In the realm of photography, a 23-24mm lens falls into the category of being very wide, although not quite ultrawide. Unless they specialize in landscape photography, most photographers tend to lean towards 40mm or narrower lenses. This preference stems from a logical reason. The human eye’s equivalent is around 50mm, and getting too close to subjects can result in distortion. By stepping back or zooming in with a Camera, one can capture more detailed and less distorted photos. This approach also offers more freedom in framing the picture as desired while eliminating distracting elements. In contrast, wider photos leave little room for concealment. Surprisingly, the best and highest resolution lens found in our smartphones is too wide at 23-24mm. This perplexity extends to the current popular camera phones such as the Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and iPhone 14 Pro Max, all of which have wide main cameras that capture more than what meets the eye.

Until recently, I hadn’t given this much thought. On the contrary, I was drawn to the widest angles and frequently employed the ultrawide lens for grandiose landscapes and eye-catching effects. However, I gradually noticed a shift towards zoomed-in photos. The fact that my Pixel 7 Pro captures fantastic 2x photos without compromising resolution played a role in this change. The 23mm main sensor allows me to crop a 2x zoomed 12.5MP photo from the larger 50MP photo without sacrificing any desired detail.

It began as an occasional switch from 1x to 2x in order to take alternative photos and choose later. However, I soon found myself favoring the 2x photo more often, opting to delete the 1x photo. This occurred frequently enough that I started taking the 2x photo right from the start to save time. Then it hit me: 2x has become my default photography setting! I now switch to it more frequently than not. I agree with my colleague Rob; I’ve grown weary of wide field-of-view cameras. What zoom level do you find yourself using most on your phone?

To make these points more tangible, I’ve gathered examples of 1x and 2x photos taken with my Pixel 7 Pro from the same location. The 2x feature enabled me to exclude other tourists in shots of Lake Bled and the church organ. Professional photographers often have the privilege of capturing wide-angle shots without bystanders by visiting locations during quieter periods or waiting for people to move. However, ordinary people like myself don’t have that luxury. With 2x, I can recreate the illusion of solitude, even when others are present. Additionally, 2x allows me to crop out uninteresting elements from photos, such as stone passages, restaurant tables, tents, and fences. By focusing on specific subjects, such as stained glass, trees, boats, stages, screens, and graffiti, the 2x feature enhances the prominence of these elements. Furthermore, the 2x zoom brings balance to photos where the proportions at 1x are disproportionate, such as in the case of the green grass photo. Finally, framing an art nouveau building differently at 2x avoids the low-angle distortion seen at 1x. Here are a few more examples where switching from 1x to 2x draws attention to a specific subject, prevents a monotonous foreground or overpowering sky in the background.

I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to travel and visit stunning places, all while being familiar with a phone’s camera. I want to clarify that the 1x photos shown above are not inherently bad; they are quite good. It’s just that, in my opinion, the 2x shots are superior in every case. Even landscape shots, which typically benefit from a wider angle, are enhanced by better zoom capabilities and framing.

Over time, I’ve come to accept that a photo won’t capture everything I see. It may have fewer elements, but those it does include will be more detailed, better framed, and less distorted. Unwanted distractions or bits can be minimized, allowing the subject to shine. Even in cases that call for wide-angle shots, such as landscapes, I’ve realized that I don’t always want 90% of the photo to be consumed by blue skies or green grass. Instead, I prefer to zoom in slightly and capture more of the horizon and any interesting subjects surrounding it, similar to how my eyes naturally focus on sights.

 

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