In recent years, the camera function of mobile phones has been continuously improved, and the wide – angle and telephoto lenses, as important components of mobile phone cameras, have significantly enhanced the shooting capabilities of mobile phones. Understanding the differences between them can help us better utilize the camera function of mobile phones and take more high – quality photos.
1. Definition and principle
1.1 Wide – angle lens
The wide – angle lens of a mobile phone has a relatively short focal length. In the field of mobile phone photography, focal lengths equivalent to about 24 – 35mm are usually considered wide – angle. Its principle is based on the optical principle of lens refraction. Through a specific lens combination, it can make the light rays of a large – range scene converge on the image sensor. For example, in a mobile phone camera, the wide – angle lens is designed to capture a wider field of view. When light enters the wide – angle lens, the lens will diverge the light rays to a certain extent, so that the image sensor can receive light rays from a larger area, thereby presenting a wider scene in the photo.
1.2 Telephoto lens
The telephoto lens of a mobile phone has a relatively long focal length. In mobile phones, focal lengths equivalent to more than 50mm are generally regarded as telephoto. The working principle of the telephoto lens is also based on lens refraction. It uses a more complex lens group structure to make the light rays of distant objects converge on the image sensor after multiple refractions. For instance, some mobile phone telephoto lenses use a multi – lens combination and even a periscope – like structure (such as in some high – end mobile phones). The light rays first enter the lens group, and then through the refraction of multiple lenses and the reflection of prisms (in the case of periscope – type telephoto lenses), they are finally projected onto the image sensor, achieving the effect of magnifying distant objects.
2. Differences in visual effects
2.1 Field of view
The most intuitive difference between wide – angle and telephoto lenses is the field of view.
- Wide – angle lens: The field of view is very wide, usually able to reach about 90° – 120°. It can include a large amount of scenery in the frame. For example, when shooting a group photo of a large number of people or a vast natural landscape such as a mountain range or a large – scale cityscape, the wide – angle lens can easily fit all elements into the picture, giving people a sense of broadness and vastness.
- Telephoto lens: The field of view is relatively narrow. For example, a common 2 – times telephoto lens may have a field of view of about 40° – 50°, and a 5 – times telephoto lens may have a field of view of about 20° – 30°. It focuses on a smaller area, mainly used to capture distant objects or details, such as shooting a bird in a tree from a distance or capturing the facial expressions of actors on a stage.
2.2 Perspective and distortion
- Wide – angle lens: Due to its short focal length, the wide – angle lens has a strong perspective effect. It will make objects closer to the camera appear larger and objects farther away appear smaller, which can create a sense of depth and space in the picture. However, this also brings some distortion problems, especially at the edges of the picture. Straight lines may appear curved, and objects may be stretched. For example, when shooting a building with a wide – angle lens, the building’s edges may seem to bend outwards.
- Telephoto lens: The telephoto lens has a weak perspective effect. It compresses the space between different objects, making the foreground and background seem closer. There is almost no distortion problem. When shooting a long row of trees with a telephoto lens, the trees seem to be closer together than they actually are in reality, and there is no obvious distortion of the tree shapes.
2.3 Magnification
- Wide – angle lens: It is mainly used for shooting large – scale scenes and does not have a significant magnification effect on objects. Instead, it shows a large – scale view of the scene, and the objects in the picture appear relatively small compared to the actual size.
- Telephoto lens: As the name implies, it has a significant magnification effect. It can magnify distant objects, making them appear closer and larger in the picture. For example, using a 5 – times telephoto lens to shoot a distant mountain peak can make the mountain peak clearly visible in the picture, as if it is much closer to the viewer.
3. Differences in shooting scenarios
3.1 Landscape photography
- Wide – angle lens: It is the first choice for landscape photography. Whether it is a majestic mountain range, a vast ocean, or a magnificent city skyline, the wide – angle lens can capture the grandeur and expanse of the scenery. For example, when shooting the sunrise over the sea, the wide – angle lens can include the vast sea, the rising sun, and the colorful sky in one picture, creating a spectacular visual effect.
- Telephoto lens: In landscape photography, the telephoto lens can be used to capture specific elements in the distance, such as a distant lighthouse on the coast or a small temple on a mountain. It can isolate the subject from the complex background and make the picture more focused.
3.2 Portrait photography
- Wide – angle lens: When shooting group portraits, the wide – angle lens can include all the people in the frame and also show the surrounding environment, which is suitable for family gatherings, class reunions, etc. However, when shooting individual portraits, using a wide – angle lens too close may distort the face, making the nose or other parts appear larger. But if used properly, for example, shooting from a lower angle, it can create a sense of stretching the legs and making the figure look more slender.
- Telephoto lens: It is very suitable for individual portrait photography. It can compress the background, blur the background, and highlight the subject. At the same time, it can capture the delicate expressions and details of the character, such as the sparkle in the eyes or the subtle changes in the corners of the mouth. For example, in professional portrait photography, a 85mm or 135mm equivalent telephoto lens is often used.
3.3 Wildlife and sports photography
- Wide – angle lens: In wildlife photography, when the animal is relatively close or in a group, the wide – angle lens can capture the overall situation of the animal’s activities and its surrounding environment. In sports photography, when shooting a large – scale sports event such as a marathon starting scene, the wide – angle lens can show the large – scale gathering of athletes and the enthusiastic atmosphere of the scene.
- Telephoto lens: For wildlife photography, when the animal is far away and it is not possible to approach it directly, the telephoto lens can play a huge role. It can clearly capture the appearance and actions of the animal from a long distance without disturbing the animal. In sports photography, when shooting events such as track and field long – distance running, high – jump, or basketball games, the telephoto lens can capture the key actions of athletes at a long distance, such as the moment when a high – jumper leaps over the crossbar or a basketball player makes a slam dunk.
3.4 Architecture photography
- Wide – angle lens: It is an essential tool for architecture photography. It can show the overall appearance, structure, and scale of the building. Whether it is a towering skyscraper or an ancient and solemn temple, the wide – angle lens can present the building’s grandeur and unique shape. However, attention should be paid to the distortion problem mentioned above, and appropriate shooting angles and post – processing can be used to correct it.
- Telephoto lens: In architecture photography, the telephoto lens can be used to capture the details of the building, such as the exquisite carvings on the eaves, the patterns on the windows, etc. It can also be used to shoot the relationship between different parts of the building from a distance, such as the connection between the main building and the annex building.
4. Technical limitations and challenges
4.1 Wide – angle lens
- Distortion control: As mentioned earlier, wide – angle lenses are prone to distortion, especially barrel distortion at the edges. Mobile phone manufacturers need to optimize through optical design and software algorithms. For example, some mobile phones use special lens coatings and more accurate lens curvature design to reduce optical distortion, and at the same time, use software algorithms to correct distortion during the image processing process.
- Image quality at the edges: In wide – angle lenses, due to the complex optical path of light rays at the edges, it is easy to cause problems such as vignetting (darkening at the edges of the picture) and reduced sharpness. Manufacturers need to improve the performance of the lens group and the image sensor’s ability to receive light rays at the edges to ensure consistent image quality across the entire picture.
4.2 Telephoto lens
- Optical stability: Because the telephoto lens magnifies distant objects, even a slight hand – shake will be magnified in the picture, resulting in blurred images. To solve this problem, mobile phones are equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) or electronic image stabilization (EIS) systems. For example, some high – end mobile phones use a gyroscope – based OIS system, which can quickly detect the shaking of the mobile phone and adjust the position of the lens group to compensate for the shaking, ensuring clear images.
- Limited optical zoom ratio: In the past, the optical zoom ratio of mobile phone telephoto lenses was relatively limited. Although with the development of technology, some mobile phones now support 5 – times or even 10 – times optical zoom, further increasing the optical zoom ratio still faces challenges in terms of space and cost in the mobile phone. For example, increasing the optical zoom ratio requires a more complex lens group structure, which may increase the thickness of the mobile phone camera module, and at the same time, the cost of R & D and production will also increase significantly.
5. How to choose between wide – angle and telephoto in actual shooting
5.1 Determine according to the shooting subject
- If the subject is a large – scale scene such as a landscape, a large – scale building, or a group of people, choose a wide – angle lens. For example, when shooting a large – scale music festival scene, the wide – angle lens can capture the huge crowd, the stage, and the surrounding environment, showing the grand occasion of the music festival.
- If the subject is a distant object, such as a bird in flight, a sports event in progress, or a distant landmark, choose a telephoto lens. For example, when shooting a football game from the stands, the telephoto lens can clearly capture the actions of the players on the field.
5.2 Consider the creative effect
- If you want to create a sense of space, exaggerate the foreground and background relationship, or show a strong visual impact, choose a wide – angle lens. For example, when shooting a street – style photo, using a wide – angle lens to shoot from a low angle can make the buildings on both sides of the street look more towering and create a sense of oppression and space.
- If you want to compress the space, highlight the subject, and create a blurred background effect, choose a telephoto lens. For example, when shooting a flower in a garden, the telephoto lens can focus on the flower, blur the surrounding leaves and background, making the flower more prominent.
5.3 Combine with the shooting environment
- In a narrow space, if you want to shoot the overall situation, a wide – angle lens may be more suitable. For example, when shooting the interior of a small room, the wide – angle lens can include all the furniture and decorations in the room.
- In an open environment where the subject is far away, the telephoto lens is more useful. For example, when shooting a wildlife in a nature reserve, the telephoto lens can help you capture the animal’s appearance and actions without getting too close to disturb it.
In general, the wide – angle and telephoto lenses of mobile phones each have their own characteristics and application scenarios. By understanding their differences and making reasonable choices according to actual shooting needs, we can use the mobile phone camera to take more wonderful and unique photos.
