Better way to think about lens: There is a lot of confusing about lens and their perspectives. A 50mm lens might be like a 75mm on a "crop frame". But this might be a better way of...

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

There is a lot of confusing about lens and their perspectives. A 50mm lens might be like a 75mm on a "crop frame". But this might be a better way of thinking about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hDMktsqxs

alycat Loc: Canton OH

Jer wrote:

There is a lot of confusing about lens and their perspectives. A 50mm lens might be like a 75mm on a "crop frame". But this might be a better way of thinking about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hDMktsqxs

That might be of some help to newbies, but people who know photography, or advanced armatures know about the relationship of formats and equivalents. Any Pro that dosen't , god help him.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I just thought this might be of general interest to people learning photography. It's also good general information.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Jer wrote:

There is a lot of confusing about lens and their perspectives. A 50mm lens might be like a 75mm on a "crop frame". But this might be a better way of thinking about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hDMktsqxs

I know the numbers. I can explain what the numbers mean.
I know that with my camera, a 50mm lens gives me the field of view that is equivalent to 100mm lens on a 35mm film.
But that's all they are: numbers.
The two lenses I use the most are a 12-40mm and a 40-150mm. From using these lenses I have a pretty good idea of how much I will see through the viewfinder.
So, I ignore the numbers, I don't even think about what it would be on a FF or 35mm camera, I just look through the viewfinder and zoom in or out till I'm happy with what I see in the viewfinder, and then press the shutter release button.
If for some reason, it becomes important to know the exact focal length, I have the exif data to fall back on.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Jer wrote:

There is a lot of confusing about lens and their perspectives. A 50mm lens might be like a 75mm on a "crop frame". But this might be a better way of thinking about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hDMktsqxs

Jer, good find. I'm sure this will be of use to those who are not familiar with lens/format relationships.
--Bob

streetmarty Loc: Brockton, Ma

Jer wrote:

There is a lot of confusing about lens and their perspectives. A 50mm lens might be like a 75mm on a "crop frame". But this might be a better way of thinking about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hDMktsqxs

I have been a photographer for 50 years and enjoyed that clip it was exactly what you said, it "might be" a better was of thinking. I agree. Thanks for posting. :thumbup:

MW

Jer wrote:

There is a lot of confusing about lens and their perspectives. A 50mm lens might be like a 75mm on a "crop frame". But this might be a better way of thinking about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hDMktsqxs

I have a hard time understanding the confusion. It seems so simple to me. Half a century ago if one wanted a serious phorography education you started with a view camera. Even without resort to math the relationship of lens to image circle to film plane to film dimension was quickly obvious and required little deep thought.

Here is something truly useful the lomography folks could do: A dirt cheap plastic view camera with equally cheap 35mm and 120 backs. After a weekend or two of use one would never again be discombobulated by "full frame" vs "crop sensor" vs "M4/3" vs DF/DL/DX

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I really like view cameras. Besides my big cameras I have some small mirrorless cameras. It's really nice being able to see exactly when I'm going to get and the exact exposure. But this method of using angle of view really helps when I'm choosing which lens to use. I have a better idea of what I'm going to say before I pick up the lens.

MW

Jer wrote:

I really like view cameras. Besides my big cameras I have some small mirrorless cameras. It's really nice being able to see exactly when I'm going to get and the exact exposure. But this method of using angle of view really helps when I'm choosing which lens to use. I have a better idea of what I'm going to say before I pick up the lens.

"Equivalent focal length" is a convenient shorthand if you were brought up on 35mm film. Without knowing the angle in degrees, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135 mm etc etc conjour up a definite set of mental categories about usage and what to expect. For someone who it starting cold with APS-C sensors references to all that ancient stuff are useless and confusing. I try not to talk about equivalent focal length except to myself lest I send poor souls down the path of trying to decode a message that will have no meaning to them.

PS: loathe the words "crop sensor" as it carries false conotatations as far as I'm concerned.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I agree