zoom capability: I have a D5200 w/ 18 - 250mm sigma. The wife has a Coolpix P510 w/ 4.6 - 180mm. Her lens zooms in and brings images much closer. Any specific reason for this, or is...

jim32736 Loc: Tavares, Florida

I have a D5200 w/ 18 - 250mm sigma. The wife has a Coolpix P510 w/ 4.6 - 180mm. Her lens zooms in and brings images much closer. Any specific reason for this, or is the Sigma an inferior lens perhaps? My settings? Just curious. I usually shoot in aperture priority.
Thanks,
Jim

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

jim32736 wrote:

I have a D5200 w/ 18 - 250mm sigma. The wife has a Coolpix P510 w/ 4.6 - 180mm. Her lens zooms in and brings images much closer. Any specific reason for this, or is the Sigma an inferior lens perhaps? My settings? Just curious. I usually shot in aperture priority.

The Coolpix stats reflect the actual focal length of the lens but her camera has a smaller sensor compared to the D5200 resulting in a greater apparent zoom capability. You are essentially seeing a cropped version of the image. If you never print bigger than a 4x6 print you might never see much of a difference. Blow them up to 16X20 and you will see a big difference.

It is the same reason that a crop frame sensor (like the D5100) seems to make a telephoto lens stronger than when that same lens is on a full frame camera.

jim32736 Loc: Tavares, Florida

Thank you so much for that. It explains things much better. Being fairly new to photography, since I retired last year, I still have tons to learn and understand.

amehta Loc: Boston

jim32736 wrote:

I have a D5200 w/ 18 - 250mm sigma. The wife has a Coolpix P510 w/ 4.6 - 180mm. Her lens zooms in and brings images much closer. Any specific reason for this, or is the Sigma an inferior lens perhaps? My settings? Just curious. I usually shoot in aperture priority.
Thanks,
Jim

Your lens and camera are fine. :-)

The sensor on the D5200 is about 3.6x larger than the sensor on the P510. You can crop your image to about 1200x1800 pixels, and that will approximately match the sensor on the P510.

jim32736 Loc: Tavares, Florida

Thank you, that sounds like a good idea

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

You need to compare what that 18-250, which I also have on a D5200 would be in terms of a 35mm camera. Since the D5200 has a 1.5 crop factor, the 18 end of it is the same as a 27mm and the 250 would be 375mm. Look at the specs for the smaller sensor on the P510 and you'll find fully zoomed it's probably equivalent to over 700mm on a 35mm camera. The quality is so good on your 24MP D5200 that you can crop your pictures even more and still have great detail and effectively zoom in a little more if you want to. I also carry a superzoom camera as a backup, there's room in the world for both DSLR and very capable superzooms.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

birdpix wrote:

The Coolpix stats reflect the actual focal length ... (show quote)

Should be able to print 8x10 and 11x14 without a problem if it is properly exposed!!

jim32736 Loc: Tavares, Florida

Thank you all for my prompt answers. every time some one tells me something new, I realize the less I know. It is daunting at times, but I keep plugging away.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

jim32736 wrote:

I still have tons to learn and understand.

:lol: :lol:

Jim, that's kinda funny, cause if you just started last year, you've got way more than TONS to learn!! :lol:

Some of us have been at this for more than half a century, and we're still trying to figure it out.
Or maybe I'm just a slow learner! :lol:
SS

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Nothing to add except:
HAPPY RETIREMENT!

(I wish I could go back to work to get some rest!):(
I was tired yesterday,
And I'm Retired today. :lol: