Danielargent wrote:.

What's the difference between a 28mm & 35mm lens?.

I'm not really sure what you're after here, but 28mm is more wideangle than 35mm.Check this link where you can zoom in/out and compare different focal lengths..

Http://www.tamron.com/...es/learning_center/tools/focal-length-comparison.php.

Http://sebastianfoto.se/..

It's not just that the 28mm is a wider lens. It also goes to how you compose a photograph which takes into account the distance from your subject and how much you want the subject to fill the frame..

The best way to research what a lens can do is to read all you can in the photography magazines, paying careful attention to the lens used for each image. Then decide which images look more visually pleasing and matches your vision. That's what you should consider in which you're more comfortable with..

Personally I find 35mm at the wide end of the zoom to be boring for a number of reasons. First of all, there is nothing special in deciding which camera to buy because 98% of the cameras available have the same wide end of the zoom. I prefer extremes and my vision is a better match with a wider lens. I prefer a 24mm at the wide end of the zoom. That's why I use the CoolPix 8400. I just recently picked up the Canon SD800 because it's one of the smallest body cameras that has a 28mm lens at the wide end of the zoom..

So the best thing you can do is visit a store that has various cameras you can try and see what you're comfortable with. And don't be swayed by the sales people trying to force a decision from you. Until you're more experienced, I do recommend purchasing from a store where you can go and ask questions..

Danielargent wrote:.

What's the difference between a 28mm & 35mm lens?.

Larry Bermanhttp://BermanGraphics.com..

A wider lens has a wider field of view at any given distance. This can be very useful, say, when you are in a small square and want to include the entire facade of a building on the far side in the frame. Personally I don't care for perspectives much wider than 35 mm, beyond that tends to look unnatural to me. Many people, though, prefer the wider perspective. That doesn't stop me from using the wider lens to shoot the whole cathedral in one frame when touristing, though..

Will PrattUniv Nevada, Las Vegas..

Very graphic description of FOV differences of various FLs. Regards.

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angle_of_viewhttp://www.kevinwilley.com/l3_topic03.htmMy Galleries:http://webs.ono.com/igonzalezbordes/index.html..

Igb wrote:.

Very graphic description of FOV differences of various FLs. Regards.

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angle_of_viewhttp://www.kevinwilley.com/l3_topic03.htm.

Hi,.

I read this in the second link "As a matter of reference, the human eye (minus our peripheral vision) sees with a focal length of about 50mm. So, if our eyes were camera lenses, they would be 50mm lenses. This is why a 50mm lens is considered to be a normal lens. Lenses with a focal length shorter than 50mm are considered wide-angle, and lenses with a focal length greater than 50mm are considered telephoto.".

I think he repeating a well known myth that the human eye is similar to a 50 mm lens on a 36 x 24 mm negative when shot with a 35 mm camera with a 50 mm lens on it. I wish I could get my hands on who ever started this myth....

Now, go and look in a mirror and work out how a human eye about a little under an inch in diametre could possibly have a 50 mm focal length lens in it. That's 50 mm or about 2 inches....

It would be nearer the truth to say that a lot of 35 mm film SLR cameras come with a 50 mm lens on them. Or rather came with it when all you got in th box was a body and a prime lens. And a lot of film cameras didn't, btw..

FWIW, I'll add that the other standard is to have the focal length of the usual or normal lens the same as the diagonal of the negative or CCD..

Regards, David..

My wife stepped backward as far as she could and took this photo with a SD800 IS:http://www.alyudesign.com/canon_sd800.html.

The difference between 28 and 35mm is quite noticeable!.

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window.

Travel light: http://www.alyudesign.com/photo.html..

It would help enormously if you would put your question in context..

Are you asking about field of view?.

Are you asking about depth of field?.

Are you asking regarding different camera specifications?.

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

I'm asking about whether I should get the canon sd850 or the 800. the only difference is that one has a 35mm lens & one has a 28mm lens & I don't know which one is better. it's the newer model that has the 35mm lens so did they release a camera with a 28mm lens & it flopped so they went back to the norm?? I don't know!..

I bought the SD800 a few weeks ago and love the wide angle. It's not a flop or replacement because Canon is screwed up in their model numbering. Otherwise the SD1000 would be a better camera than both..

You have to decide which lens suits your vision, no one else can decide for you. And forget about all that technical stuff. It's about having equipment that matches your vision so you can create compelling images with it.Larry Bermanhttp://BermanGraphics.com..

Thanks for your help. it certainly seems as though the sd800 is the way to go. what confuses me is if it's such a better lens to use, why have canon gone back to a 35mm lens on the brand new sd850?..

Danielargent wrote:.

I'm asking about whether I should get the canon sd850 or the 800. theonly difference is that one has a 35mm lens & one has a 28mm lens & idon't know which one is better. it's the newer model that has the35mm lens so did they release a camera with a 28mm lens & it floppedso they went back to the norm?? I don't know!.

They are offering you a choice, some people like to start from 35 mm and some from 28 mm. Look where they end; one's 140 and the other's 105..

A lot of people - I am one of them - find 28 mm a problem _at times_. It has a wide FoV but that means it takes in a lot of tarmac or mud/grass when the camera is level. And it has to be level or else you get converging verticals and that means messing around with editors and doing a lot of cropping once the verticals are (fairly) OK..

Would you like to see an example of this problem? Better still, would you like to see an example of the cure being as bad? (Take care the example is extreme for demo purposes... ).

Regards, David..

David Hughes wrote:.

A lot of people - I am one of them - find 28 mm a problem _at times_.It has a wide FoV but that means it takes in a lot of tarmac ormud/grass when the camera is level. And it has to be level or elseyou get converging verticals and that means messing around witheditors and doing a lot of cropping once the verticals are (fairly)OK..

You can always use your feet to get rid of the tarmac or, more simply, ... zoom in..

On the other hand you can neither use your feet nor zoom out with a 35 mm lens when you are taking pictures with a group of friends in a restaurant, bar, your home or whatever and your back is already against the wall..

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

I'm surprised nobody came up with the 'the difference is 7mm' answer..

All good information provided though...

Chris Elliott wrote:.

David Hughes wrote:.

A lot of people - I am one of them - find 28 mm a problem _at times_.It has a wide FoV but that means it takes in a lot of tarmac ormud/grass when the camera is level. And it has to be level or elseyou get converging verticals and that means messing around witheditors and doing a lot of cropping once the verticals are (fairly)OK..

You can always use your feet to get rid of the tarmac or, moresimply, ... zoom in..

I see, so buy a zoom with 28 mm wide angle and then zoom in to (let's make a wild guess) 40 mm or so. I hadn't thought of that....

On the other hand you can neither use your feet nor zoom out with a35 mm lens when you are taking pictures with a group of friends in arestaurant, bar, your home or whatever and your back is alreadyagainst the wall..

Really? And the 28 mm lens won't distort faces etc? So how come all my portrait lenses have been 85 or 90 or else even longer on the MF SLR's? OK so both yours trully and the makers have a lot to learn... Even so in that situation I'd walk a bit, maybe even to the side or where ever I can get to use the longer part of the zoom. Feet are nature's way of telling us we don't need massive zooms, btw..

I stand by what I said about the camera being level to avoid distortion in landscapes or cityscapes or even in the woods if you want the trees growing properly and not all leaning over towards the centre of the frame. 28m is where it starts getting interesting for photographers and that means difficult for beginners..

Regards, David..