Full frame lens on a crop sensor camera: A naive question perhaps, but what would be the effect of using a full frame lens on a crop sensor body? EG, a Sony FE (full frame ) E mount...

simplesimon Loc: UK

A naive question perhaps, but what would be the effect of using a full frame lens on a crop sensor body?
EG, a Sony FE (full frame ) E mount lens on a Sony NEX crop sensor body?
I appreciate that the other way round will (could) lead to vignetting or reduction of image size, but not sure what happens if the combination is reversed.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

You will still get pictures, but no Vignette problems.The crop sensor will see less of what the lens could see. So a 50mm lens will produce the image of what a 75mm lens would produce on full frame.(Approximately)

simplesimon Loc: UK

Pablo8 wrote:

You will still get pictures, but no Vignette problems.The crop sensor will see less of what the lens could see. So a 50mm lens will produce the image of what a 75mm lens would produce on full frame.(Approximately)

Thanks Pablo, thought this may have been the result, but still considered it worth asking

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

simplesimon wrote:

Thanks Pablo, thought this may have been the result, but still considered it worth asking

Pablo is correct, however, these lenses tend to perform better because you are using less of the lens edge. The center tends to be sharper and have less distortion.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Thank of a projector and screen... OK got that visualized? The screen is your sensor. Project the image on a full screen and you see every thing; project on a small screen (small sensor) at the same distance, same lens, and there is much of the image that goes off into black space, so you get just part of the full image the rest is wasted.

cthahn

It works fine. Take some pictures and find out for yourself. Your learn more
that way.

mechengvic Loc: SoCalo

simplesimon wrote:

A naive question perhaps, but what would be the effect of using a full frame lens on a crop sensor body?
EG, a Sony FE (full frame ) E mount lens on a Sony NEX crop sensor body?
I appreciate that the other way round will (could) lead to vignetting or reduction of image size, but not sure what happens if the combination is reversed.

If it fits, click it.

bobzeller Loc: San Angelo, Texas

cthahn wrote:

It works fine. Take some pictures and find out for yourself. Your learn more
that way.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

sherwinc Loc: SE Idaho

I think you would be using all of the lens regardless of the sensor size; the full frame lens would just cast a larger image circle than the crop sensor would intercept. Every part of the lens contributes to every part of the image and that's unrelated to the size of the sensor.

WAL

Since an SLR shows what you will get there really is nothing to think about. Even the focal equivalents from full frame to cropped frame lens usually since they are often expressed in full frame terms.
The disadvantage is the higher cost and increased weight.
If you upgrade to a full frame camera you will have the lenses.

ksman38 Loc: Windsor, Virginia

The full frame format lens will produce an image circle the size of the diameter of the diagonal of a 24x36 frame. The crop sensor will only use a 16x24 ( most commonly) size image out of the center of the full frame image, which would be the sweet part of the lens, but would appear to be the same as if you multiplied the focal length by 1.5

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

WAL wrote:

Since an SLR shows what you will get there really is nothing to think about. Even the focal equivalents from full frame to cropped frame lens usually since they are often expressed in full frame terms.
The disadvantage is the higher cost and increased weight.
If you upgrade to a full frame camera you will have the lenses.

Focal length is the same regardless of what body the lens is used on.

Neubee Loc: Wisconsin

I use FF lens on my Sony Alpha and get vary good results..
I also use 4/3rds lens on a micro4/3rds body and get very good results.. Good luck..

SteveR Loc: Michigan

You get to use the center "sweet" portion of the full frame lens. Also, if you ever go full frame, you'll have the lenses.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

dpullum wrote:

Thank of a projector and screen... OK got that visualized? The screen is your sensor. Project the image on a full screen and you see every thing; project on a small screen (small sensor) at the same distance, same lens, and there is much of the image that goes off into black space, so you get just part of the full image the rest is wasted.

^^^THIS... is an EXCELLENT analogy. :thumbup: