1. Memorandum
To: Karen Thompson
From: Courtney Drake
Date: June 28, 15
Subject: Technical Definitions and Descriptions
This memorandum describes a wide-angle camera lens in a technical definition and
description. The sections covered in this memo are audience, purpose, and
placement.
Audience
The specific audience is geared toward students obtaining a degree in film who will
need to know what a wide-angle camera lens is and how it works. Students studying
this field will be learning the uses of different types of camera lenses in order to
understand how to capture different types of cinematic elements.
Purpose
In order to be successful in the film industry, it is important to recognize and
understand the different film lenses used in capturing different types of scenes. Each
camera lens and camera angle allows the camera to capture a specific detail of a
scene, while delivering a specific affect to an audience.
Students learning the differences between camera lenses will not be experts and
will need a little guidance in understanding what a wide-angle camera lens is and
how it works. After answering both questions a film studies student should be able
to understand what a wide-angle camera lens is, how it works, and therefore what
the intended affect it has on an audience’s view.
Placement
The technical definition and technical description can be found in the section on
Camera Lenses in a Film Studies textbook. This information can also be found in any
brand specific camera lens User’s Manuals i.e. Canon, Nikon, Samsung, etc. The
User’s Manual for a brand specific camera lens can be found accompanied with a
wide-angle camera lens itself or as a free download off the Internet.

2. Technical Definition: What is a Wide-Angle Camera Lens?
A wide-angle camera lens is a short lens that includes a focal length of 24-35mm,
allowing a standard full-frame 35 mm camera to capture vast landscapes and
backgrounds while keeping everything in focus. Due to a wide-angle lens’ broader
field of view, it has the illusion of creating greater depth perception making objects
appear further apart from each other than they actually may be.
Different Aspects of a Wide-Angle Lens
In order to understand fully what a wide-angle lens is there are a few technical
terms that are in need of definition and is shown in Figure 1.
 Focal Length: the
distance between the
camera lens and focal
point or object.
 Field of View (FOV):
describes the angular
extent of any scene
imaged by a camera. A
wide-angle camera lens
has the ability to widen
the angular extent of the
observable world.
Fig. 1
 Depth Perception: is the visual ability to perceive the distance of an object in
relation to other objects. A wide-angle lens creates an illusion of greater
depth perception while two objects may be closer than the viewer perceives.
 Aperture: an adjustable opening that limits the amount of light passing
through a camera lens. This is an important element when using a wide-angle
camera lens because often a wide-angle shot can cause over or under
exposure due the amount of light and field it allows to pass through.
A wide-angle camera lens is unique because it allows the audience to see more than
the human eye can perceive at any given time. It can encompass an entire mountain
range while keeping most objects in focus. This camera lens is important in creating
a wider FOV, while giving the illusion of greater depth perception. A wide-angle lens
also allows an audience to feel immersed in the subject material displayed on
screen, giving the sense that you’re part of what is happening on screen.
} FOV
Aperture
c
Focal Length
Object
Depth
Perception

3. Technical Description: How Are Wide-Angle Camera Lenses Used?
Wide-angle camera lenses are used to capture a large amount of landscape, unable
to be perceived by the human eye at any one given time. This allows an audience to
take in more of the scene displayed.
Using a Wide-Angle Lens:
1. Subject Distance: it is actually more important to become immersed in the
subject matter that is being captured so that as much of it is veiwed as
possible. Remember a wide-angle lens gives the illusion of greater depth
perception exaggerating the relative sizes of the objects in the foreground
and background.
2. Organization: because a wide-angle lens captures a vast amount of subject
matter it is important to situate the camera so that it clearly focuses on the
objects in the foreground and background. Position the camera so that it
carefully focuses in on all material creating clear composition.
3. Perspective: position camera to focus on the horizon point so that it creates
clear parallel lines and avoids any convergence.
4. Distortion: Be aware of how the camera is positioned in relation to subject. If
the object does not pass through the center of the camera, the subject matter
may bulge or lean, creating unflattering distortion. A normal wide-angle shot
versus a distorted wide-angle shot is displayed in Figure 2 versus Figure 3.
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

4. Notice how Figure 2 is proportionate with both foreground and background subject
material is clear and parallel, while Figure 3 displays disproportion and a leaning
background.
Sources:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/wide-angle-lenses.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide-angle_lens#Characteristics
Google Images: Wide-angle shots
Dictionary.com: Lens parts definitions
Aperture
}FOV
Focal Length