For surveillance photography, how many millimeters of lens should be used for every foot of distance between the camera and the suspect?

In surveillance photography, a general guideline suggests that you should use 1 millimeter of lens focal length for every foot of distance from the camera to the subject. This means that if the subject is 10 feet away, a 10mm lens would provide a suitable field of view that captures the subject clearly while still including context.

In this case, the correct answer aligns with the understanding that to adequately frame a subject in surveillance situations, having a lens that provides sufficient magnification and detail is essential. Hence, this practice helps in achieving the necessary resolution and composition needed for effective surveillance. Using a lens with a longer focal length increases the chances of capturing identifiable features of the subject, especially from a distance.

The other options, while they might suggest different ratios, do not align with this widely accepted norm in photography for practical surveillance work.