tele lens angle of view

[pollux]

I am considering purchasing a manual focus tele lens. there are different focal lengths available. could i zoom by walking to get similar results of framing, of a 300mm lens with an 8deg angle of view and an 800mm lens with a 3deg angle of view or a 400mm lens with a 6'10deg angle of view? how does it all work?

i want to have a compressed perspective, therefore could i just opt for a long lens and walk back from the object, space permitting?

 

[MattKing]

The perspective visible in your photos is determined by one thing only - where the photo was taken from.

Whether or not a subject in the centre of the field of view fills the film area, or is just a small item at the centre, is determined by the angle of view of the lens, which in turn is determined by the combination of the focal length and your film format.

If you want compression, you have to take your photo from a distance. If you take your photo from a distance, and want to have a smaller subject fill the frame, you need to use a longer lens.

If you use your feet to "zoom", i.e. walk closer to have your subject fill the frame, the relationship between objects at different distances will change - the perspective changes.

As an example, a closely cropped head shot portrait tends to look better if shot from a distance with a longer lens, because if you shooot it closer with a shorter lens the nose looks relatively large and the ears look relatively small.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Just wanted to add that, if you receive no further answers, it's because Matt's explaination pretty much nailed it...