What is the term for lenses that have a focal length shorter than 50mm?

The term for lenses that have a focal length shorter than 50mm is indeed "Wide Angle Lens." These lenses are designed to capture a broader field of view compared to standard lenses. Typically, a wide-angle lens will have a focal length ranging from around 10mm to 35mm, allowing photographers to fit more into the frame, which is especially useful in landscape photography or when photographing in tight spaces.

Wide-angle lenses also have characteristics that make them unique, such as a greater depth of field, which helps to keep more of the scene in focus compared to longer focal lengths. This ability to show a vast area makes them popular for architectural photography, group shots, and any situation where capturing a larger context is important.

What's essential in understanding the specific terminology is recognizing how focal lengths influence perspective and composition. The other types of lenses mentioned—telephoto, normal, and macro—each have their specific uses and focal lengths that do not fall into the category of less than 50mm, making "Wide Angle Lens" the correct designation for short focal lengths.