Quite a wide range of shots can be called ‘medium’. Typically they cover people from ‘three-quarter length (knee) shots’ to ‘mid’ shots. The productional value of a medium shot lies somewhere between that of longer shots in which the surroundings predominate, and closer shots in which the viewer concentrates on the subject and ignores whatever else is nearby. Medium shots allow the audience to see both the performer/talent and their surroundings clearly.
In a medium shot, you can still keep quite large gestures, arm and body movements within the frame. When the subject moves around a little, there is usually no need to re-focus or to re-frame the shot
Depth of field is sufficient at typical working lens apertures ...
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