Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What would be considered a normal lens focal length for a 35mm sensor?

1. 35mm

2. 24mm

3. 50mm

4. 85mm

The correct answer is: 50mm

A normal lens for a 35mm sensor typically has a focal length that closely approximates the diagonal measurement of the sensor. For a full-frame 35mm camera, this diagonal is approximately 43mm. A focal length of 50mm is generally accepted as the standard for a normal lens because it provides a perspective that closely resembles human vision, making images appear more natural without significant distortion. Using a 50mm lens allows for versatility in various shooting situations, from portraits to street photography, while maintaining a realistic perspective. This characteristic aligns well with how the human eye perceives the world, thereby making 50mm a widely utilized choice among photographers for capturing everyday scenes. Other focal lengths mentioned, such as 35mm or 24mm, are considered wide-angle lenses, which capture a broader field of view and can introduce distortion at the edges of the frame. Lenses like 85mm are classified as short telephoto and are more suited for specific applications, such as portraits where a tighter framing is desired, but they do not fall into the category of normal lenses for 35mm sensors.