A wide angle refers to a short focal length lens or lens setting that captures a broader field of view than standard focal lengths, encompassing more of the scene within the frame at the cost of increased perspective distortion toward the edges. Wide angle lenses are typically considered to be any focal length below approximately 35mm in the 35mm full-frame reference standard, with ultra-wide angles extending below 24mm.

Wide angle lenses have a distinctive visual character that distinguishes them from standard and telephoto focal lengths. They exaggerate perspective, making near objects appear larger and more prominent while pushing backgrounds further away, creating a sense of spatial depth and environmental presence. They increase depth of field, keeping more of the scene in acceptable focus simultaneously. At extreme wide angles, straight lines near the edges of the frame begin to bow outward in barrel distortion. These characteristics make wide angles useful for establishing shots that emphasize environment and scale, architectural photography, interior spaces where the full room must be captured, immersive first-person perspectives, and any context where conveying the breadth and depth of a physical space is important.

When prompting AI video or image generation, specifying "wide angle lens," "ultra-wide perspective," or a specific focal length like "16mm" or "24mm" communicates the desired visual character clearly. Wide angle descriptions tend to produce compositions with greater environmental context, exaggerated depth, and the characteristic perspective expansion that distinguishes this focal range from standard and telephoto framings.