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24mm vs 28mm: Comparing Wide Lens Choices

In: 
Published: 04/05/2023

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The 24mm and 28mm lenses are some of the commonly used prime lenses to take real estate interior photos in cramped rooms. The following 24mm vs 28mm guide will help you understand the difference between the two lenses and which lens meets your angle of view and weight needs.

24mm vs 28mm Lens Overview

Although there are other specifications you should consider before purchasing a lens, such as the maximum aperture and construction materials, the focal length is the key feature as it determines the flexibility of the lens in terms of subject distance.

Close-up shot of a black Konica Hexanon with a 28mm lens

Lenses feature different focal lengths, where some are variable and others fixed. Variable focal length means that you can use the lens to capture distant subjects without necessarily moving the entire setup. On the other hand, lenses such as the 24mm and 28mm lenses have fixed focal lengths.

24mm Lens

The 24mm lens is a wide-angle lens with a fixed focal length of 24mm. This is because a lens is specified as a wide angle if its focal length is shorter than 35mm. However, you should remember that this lens's angle of view might narrow if you pair it with an APS-C sensor, not a full frame.

 
Brand:
Sony E-mount FE 24mm
 
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1
 
Brand:
Sigma 24mm f/1.4
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EF
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.7
4.6
4.4
Brand:
Sony E-mount FE 24mm
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.7
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.6
Brand:
Sigma 24mm f/1.4
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EF
Lens Type:
Wide Angle
4.4

28mmLens

A 28mm lens has a fixed focal length of 28mm when paired with a full-frame camera, regardless of its specifications, such as build quality or aperture. Like the 24mm lens, the angle of view might narrow if you pair it with a crop factor camera.

 
Brand:
Canon RF28mm F2.8
 
Brand:
Sony SEL28F20 FE 28mm
 
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EOS R-series
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
Maximum Aperture:
f/2.8
Maximum Aperture:
f/2
Maximum Aperture:
f/2.8
4.5
4.4
4.7
Brand:
Canon RF28mm F2.8
Compatible Mountings:
Canon EOS R-series
Maximum Aperture:
f/2.8
4.5
Brand:
Sony SEL28F20 FE 28mm
Compatible Mountings:
Sony E
Maximum Aperture:
f/2
4.4
Brand:
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8
Compatible Mountings:
Nikon Z
Maximum Aperture:
f/2.8
4.7

For instance, you will achieve an equivalent angle of view of 42mm when paired with a camera with a crop factor of 1.5x, such as the Nikon DX Format

Comparing 24mm and 28mm Lenses

The two lenses have a slight difference of about 4mm between their focal lengths, which results in a significant difference in angle of view, especially when taking photos indoors. However, both are wide-angle lenses with certain performance similarities.

Similarities

Although the two lenses have different angles of view, the difference between their focal length is minimal, giving them the following similarities.

  • Both lenses have fixed focal lengths that make them unable to zoom in and out
  • With similar wide apertures, both lenses are ideal for use in poor lighting conditions
  • When paired with full-frame cameras, the two lenses can capture wide-angle images

Differences

Even though the two lenses can capture sharp and vivid images in low lighting conditions, their field of view differences makes them have the following distortion and weight differences.

Weight and Size

Generally, the weight of camera lenses varies depending on a number of factors, such as the length of the lens barrel, build quality, and whether the lens is designed to fit in a full-frame camera or crop factor camera.

Focal length is normally measured in millimeters and is the distance between the camera sensor and the lens's optical center when your subject is in focus. This means that a lens with a shorter focal length is shorter than that with a longer focal length.

For instance, if a 24mm and 28mm lens are both designed for a full-frame camera and also constructed with similar materials, a 24mm lens is shorter and lightweight than the 28mm lens, making it ideal for capturing real estate images handheld.

A 24mm autofocus beside a box and other photography equipment

Distortions

Distortion is how much a subject appears unnaturally curved or deformed compared to its real-life size. Distortions are caused by varying factors, such as an imbalance between the angle of view and the subject's distance.

Typically, distortions increase on an image when a camera lens views a broader scene than its frame. This means it has to squeeze and compress the scene to fit in the camera sensor.

Considering that a 24mm has a wider field of view than a 28mm, you will need to compress a larger part of your view to fit in the frame. Due to this, the subjects captured with a 24mm lens appear to be more distorted than those with a 28mm.

Angle of View

The angle of view simply means how much area the sensor views at a certain time. Shorter focal lengths have a wider angle of view than their longer focal lengths counterpart.

For instance, if you want to take an entire real estate property, a 28mm has a narrower field of view that might not incorporate the entire thing in a single shot compared to 24mm, assuming you are using the same subject distance.

Major Distinguishing Factor

The major distinguishing factor between the 24mm and 28mm is magnification. Magnification is the subject's size projected against the camera sensor compared to the true size of the subject.

Normally, when a subject is near the lens, it appears larger. For instance, if you want to capture a macro image of a bee hovering over a flower, the bee appears larger and more prominent in the frame when the lens is some inches away than when it is several feet away.

Longer focal lengths have a narrower angle of view, making them crop out the elements in the background and magnify the main subject. This means that a 28mm lens can make a distant subject appear more prominent in the frame than a 24mm lens.

When to Use a 24mm Lens

Considering that a 24mm provides a broader field of view than a 28mm lens, it might be the best option in the following instances.

  • If you want a lightweight lens that won't make your wrists hurt
  • When capturing landscapes or wide-angle images of real estate exteriors
  • If capturing interior images of property in cramped spaces

When to Use a 28mm Lens

Since a 28mm unit creates a cropping effect that can help you fill the frame with a faraway subject, it might be the ideal lens to use in the following instances.

  • If you are using a tripod for real estate and want to enhance the stability of your setup
  • If taking pictures of small subjects such as birds or bees
A top view of the Leitz Wetzlar lens with a 28mm lens placed on a pink surface

Which Lens Is Better?

A 24mm lens is a better option as it has a wider field of view, and you can pair it with a crop factor camera and capture portraits or with a full-frame camera to take wide-angle shots.

Related Questions

Which Lens Has an Appealing Bokeh Quality Between a 24mm and a 28mm Lens?

A 28mm lens captures images with more appealing bokeh quality than a 24mm lens when using similar settings, such as subject-to-background distances and aperture. This is because longer focal lengths have more perspective compression, which makes the out-of-focus effect spread out more than in shorter lenses.

Can I Use a 24mm Lens in Street Photography?

Yes, you can use a 24mm lens in street photography as it is lightweight and compact, making it ideal for carrying around when shooting handheld. Its wide-angle perspective also allows you to exaggerate the scale of objects or buildings in the streets due to the distortions.

Does the 28mm Lens Have a Camera Shake Effect Than the 24mm Lens?

Yes, the 28mm lens has a higher chance of causing the camera shake effect than a 24mm lens since longer focal lengths magnify faraway subjects, which in turn magnifies the camera shakes and vibrations. This results in blurry photos when shooting handheld with a 28mm lens than when using a 24mm unit.

Final Verdict

The above 24mm vs 28mm guide provides detailed information on how you can enjoy the wide-angle perspective of the 24mm to capture broader exterior images of a real estate property or use the 28mm lens to magnify and shoot closeups of smaller objects such as door knobs.

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