135mm lens field of view
A telephoto. It stacks the background up behind the subject, throws it out of focus and lets the camera be far away. Used for tight close-ups from a distance, sport, wildlife and the compressed look of a long lens.
| Sensor | Horizontal | Vertical | Diagonal | Same angle on full frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame (36 mm) | 15.2° | 8.6° | 17.4° | 135mm |
| Super 35 (24.89 mm) | 10.5° | 5.9° | 12.1° | 195mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | 9.9° | 5.6° | 11.4° | 207mm |
| Micro 4/3 (17.3 mm) | 7.3° | 4.1° | 8.4° | 281mm |
| Super 16 (12.52 mm) | 5.3° | 3.0° | 6.1° | 388mm |
| Distance | Full frame | Super 35 | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m | 0.27 × 0.15 m | 0.18 × 0.10 m | 0.13 × 0.07 m |
| 2 m | 0.53 × 0.30 m | 0.37 × 0.21 m | 0.26 × 0.14 m |
| 3 m | 0.80 × 0.45 m | 0.55 × 0.31 m | 0.38 × 0.22 m |
| 5 m | 1.33 × 0.75 m | 0.92 × 0.52 m | 0.64 × 0.36 m |
| 10 m | 2.67 × 1.50 m | 1.84 × 1.04 m | 1.28 × 0.72 m |
| Shot size | Full frame | Super 35 | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme close-up | 0.8 m | 1.2 m | 1.7 m |
| Close-up | 2.0 m | 2.9 m | 4.2 m |
| Medium close-up | 3.3 m | 4.8 m | 6.9 m |
| Medium shot | 5.7 m | 8.2 m | 11.8 m |
| Cowboy | 8.0 m | 11.6 m | 16.6 m |
| Full shot | 13.3 m | 19.3 m | 27.7 m |
| Wide shot | 26.7 m | 38.6 m | 55.5 m |
Camera to a standing adult, 16:9. A starting mark, not a rule.
- 15.2°
- 8.6°
- 17.4°
0.80 m × 0.45 m
| Extreme close-up | 0.80 m |
| Close-up | 2.00 m |
| Medium close-up | 3.33 m |
| Medium shot | 5.67 m |
| Cowboy | 8.00 m |
| Full shot | 13.3 m |
| Wide shot | 26.7 m |
For a standing adult, from the conventional height each size holds. A starting mark, not a rule.
What is the field of view of a 135mm lens?
In a 16:9 frame, a 135mm lens sees 15.2° horizontally on full frame, 10.5° on Super 35, 9.9° on APS-C and 7.3° on Micro 4/3. The diagonal figure lens makers quote is larger: 17.4° on full frame.
How far away should I stand for a medium shot on a 135mm?
About 5.7 metres on full frame and 8.2 metres on Super 35, for a waist-up shot of an adult in 16:9. For a close-up, about 2.0 and 2.9 metres.
What is a 135mm on Super 35 equivalent to on full frame?
It frames like a 195mm on full frame. Going the other way, a 135mm on full frame frames like a 93mm on Super 35. Only the angle matches: depth of field and perspective follow the real focal length and distance.
How wide is the frame at 3 metres with a 135mm?
0.80 metres wide on full frame and 0.55 on Super 35, in a 16:9 frame.
See the 135mm in the room
Put a camera with a 135mm on a lighting plan and it draws exactly this angle, so you know what is in frame before anybody rigs.