28mm or 35mm: What’s the Real Difference?

35mm is wide, but 28mm is wider. Does that impact your photography and images? Which one would you choose? The debate is ongoing, and the experiences are different for each photographer. Let’s discuss with examples to find out what’s going to be your favorite focal length.

In street photography, aside from mastering your camera settings and choosing the right aperture, two significant challenges photographers face are focal length and composition based on that focal length. These factors become especially crucial when capturing the dynamic nature of streets, people, and urban life. In this video, Dylan argues exactly that through some images from several photographers.

While a 28mm lens helps capture a wider angle and a bigger picture, for closeups, you’ve got to engage in what photographers like to call “foot zoom.” This means you may need to physically get closer to your subjects to capture their expressions and details, which can sometimes mean being right in their face. This proximity can create an intimate feel and help tell a more compelling story. However, it can also make your subjects aware of your presence, impacting the spontaneity of the moment.

On the other hand, a 35mm lens offers more breathing room. It allows you to capture your surroundings and subjects without intruding on their space, providing an opportunity to tell a story by focusing on the context rather than just the individuals. While 28mm may include more elements in the frame, enabling complex storytelling, a 35mm lens may be more effective by providing a cleaner composition and eliminating distractions.

So, does it come down to personal taste, or has the photography community already established which one is the better focal length? Watch the full video to learn more about the pros and cons of using these focal lengths and find out which one is the ultimate winner, as this will impact your budget and your next purchase!