Types of camera lenses: try it yourself

Aim

You should be able to recognise broad lens categories and understand that focal length changes framing while your shooting position changes perspective.

Do this step by step

1. If you have a zoom lens, photograph the same scene at its widest setting.
2. Without moving your feet, zoom to the middle of the range and take another.
3. Zoom to the longest setting and take a third.
4. Now return to the wide setting and physically move closer until the main subject is similarly sized in the frame.
5. Compare the backgrounds. This shows why zooming and moving are not the same thing.