frame is (typically) 36mm wide, it will capture 1.5m in the other direction at 1m distance.
The only commonly available native square format is 6x6 medium format film. This is nominally 56mm x 56mm. So a 56mm lens would capture a 1m x 1m square at 1m. Such lenses are not common. 55mm lenses have been manufactured but tend to command a price premium in the market.
The Canon EOS 60D has a sensor size of 22.3 x 14.9mm. A 14.9mm lens will capture a 1m x 1m square at 1m. However, such lenses are not widely available. 15mm will be slightly long. 14mm will be slightly wide. These focal lengths tend to command a price premium.
There is a Field of View calculator here.
A 1:1 relationship between focal length and sensor or film frame dimension has historically been exploited in street photography. On 35mm film, 35mm and 24mm lenses make zone focusing easier because the relationship of size of subjects to the frame lines in the viewfinder facilitates estimation of distance...when the subjects are of known size of course which people and urban furniture usually are.
Originally by user95237. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user95237
4y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On a Canon 60D, you’d want about a 15mm lens to frame a square area roughly 2 ft × 2 ft from 2 ft away.
Why: the 60D’s APS-C sensor is about 22.3 × 14.9mm. To fit a square whose height equals the camera-to-subject distance, the focal length is approximately equal to the sensor’s short dimension, so about 14.9mm. In practice, that means a 15mm or around 16mm lens is the right ballpark.
A 35mm or 50mm lens would be much too narrow for this framing at that distance.
A few notes:
- Distance is measured from the sensor plane, not the front of the lens.
- Real lenses can vary slightly from the simple geometry, especially at close focus.
- The easiest real-world check is to use a zoom lens, set up the shot, and see what focal length gives the framing you want.
So: aim for about 15–16mm on your 60D.
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