85mm lens field of view
The portrait range. It compresses the background, isolates a face from its surroundings and lets the camera stand back from the subject, which relaxes people. Close-ups, interviews and product detail.
| Sensor | Horizontal | Vertical | Diagonal | Same angle on full frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame (36 mm) | 23.9° | 13.6° | 27.3° | 85mm |
| Super 35 (24.89 mm) | 16.7° | 9.4° | 19.1° | 123mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | 15.7° | 8.9° | 18.0° | 130mm |
| Micro 4/3 (17.3 mm) | 11.6° | 6.6° | 13.3° | 177mm |
| Super 16 (12.52 mm) | 8.4° | 4.7° | 9.7° | 244mm |
| Distance | Full frame | Super 35 | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m | 0.42 × 0.24 m | 0.29 × 0.16 m | 0.20 × 0.11 m |
| 2 m | 0.85 × 0.48 m | 0.59 × 0.33 m | 0.41 × 0.23 m |
| 3 m | 1.27 × 0.71 m | 0.88 × 0.49 m | 0.61 × 0.34 m |
| 5 m | 2.12 × 1.19 m | 1.46 × 0.82 m | 1.02 × 0.57 m |
| 10 m | 4.24 × 2.38 m | 2.93 × 1.65 m | 2.04 × 1.14 m |
| Shot size | Full frame | Super 35 | Micro 4/3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme close-up | 0.5 m | 0.7 m | 1.0 m |
| Close-up | 1.3 m | 1.8 m | 2.6 m |
| Medium close-up | 2.1 m | 3.0 m | 4.4 m |
| Medium shot | 3.6 m | 5.2 m | 7.4 m |
| Cowboy | 5.0 m | 7.3 m | 10.5 m |
| Full shot | 8.4 m | 12.1 m | 17.5 m |
| Wide shot | 16.8 m | 24.3 m | 34.9 m |
Camera to a standing adult, 16:9. A starting mark, not a rule.
- 23.9°
- 13.6°
- 27.3°
1.27 m × 0.71 m
| Extreme close-up | 0.50 m |
| Close-up | 1.26 m |
| Medium close-up | 2.10 m |
| Medium shot | 3.57 m |
| Cowboy | 5.04 m |
| Full shot | 8.40 m |
| Wide shot | 16.8 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 85mm lens?
In a 16:9 frame, a 85mm lens sees 23.9° horizontally on full frame, 16.7° on Super 35, 15.7° on APS-C and 11.6° on Micro 4/3. The diagonal figure lens makers quote is larger: 27.3° on full frame.
How far away should I stand for a medium shot on a 85mm?
About 3.6 metres on full frame and 5.2 metres on Super 35, for a waist-up shot of an adult in 16:9. For a close-up, about 1.3 and 1.8 metres.
What is a 85mm on Super 35 equivalent to on full frame?
It frames like a 123mm on full frame. Going the other way, a 85mm on full frame frames like a 59mm 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 85mm?
1.27 metres wide on full frame and 0.88 on Super 35, in a 16:9 frame.
See the 85mm in the room
Put a camera with a 85mm on a lighting plan and it draws exactly this angle, so you know what is in frame before anybody rigs.