Lens Theory Archives

10 September, 2025

Wider Than Wide-Angle – 15mm for Documentary Photography

By Simon King

I recently wrote about my use of 21mm, a lens I had used some years ago and returned to out of necessity when, while working a specific situation, my standard wide angle was not...

25 June, 2025

The 21mm Focal Length (or Thereabouts) for Documentary Photography

By Simon King

Telephoto lenses create such a literal and metaphorical distance between the photographer and their environment. Although one of my favourite lenses to work with is a 90mm, I re...

21 November, 2024

Memorable photos made with forgettable lenses

By Simon Foale

Well, memorable for me anyway – your mileage may vary. Some of the images I’m sharing here made good money for me a few years ago when I had a side hustle in stock photography, ...

21 October, 2024

From a 50 to a 35 – How I Changed My Perspective

By Nik Stanbridge

So, how exactly did you come to adopt a 35mm focal length lens as your everyday carry? Well, gradually and then very suddenly. For decades, since, well, I started out in photogr...

29 June, 2024

One camera, One Lens – Testing the Photo Adage in Japan

By Floyd K. Takeuchi

Photography is chock full of sayings, adages, call them what you will. F8 and be there. Sunny 16. Most are grounded in some reality. But the one that I think has some applicatio...

22 June, 2024

In praise of ‘cheap’ lenses for ‘pro’ works

By Andrea Monti

I have recently discovered Viltrox, a Chinese manufacturer of lenses for the Fujifilm X-system. I am using the AF 85/1,8 II XF and the AF 56/1,4 XF and I am very satisfied by th...

11 December, 2023

The Short Telephoto – My Preferred Carry-Everywhere Lens

By Hamish Gill

It’s been a little while since I really began to realise just how much more I favour I hold for a short telephoto lens. Over last summer though it went from being a vague prefer...

29 November, 2023

500mm Mirror Lens with Film – by Simon King

By Simon King

I sometimes feel a fear of falling off. It once occurred to me that looking up at the moon was like looking over the edge of a chasm except that while there may be an edge of so...

Eric Rose on A third of a roll with a Pentax Spotmatic F and Kentmere Pan 200
Love your photos and story. The Pentax Spotmatic is and always will be an iconic camera. The 28mm lens is…
Steve Williamson on One Shot Story – Resilience
Great photo and recounting of the family history! Also from outside of Pittsburgh, I have the book that my dad…
Russ Rosener on One Shot Story – Resilience
That's a one shot story to remember! And a great way to remember how resilient and inventive our ancestors were.…

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