Filming a seated interview generally works best in the 50-85mm equivalent range, where moderate compression flatters the subject’s face without requiring an impractically large room.

Why Interviews Favor Moderate Compression

A subject speaking directly to camera or an off-camera interviewer benefits from the same flattering compression that works for still portraits, since the audience spends extended time looking closely at the subject’s face throughout the interview.

Room Size Limits in Practice

Unlike a dedicated portrait studio, many interviews are filmed in offices, homes, or other everyday spaces with limited room to work with, which is why 50-85mm tends to be more practical than pushing toward the longer focal lengths sometimes used for still headshots.

How This Differs From Vlogging Focal Length Needs

Vlogging typically requires a wide lens since the presenter is also operating the camera at arm’s length or on a nearby tripod, while a traditional interview setup has a separate camera operator and subject, removing that constraint and allowing a longer, more flattering focal length.

Multi-Camera Interview Setups

Productions using two cameras for an interview often pair a standard lens on one camera with a slightly longer lens on the other, giving an editor a choice between a closer and a wider framing without needing to reposition anything mid-interview.