Camera Lens Prompts for AI Art: Focal Length Cheat Sheet

Lens terms are one of the fastest ways to change how an AI photo is framed. The model does not simulate glass and sensors. It has learned how photos described with "24mm" or "85mm" tend to look, so these words work as strong style and framing cues.

Cheat sheet

Nikon's guide puts the rule simply: the longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view and the higher the magnification.

Copy-paste lens prompts

Ultra-wide (14–16mm)

a narrow cobblestone alley in Lisbon, 14mm ultra-wide lens, low angle, towering buildings leaning inward, morning light, deep perspective

Wide-angle (24mm)

a hiker standing on a ridge above a valley of clouds, 24mm wide-angle lens, vast landscape, sunrise, small figure for scale

Street (35mm)

a fruit seller arranging oranges at a busy market, 35mm lens, eye level, candid street photography, natural light, slight motion in the crowd

Standard (50mm)

a man reading a newspaper at a cafe table, 50mm lens, waist-up framing, soft window light, natural perspective

Portrait (85mm)

head-and-shoulders portrait of a young chef in a white jacket, 85mm lens, f/1.8, creamy background bokeh, warm kitchen lights blurred behind

Telephoto (200mm)

a runner crossing a city bridge at sunset, 200mm telephoto lens, compressed skyline looming behind, shallow depth of field

Super telephoto (600mm)

a red fox sitting in a snowy field, 600mm super telephoto lens, subject isolated against a smooth white background, wildlife photography

Macro (100mm)

a dewdrop on a blade of grass reflecting a sunrise, 100mm macro lens, extreme close-up, razor-thin focus, soft green background

Fisheye

a skateboarder mid-air over a concrete ramp, fisheye lens, curved horizon, blue sky, high-energy action shot

Tilt-shift

aerial view of a busy train station, tilt-shift photography, miniature effect, narrow band of focus, saturated colors

Depth of field and aperture

Aperture terms control how blurred the background is. Use them together with the lens term.

f/1.4, shallow depth of field, creamy bokeh, subject in sharp focus

f/11, deep focus, everything sharp from foreground to background

A small f-number (f/1.4, f/1.8) means a blurred background. A large one (f/8, f/11, f/16) keeps the whole scene sharp, which suits landscapes and architecture.

Camera angles and shot sizes

Angles often change an image more than the lens does:

low angle shot, looking up at the subject, heroic and imposing

high angle shot, looking down, subject appears small and vulnerable

bird's-eye view, directly overhead, flat-lay composition

dutch angle, tilted horizon, tense and uneasy mood

Shot sizes tell the model how much of the subject to show:

extreme close-up, close-up, medium shot, full body shot, wide shot, establishing shot

Tips

• One lens per prompt. "14mm, 85mm, telephoto" gives the model contradicting cues and the result drifts toward an average.
• Pair the lens with a shot size. "85mm, head-and-shoulders portrait" is more reliable than "85mm" alone.
• The background follows the lens. Wide lenses show more surroundings; telephoto lenses show less background and make it look closer and larger.
• Camera brand names are only a style hint. "Shot on a Canon EOS R5" may nudge the overall look, but it cannot reproduce that camera's actual output.
• Remove conflicts in the negative prompt. If you want everything sharp, add bokeh, blurry background to the negative field. See the negative prompt lists.

For SDXL-specific resolutions and settings, see the SDXL prompt guide.

Build your prompt

The prompt generator has camera and lighting options you can combine with your subject. It runs in your browser and does not generate images.

Primary sources

• Nikon: Understanding focal length