35mm lens field of view
Close to how a room looks when you stand in it. It works for almost everything: a medium shot of two people, a wide in a small location, a close-up you can get near. Many films are shot mostly on this range.
| Sensor | Horizontal | Vertical | Diagonal | Same angle on full frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame (36 mm) | 54.4° | 32.3° | 61.1° | 35mm |
| Super 35 (24.89 mm) | 39.1° | 22.6° | 44.4° | 51mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | 37.1° | 21.4° | 42.1° | 54mm |
| Micro 4/3 (17.3 mm) | 27.8° | 15.8° | 31.7° | 73mm |
| Super 16 (12.52 mm) | 20.3° | 11.5° | 23.2° | 101mm |
| Distance | Full frame | Super 35 | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m | 1.03 × 0.58 m | 0.71 × 0.40 m | 0.49 × 0.28 m |
| 2 m | 2.06 × 1.16 m | 1.42 × 0.80 m | 0.99 × 0.56 m |
| 3 m | 3.09 × 1.74 m | 2.13 × 1.20 m | 1.48 × 0.83 m |
| 5 m | 5.14 × 2.89 m | 3.56 × 2.00 m | 2.47 × 1.39 m |
| 10 m | 10.29 × 5.79 m | 7.11 × 4.00 m | 4.94 × 2.78 m |
| Shot size | Full frame | Super 35 | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme close-up | 0.2 m | 0.3 m | 0.4 m |
| Close-up | 0.5 m | 0.7 m | 1.1 m |
| Medium close-up | 0.9 m | 1.2 m | 1.8 m |
| Medium shot | 1.5 m | 2.1 m | 3.1 m |
| Cowboy | 2.1 m | 3.0 m | 4.3 m |
| Full shot | 3.5 m | 5.0 m | 7.2 m |
| Wide shot | 6.9 m | 10.0 m | 14.4 m |
Camera to a standing adult, 16:9. A starting mark, not a rule.
- 54.4°
- 32.3°
- 61.1°
3.09 m × 1.74 m
| Extreme close-up | 0.21 m |
| Close-up | 0.52 m |
| Medium close-up | 0.86 m |
| Medium shot | 1.47 m |
| Cowboy | 2.07 m |
| Full shot | 3.46 m |
| Wide shot | 6.91 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 35mm lens?
In a 16:9 frame, a 35mm lens sees 54.4° horizontally on full frame, 39.1° on Super 35, 37.1° on APS-C and 27.8° on Micro 4/3. The diagonal figure lens makers quote is larger: 61.1° on full frame.
How far away should I stand for a medium shot on a 35mm?
About 1.5 metres on full frame and 2.1 metres on Super 35, for a waist-up shot of an adult in 16:9. For a close-up, about 0.5 and 0.7 metres.
What is a 35mm on Super 35 equivalent to on full frame?
It frames like a 51mm on full frame. Going the other way, a 35mm on full frame frames like a 24mm 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 35mm?
3.09 metres wide on full frame and 2.13 on Super 35, in a 16:9 frame.
See the 35mm in the room
Put a camera with a 35mm on a lighting plan and it draws exactly this angle, so you know what is in frame before anybody rigs.