What You Should Know About Focal Lengths and Shooting Cars
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- I'm going to show you what effect the focal length you shoot can be when photographing cars, and when to use the various lenses in your camera bag. I’ll take you through six common lens lengths - 14mm, 24mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, and 200mm - to show you some real world benefits, drawbacks, and share practical experiences.
Video footage help from:
Victoria Scott: www.trustinthemachine.com
Chris Nguyen: analogdialog.com
Camera body and lenses shown:
Nikon D850 FX-format Digital SLR Camera Body: amzn.to/3ghrsVa
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Fixed Lens w/ AE Chip for Nikon amzn.to/3aRMk4f
Tamron 24-70mm F/2.8 G2 Di VC USD G2 Zoom Lens for Nikon Mount amzn.to/3jaz3XA
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens amzn.to/2Evc9uC
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon F amzn.to/2YsodUM
Sigma 258306 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens for Nikon amzn.to/3aNu0JA
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC G2 for Nikon amzn.to/2QldFCy
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Subscribe to the TH-cam channel for new videos! / capturingthemachine
Find me on Instagram | / capturingthemachine
Purchase photo prints | capturingthemachine.com
Contact me | kevin@capturingthemachine.com
#nikon #automotivephotography #porsche #photography #cars #sigma #nikkor - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
As a person with ZERO photography experience.... mind blown.
awesome, thanks Dave 😺
yes @capturingthemachine has been nothing short of heaven sent. I'm shocked the subscription is where it's at. So proud to be in the first 2000. I expect hundreds in time to come. As a photography lover and a car lover I'm going through each and every video and nothing is uninteresting. Captivating and fun, informative and chill. I love all their content.
As a person with ~20 years photography experience, mind blown!
As a photography beginner, I found this very enlightening. Thank you!
awesome, thank you Russell!
I've been an amateur photographer for closing on 50 years and this show and tell tutorial was a fabulous learning opportunity and represents the best 10 minutes I've spent all month. What, the video is only 5:51? Fifteen minutes is an understatement because after the first six minutes, I've spent time reflecting on photos I've taken which would have benefited from watching this 30 years ago, or ten years ago. Thank you Kevin . . . I've subscribed.
this is one of the most impactful comments I've ever gotten on anything I've done - thanks for watching and glad it was helpful!
Some of my best shots came off a 80mm lens. But then again, photography is an art, and art is subjective to opinions. I love shooting wide angle (nothing fish eye) and really has it's place when at a crowded event. Nothing more frustrating than sitting back for 10 minutes while people keep walking in your shot.
80mm is great, if you've found something you love that works for you, that's awesome. Thinking about the lenses you use - and being purposeful about it - is the most important thing. I have a video about shooting car events, if you're interested, it has some things you can do if you can't avoid the crowds: th-cam.com/video/5lF4EkOWgd0/w-d-xo.html
thanks for watching!
Love your work and love these tips and videos. too. Please keep it coming!
This is incredible. Thank you
This is excellent, and just the kind of thing I have been looking for to make my photography better, thanks so much for making it!
Now it's time to dig in to the whole channel :)
thanks for watching!
As a beginner who likes to photograph vehicles in the street and who hasn't had their film developed yet (old school I know), I'm pleased to hear that I'm on the right track by using the 50mm focal length.
recently, i've been fininding tips on shooting cars and your video just popped up on my feed. i can feel something unique and genuine about you from the first 30 secs. subscribed!
wow, this is such a thoughtful and incredible comment, thanks so much Mack!
I love how you laid out this video. Great intro, the video outline & text to go over each lens is easy to understand. The camera flipping back to you talking is at perfect timing to keep the viewer engaged. 👍🏁
Thanks so much!
Loved seeing the shot comparison-thanks for the thoughtful advice!
thanks for watching, Paul! 😄
That was excellent, I learnt something new, thank you ☺
Some beautiful compositions here - thank you!
Many thanks!
Thanks for this, really enjoyed the video and tuition 👍🏻
I love the feel he deliver, passion has been delivered. Highly recommend for any one just starting out photography.
thanks so much!
I love this video, gives perfect insight on the characteristics of each focal length. good job !
Thank you so much!
That's awesome, dude, thanks!
Usually, I don't comment any video, but yours is a gem, you need to know this
Wow, thanks!
Stumbled upon looking for exactly this type of content, thank you for the tips and the inspiration! Been holding out on shooting my first car hoping to gather the techniques first
thanks so much, this is awesome to hear! Good luck 👍 if you come back with any questions I'm always open to new topics for future videos
This is the most informative video on focal length x automotive photography I've seen! Keep up the great work ~
Wow, thanks!
Coming back to this video after a couple of months and I have to say I love your point at 4:45. Back when I started dabbling in photography in college a decade or so ago before resigning myself to the iPhone ecosystem for the past few years I'd keep everything pegged at the widest focal length possible just because I thought putting more things in the frame made for a better contextualized picture, and phone photography has taught me to work around the wider default focal lengths. Now that I've got nice gear again and I'm recommitting myself to learning more, I'm trying hard to default to the tighter focal lengths when composing, and I'm really happy with what I've been seeing.
5:01 is just the perfect sequence to drive the idea home too. Great video!
Hi Pete, thanks for your comment, and I'm so glad you found this helpful! Honestly, making this video has been beneficial for me - just articulating all of it helped reinforce some things, which has helped the shoots I've done since publishing it. With photography, you want as many factors as possible to be "right" - the right time of day, a good location, good weather. But you can't always control those factors, no matter how much you prepare. Part of being a photographer is being able to get powerful images even if those factors aren't on your side - and I think using understanding focal lengths and picking the right one is another tool in the toolbox to help with that.
I've been smitten with the shots I'm getting out of my old Nikon 180mm f2.8 manual focus lens, while many around me are using 50 and 85mm lenses. The look is so different and I feel like you explained what's been in the back of my brain for a while! Excellent video. You have a new subscriber. 😁
thank you! I would love to try a 180 f2.8, that sounds fun 👏
This is so good! Very well broken down. I've been playing with longer focal lengths, especially for cars in motion.
awesome - thanks so much!
When deep inside you knew it all but needed someone to summarize it for you! Great video!
thanks! I know exactly what you mean, just making this and articulating was really helpful for me as well 😄
@@capturingthemachine dude keep making videos!!!
once again great job and a very well made video .. thanks and keep it up !
thank you so much!
I love this. Good explanation. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching
Been watching camera reviews and comparisons all day thinking about wether I’m going down the right line or not… then I watch this video and just drop all those thoughts and long for the next shoot with my current camera…
Loved this!!
thanks so much, I love hearing this! 😄
I loved this video thank you
Extremely helpful thank you taking the time!
You're very welcome!
Great video, very helpful. I inherited a few bits of camera gear and 35mm, 18-105mm, and 70-300mm lenses which I wasn't sure when to use each. This has helped me better understand focal lengths and what is best suited for my needs.
Amazing, I'm glad it was helpful! Sounds like you have a full suite of focal lengths to experiment with 📸
Thank you for taking the time to make this video 🙏
thanks for watching!!
I used these tips for my first time photographing cars, and in my opinion they turned out really well! I had to take fotos of cars for a school assignment, and wasnt sure of how to approach this homework. This helped a lot, and motivated me to shoot some more pictures of these machines in the future! Thanks
it's amazing to hear this, thanks for sharing, and good luck with your future shoots. It sounds like you have the bug 📸😄
I'm a car photographer. Have 24-70 and 70-200. I love using my 70-200. It makes me look more professional and the photos I show my clients are gorgeous.
Excellent points my friend. Enjoyable and informative.
Thank you kindly!
Amazing content! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching!
Great job man. Enjoyed listening to it.
Much appreciated!
Great video...Picking up some awesome tips, Keep the video's coming :)
thanks, and thank you for watching!
Really enjoyed this video, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
thank you! finally understood the difference in focal lengths when it comes to car photography! liked and subbed!
Thanks for the sub!
This video was very helpful. Thank you !
awesome, thanks for watching!
Great videos! Thank you!
Glad you liked them, thanks for watching!
Nice vid I came across ...simple explanation and great 👍🏻
Awesome, thank you!
I tried to like this video so many times while watching it! Amazing
Wow, thanks!
Thank you for this video.
My pleasure!
you've done a great job in explaining things! All the best with your channel :)
Thank you so much!
Finally a high quality video on TH-cam. These are hard to find. I might be biased, but I do agree with shooting long looks wayyy cooler. The 15-50MM looks like a smartphone picture, no matter what camera it is. At least to me...
Oh and really love the font you used for the intro/outro
thanks so much RJ!!
Dude you're awesome. I love the way you direct these video's, I don't know what it is But I love em. Im subscribing. I wanna be as good of a storyteller as you are♥️
This is one of the coolest comments I've ever gotten, thanks so much!! I have many other topics and videos I'm working on that I'm excited to create, I truly appreciate the feedback 👍
Much Love🥰
Loved the video, great insight & examples. Got you subbed too🤙
thank you!
Wow, I’ve never heard anyone say that the 105 is a good lens for automotive photography!
I am so in love with my 105, I rarely use my other lenses. It’s nice to hear that there is someone who also thinks that you can use a 105mm.
Great insight! Admittedly I was borrowing the 105 for this video shoot, so it's not in my regular rotation, but I definitely see the benefits (and uniqueness) of using it.
Man this video is super useful.
Great work
Great to hear that, thanks!
I watch your vids before I go photographing. Motivational 😎🤙
Glad to hear it, hope they're helpful!
Thank you for this. Very informative !
Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!
Thanks! Awesome video for a beginner car photographer
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the video it was very helpful 🤗🤗🤗
You’re welcome, thanks for watching! 😊
Just found this channel. Love it
Awesome! Thank you!
This was absolutely very helpful, however, I would’ve loved to have seen you cover shooting at 35mm but like I said this was so so helpful.
thanks for your comment and feedback!
I'm shooting my first car show this weekend, and have been DEVOURING your channel the last day or two!! Great tips, and very well put together! Have you covered shooting cars in direct sun? I'll be at a big, open dealership with no cover for the event, and the forecast says clear and sunny all day.
Awesome to hear this, thanks so much! I have wanted to do a video on the subject of shooting in direct sun, but haven’t yet. If there are no trees it’s going to be tough. You’ll have to make it work with interesting framing and perspective. Avoid shooting *into* the overhead sun, that should make a big difference - even if the sun is high overhead, it still has a direction, so avoid shooting towards the sun and straight into the shadows. Hope this helps!
Thanks you a lot bro 😎 I’m a super duper beginner with my camera, (not exactly in photography), so seeing this is really helpful
Thanks for watching!
Great video!
thank you!
Great overview! I've always been inspired by Jeremy Clarkson in Top Gear and they used short focal fisheye lens for a lot of their shots. Would love to see them bring some of that vibe back with modern fisheye lens.
Would also really love to see you start doing videography!!!
Good call, they used it really well, especially with those nice dramatic pans. I appreciate it but I still consider myself a novice videographer! 😅
Great info, thanks a lot
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks. This is a great tutorial
Glad it was helpful!
second to last was 100% my fav
😄
Thanks for the help!!!
Happy to help!
Thanks man great video
thanks for watching! I am working on a follow up to this one that I'm really excited about, check back later this week!
I had no idea. Great explanation.
👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing 👏
Thanks for watching!
Really good video, great explanation, also, that Porsche and Honda were gorgeous
Thank you! 👍 You have a good eye since the Honda Accord Aerodeck was only in it for a split second! 😄
@@capturingthemachine enough to catch my attention 😂 I'm picking up my new 70-300 lense next week, I'm excited to put some of your tips to practice!
Great tips.
Thanks for watching!
found you randomly but man you are the best !!!!
THANK YOU! Glad to have you here 😄
@@capturingthemachine got my 1st camera recently how to approach car dealers man 🥵❤️
I've been shooting cars for a while and a couple years ago finally upgraded to a A6300 and after the kit lens the first thing i got was the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 (24mm when scaled to full frame) and had been mostly using that and been happy and I'd picked up a 1960's Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 (75mm scaled to FF) I was barely using it for cars due to just being frustrated to wait for a shot. This year I've suddenly had that moment click and I'm using the vintage lens more then ever and with a ND8+CPL it's allowed me to capture much nicer photos and I no longer care about waiting at a Cars and Coffee to get the right shot because when I do it's super satisfying. I was debating whether to get the Sigma 18-50mm next or if i pick something with a bit more length to it and seeing this done make me thing it might be worth getting a longer lens thats a bit sharper.
that's awesome, it sounds like it has worked out and you've found what you like! I like 50mm on full frame but I don't really enjoy shooting wider than that, but it's all personal preference. Cars & Coffee and events are tough because of the crowds, but sometimes it forces you to look for details or crops you wouldn't otherwise notice.
I’ve shot one car one time, just for fun, but your channel is amazing and I am now a subscriber.
thanks Andrew, so glad to hear this!
I am an automobile detailer, who is now trying to learn how to do car photography. I need to learn it to promote my business. Thank you very much for showing me I need to spend some more money on lenses. LOL that 200 looks nice.
awesome, so glad if it helps!
hi really liked this video i am starting to shoot some old cars i am definitely a amateur i have had a couple good cameras but never found the time to get rite into it anyway my only problem with my 85mm and 100 to 500 is i cant seem to get close interior shots for detail this seems to be where im stuck but atleast now understand thanks to this video much more about my lenses and how to use them thanks 3 years later )
So glad this was helpful! I am working on a video all about shooting interiors, but you really want to something 35mm or wider to accurately capture an interior. 20mm or 24mm are ideal, and then you can use longer lenses for details.
Thank you very much this helps a lot
This video is awesome thank you
Glad you liked it, thank you!
Good stuff. I throw the 35 1.4 in for interior and close detail shots.
Thanks! That's a really good suggestion, especially for interiors 👍
I wanna start shooting at car meets with my m50 canon and this is the video I needed ! Thanks a lot !
awesome to hear it, happy I could help! Good luck
Great video - thank you for that
my pleasure - thanks for watching and commenting! 😄
Really useful video, thanks for it. Do you have one for circuit motorsport photography?
Yes, like this?
How To Shoot Panning Photos of Cars (Photography Tutorial)
th-cam.com/video/bHaKPrrBLa0/w-d-xo.html
I also have one about getting media credentials, it’s pretty recent like 1-2 months ago
@@capturingthemachine Exactly like that
Thanks for the informative video. Im off to a car meet this evening, lets see how it goes :)
thanks, hope it went well!
Thank you so much!
awesome, thanks for watching!
Great video
Thanks!
Shots with any 70-200 just hit different. Easily my favorite go to in my bag.
so true!
Wow. I was always shooting close and not really getting the results I wanted. I will use this technique!
awesome to hear that, good luck!
Great video! I would love to see a video about your editing process
thanks - I will give that some thought!
Brb, grabbing camera bag to apply what I just saw.
thanks for watching 😄
great video
Thanks!
Let’s see some more of that lovely Accord Aerodeck. That’s my jam right there!
Good eye! It's such a cool car. There are some good pics of it here (I am not affiliated with this site even though the name is similar to my channel haha): www.trustinthemachine.com/post/mirror-finish-ii
I mostly shoot landscape / architecture; my car photos have never turned out too well. This was very insightful.
Hey James! thanks for watching 😄
Brilliant video. I used my 35mm which I never considered previously and got some terrific shots of my rx7.
thanks so much! I love RX7s, on the other wall in my office that isn't shown, I have an OEM FD wheel on the shelf 🤣
@@capturingthemachine I have a white FD JDM 2000 model here in Aus. :)
@@coffeeaddictgaming2883 WOW… that’s the dream! 😍🥵
Looking to buy my first real camera and cars are my the main thing im looking to shoot as I just bought myself an R32 Skyline lol thank you so much for this video, this helps a lot!
awesome to hear this, thanks so much! And wow, R32, very cool! 🤩
Thank you heading to British Motor show tomorrow now have idea what to take.
awesome, good luck!
i would say that machine was extremely captured, nicely done !
thanks so much Mack, now you see why I am the capturer of the machines
@@capturingthemachine hell yeah, captured that mfin machine and i'll smash that like button
gold advice.
thanks!
Priceless knowledge 🥲 thanks man
Happy to help!
such a beautiful car
thanks! I am coming up on 5 years of ownership and I am planning a video all about the car itself
wow, this is an amazing video, would there ever be a technique/tutorial video on shooting vehicles while moving like for motorsport photography?
Hello, it’s been a while but I did a video about motion and motorsports photography!
th-cam.com/video/bHaKPrrBLa0/w-d-xo.html
@@capturingthemachine amazing! thank you!
0:00 - f dope childhood Gran Turismo PSX activated.
😄
I'm a painter, not a photographer, who wants to get into painting cars and this was excellent
It's amazing to hear this! I would love to see how you apply this to painting cars 👍
@@capturingthemachine I will be sure to show you when I have created my new collection
@@sterlingleefineart6608 great, thanks!
What an amazing video, helped a lot with understanding exterior shots :D
Could you perhaps help me out a little more? I would love to know what you would advise to use for interior shots as well. Pictures for dealerships basically. Is a
Thanks so much! In my Supra video from a few weeks ago, near the end I talked a little about doing an interior shot, and what I did and how I edited it (and it shows the settings). 20mm should be good for the whole interior (cropped or full frame?).
I don't know much about Sony's system but I hear great things. Generally, I love prime lenses and found that they give great image quality and teach you a lot about framing and composition. Zoom lenses give you more options and you can work a little faster because you don't have to run around and swap lenses as much, so they both have their benefit. The main limitation of cheap zoom lenses is that the aperture is usually pretty restrictive, like you can only go to F/4 or 5.6, so you can't experiment with a limited depth of field. I recommend renting a few lenses to see what works best for you before you buy.
The one thing i felt missing in this video was F stops and of course, the legendary 135mm.
I know, I would love to have been able to include a 135, maybe next time! F stops would be a great subject for a follow-up video.