Differences between film and dslr lens specs: I read somewhere that a 50mm dslr lens is closer to an 80mm film lens than a 50mm. Can someone explain the reason and the relationship?

bobsmith

I read somewhere that a 50mm dslr lens is closer to an 80mm film lens than a 50mm. Can someone explain the reason and the relationship? Thanks!

BebuLamar

There is no different! What you heard applies to the case when the sensor of the digital camera is smaller than the film.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Here's an article with all the info you need:

http://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/new-dslr-owners-what-you-must-know-about-full-frame-vs-crop-frame-sensors-before-choosing-a-lens/

-

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Whatever focal length is stated on the lens is that lens' focal length. The perceived focal length is based on the size of the sensor in the camera on which that lens is mounted. There seems to be a lot of confusion because of this. Just keep in mind that a lens doesn't mystically change focal lengths just because it's mounted on a variety of cameras.
--Bob

bobsmith wrote:

I read somewhere that a 50mm dslr lens is closer to an 80mm film lens than a 50mm. Can someone explain the reason and the relationship? Thanks!

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

bobsmith wrote:

I read somewhere that a 50mm dslr lens is closer to an 80mm film lens than a 50mm. Can someone explain the reason and the relationship? Thanks!

With a full size sensor the lens focal length will remain basically remain equal. For cropped sensor cameras it depends on the camera. My Canon's have cropped sensors with a 1.5 factor. So a 50mm lens is like a 75mm lens. My 300mm lens becomes the equivalent of a 450mm. On most Nikon cropped sensor cameras I believe the factor is 1.6x . Maybe someone else can give you more information but I think I covered the basics.

Here's a pretty good article on it.

http://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/transitioning-from-point-and-shoot-to-dslr-understanding-full-frame-vs-crop-frame-sensors/

I just realized Linda from Maine beat me too it.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

pounder35 wrote:

I just realized Linda from Maine beat me too it.

Gotta love Google!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Linda From Maine wrote:

Here's an article with all the info you need:

http://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/new-dslr-owners-what-you-must-know-about-full-frame-vs-crop-frame-sensors-before-choosing-a-lens/

-

Best article I've see so far. Has a comparison of images and I like the overlays on the dad taking the photo.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

bobsmith wrote:

I read somewhere that a 50mm dslr lens is closer to an 80mm film lens than a 50mm. Can someone explain the reason and the relationship? Thanks!

not true, no such relationship exists, there is nothing to reason out.
Forget you ever read it.
Read the links that were provided here carefully and you will be enlightened.

LensWork

pounder35 wrote:

With a full size sensor the lens focal length will remain basically remain equal. For cropped sensor cameras it depends on the camera. My Canon's have cropped sensors with a 1.5 factor. So a 50mm lens is like a 75mm lens. My 300mm lens becomes the equivalent of a 450mm. On most Nikon cropped sensor cameras I believe the factor is 1.6x . Maybe someone else can give you more information but I think I covered the basics.

Actually Canon DSLRs with an APS-C size sensor have a 1.6x crop factor, while Nikon's is 1.5x.

I have to wonder how much longer we will have to talk about crop factors. It seems to me that we are just creating confusion as many of the new generation of photographers have never shot film, so the conversion is moot as they have no full-frame experience to compare it to.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

LensWork wrote:

...just creating confusion as many of the new generation of photographers have never shot film, so the conversion is moot as they have no full-frame experience to compare it to.

When I was looking at a digital camera for the first time at a real estate trade show, I asked what "3x" meant in mm (equivalent focal length) and the salesperson couldn't tell me

...1998!

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

LensWork wrote:

Actually Canon DSLRs with an APS-C size sensor have a 1.6x crop factor, while Nikon's is 1.5x.

I have to wonder how much longer we will have to talk about crop factors. It seems to me that we are just creating confusion as many of the new generation of photographers have never shot film, so the conversion is moot as they have no full-frame experience to compare it to.

Opps. My bad. Thanks for correcting me.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Linda From Maine wrote:

When I was looking at a digital camera for the first time at a real estate trade show, I asked what "3x" meant in mm (equivalent focal length) and the salesperson couldn't tell me

...1998!

Most sales people today don't seem to know the answers to simple questions when it comes to technology. Unfortunately the small locally owned camera stores are a thing of the past.

BebuLamar

LensWork wrote:

Actually Canon DSLRs with an APS-C size sensor have a 1.6x crop factor, while Nikon's is 1.5x.

I have to wonder how much longer we will have to talk about crop factors. It seems to me that we are just creating confusion as many of the new generation of photographers have never shot film, so the conversion is moot as they have no full-frame experience to compare it to.

I agree. We should forget about crop factors altogether. The crop factor first assumes that the 24x36mm is a standard that all other formats to be compared to. There isn't anything so special about it to make it the standard. Secondly when you're talking crop and then what you call sensor size larger than 24x36?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

LensWork wrote:

Actually Canon DSLRs with an APS-C size sensor have a 1.6x crop factor, while Nikon's is 1.5x.

I have to wonder how much longer we will have to talk about crop factors.
.....

It will continue as new members join who have no exposure or understanding of the difference.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

...
Secondly when you're talking crop and then what you call sensor size larger than 24x36?

Reciprocal?