A zoom lens is a wonderful thing. It gives you the creative freedom to compose a scene as you see fit. However, when not used properly, a zoom lens can ruin an otherwise pleasing image. For example, when photographing a building, beginning photographers have a tendency to get as close as possible and then zoom out to get the entire building into the frame. This can lead to distortion because parallel lines will appear to converge, as shown in the following illustration.
Images will be distorted if you use the wrong focal length.
Move away from the scene and zoom in to capture an image with no distortion.
Choose the Right Focal Length
- Examine the scene through the viewfinder or LCD monitor.
As you preview the scene, pay attention to vertical lines. If they appear to be converging at the top of the viewfinder, back away from the scene.
If you angle the camera to capture an image of a tall building, your image will be distorted as the lines at the top of the picture will converge. This distortion can be desirable for artistic images. However, if you want a true rendition of the scene, back up until the entire building is visible in the viewfinder.
- Zoom in to achieve the desired composition.
- Shoot the picture.
