Name three common lens categories and give a typical use for each.

• A. Wide-angle (<35mm) for environment and establishing shots; Standard (35-70mm) for natural perspective; Telephoto (>70mm) for compression and isolating subjects.
• B. Macro (1-10mm) for close-ups; Ultra wide (<16mm) for environment; Telephoto (200mm) for distance.
• C. Normal (50-70) for all uses; Telephoto (5-10) for compression; Fisheye (8-12) for distortion.
• D. Zoom lens; Prime lens; Tilt-shift lens.

Answer: (A)

Understanding how focal length shapes perspective helps you choose the right lens for the scene. Wide-angle lenses offer a broad field of view, so they capture lots of the surroundings and exaggerate depth, making them ideal for environment and establishing shots that set the location and mood. Standard lenses sit in the middle, around 35 to 70 millimeters, delivering a natural perspective that looks most like how the human eye perceives the scene, which makes them versatile for everyday dialogue and scenes where realism matters. Telephoto lenses are longer than about 70 millimeters, narrowing the field of view, compressing space so distant elements appear closer together, and enhancing subject isolation with background blur—perfect for close-ups and guiding attention to a specific subject.

The other options either mix ranges or uses in ways that aren’t as widely taught for three common categories, or introduce lens types that aren’t describing the same simple, everyday trio in the same way.