10-18mm. 50mm. 35mm. What do these numbers mean?

New to owning a DSLR and have no idea what these numbers on your lenses mean? (Or maybe you've had a camera for a while and still don't know!) I'm here to help - let's talk about focal length!

Below are examples of how focal length of various lenses drastically changes each image - especially since these were all taken with my arm in the the exact same location!

50mm lens

18mm on a 10-18mm lens

35mm lens

10mm on a 10-18mm lens

​Just remember these two things:

1. If there's a range (ex. 18-55mm), it means you can zoom in and out. If it's a single number (ex. 35mm), you aren't able to zoom in and out. You have to physically move.
2. A larger number of millimeters means a tighter (more "zoomed") image. A smaller number of millimeters means a wider (less "zoomed") image.

​Happy Friday!
​Autumn