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Crop Factor
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Jun 21, 2019 12:11:31   #
calvinbell
 
I have a micro 4/3rds camera and am wondering about the concept of crop factor. Does it affect image quality?

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Jun 21, 2019 12:21:55   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Yes, the smaller the sensor, the more limited it is. The larger the sensor, the better. I'm not trying to say that your micro 4/3rds isn't good, just sayin' that the larger the sensor the better.

It's like a muscle car engine, the larger the engine, the more HP.

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Jun 21, 2019 12:27:36   #
rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin
 
I understand what you are saying, but the notion is hysterical. Suggest you Google “fine art images from micro 4/3rds cameras”.

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Jun 21, 2019 12:35:34   #
rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX
 
As you correctly stated in your question, crop factor is a concept.
Concepts don't affect image quality.

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Jun 21, 2019 12:54:59   #
Alans844
 
Concept?? Interesting. Crop Factor is physics. It is a concept kinda like gravity is a concept. Try jumping off a building. You might find your concept has changed. Jeep Daddy has it right. He recognizes that a good photographer can be more than an equalizer however.

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Jun 21, 2019 13:34:43   #
BebuLamar
 
Crop factor is a concept that is not as relevant now as back in the early days of DSLR. The crop factor is simply the size factor of the imaging sensor as compared to the 24mm x 36mm sensor size. Since the M4/3 sensor diagonal is about half the size of the 24x36mm sensor so it has a crop factor of 2.

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Jun 21, 2019 13:40:29   #
Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida
 
calvinbell wrote:
I have a micro 4/3rds camera and am wondering about the concept of crop factor. Does it affect image quality?


On the plus side, your camera is lighter and you are more likely to have it with you! The potential shots you see when your camera is at home don't count for much. Also, the difference is largely irrelevant for internet use or small prints. There are some definite advantage to larger sensors, but it doesn't limit your ability to take some great shots.

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Jun 21, 2019 13:43:47   #
Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil
 
There is a very good video on youtube about crop factor.
Just type in Crop Factor. I found: Crop Factor TRUTH: Do you need Full Frame?

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Jun 21, 2019 14:00:35   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
calvinbell wrote:
I have a micro 4/3rds camera and am wondering about the concept of crop factor. Does it affect image quality?

Quality, no, composition due to angle of view, yes.

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Jun 21, 2019 14:52:19   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
calvinbell wrote:
I have a micro 4/3rds camera and am wondering about the concept of crop factor. Does it affect image quality?


If by crop factor you are referring to the narrowing of the field of view when using a camera with a smaller sensor, yes, it diminishes the image quality. But many will argue that the IQ issue is offset by the narrowing of the field of view which results in less cropping and the illusion of a longer focal length. In your case 2X the actual focal length of a lens would give you a image with the same field of view on a full frame camera. IN other words a 100mm lens on your camera results in the same field of view of a 200mm lens on a full frame camera.

Smaller sensors have a limit to what they can capture, and they do not lend themselves to more than very modest cropping. Pixel sizes are very small and that makes smaller sensor cameras with 20 mp or so pretty noisy at higher ISO.

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Jun 22, 2019 04:23:31   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
Crop factor has nothing to do with image quality. It is simply a number that represents the size reduction of the image sensor from full frame 35 mm. A crop factor of 1 is 22 by 36 millimeters which is the size of 1 frame of 35mm film. Full Frame image sensors are the same size or slightly smaller. Sensors smaller than full frame are referred to as crop sensors. Most Canon crop sensor cameras have a crop factor of 1.62, and Nikon is 1.5, meaning the image sensors are 1.62 and 1.5 times smaller than full frame (22 X 36), also referred to as APS-C. There are several crop sensor sizes, such as Canon's APS-H with a crop factor of 1.29, Sigma's Foveon with a crop factor of 1.73, Four Thirds with a crop factor of 2, Nikon's CX with a crop factor of 2.7, 2/3's with a crop factor of 3.93, 1/1.7'' with a crop factor of 4.55 and 1/2.3'' with a crop factor of 5.62.
You use the crop factor to determine the lens focal size in relation to full frame. For example, a Canon camera with its 1.62 crop factor, to get the same field of view as a 55 mm lens on a full frame camera, you will need a 34mm lens.
Crop sensors affect image quality because the individual pixels on the sensor are usually smaller and closer together. The smaller the pixel the less total amount of light it can gather. When the pixels are closer together the more susceptible they are to electronic noise. Newer digital cameras have more powerful image processors capable of reducing electronic noise. Problem is, the higher the ISO, the more the image processor has to amplify the signal and along with the amplification of image data, electronic noise is also amplified causing unwanted effects in the actual image.
So, bottom line, no the crop factor does not effect image quality, the size of the sensor and ISO, does. This is why the full frame Canon EOS 5DSr has such a low ISO ceiling. There are a whole lot of smaller pixels packed closer together than on other cameras, making it more susceptible to electronic noise. Newer cameras with similar high megapixels aren't as susceptible to electronic noise because their image processors are more powerful and capable of filtering out more electronic noise.

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Jun 22, 2019 07:47:18   #
Canisdirus
 
rmorrison1116 wrote:
Crop factor has nothing to do with image quality. It is simply a number that represents the size reduction of the image sensor from full frame 35 mm. A crop factor of 1 is 22 by 36 millimeters which is the size of 1 frame of 35mm film. Full Frame image sensors are the same size or slightly smaller. Sensors smaller than full frame are referred to as crop sensors. Most Canon crop sensor cameras have a crop factor of 1.62, and Nikon is 1.5, meaning the image sensors are 1.62 and 1.5 times smaller than full frame (22 X 36), also referred to as APS-C. There are several crop sensor sizes, such as Canon's APS-H with a crop factor of 1.29, Sigma's Foveon with a crop factor of 1.73, Four Thirds with a crop factor of 2, Nikon's CX with a crop factor of 2.7, 2/3's with a crop factor of 3.93, 1/1.7'' with a crop factor of 4.55 and 1/2.3'' with a crop factor of 5.62.
You use the crop factor to determine the lens focal size in relation to full frame. For example, a Canon camera with its 1.62 crop factor, to get the same field of view as a 55 mm lens on a full frame camera, you will need a 34mm lens.
Crop sensors affect image quality because the individual pixels on the sensor are usually smaller and closer together. The smaller the pixel the less total amount of light it can gather. When the pixels are closer together the more susceptible they are to electronic noise. Newer digital cameras have more powerful image processors capable of reducing electronic noise. Problem is, the higher the ISO, the more the image processor has to amplify the signal and along with the amplification of image data, electronic noise is also amplified causing unwanted effects in the actual image.
So, bottom line, no the crop factor does not effect image quality, the size of the sensor and ISO, does. This is why the full frame Canon EOS 5DSr has such a low ISO ceiling. There are a whole lot of smaller pixels packed closer together than on other cameras, making it more susceptible to electronic noise. Newer cameras with similar high megapixels aren't as susceptible to electronic noise because their image processors are more powerful and capable of filtering out more electronic noise.
Crop factor has nothing to do with image quality. ... (show quote)


Agreed. I would add one more thing ..... the QUALITY of the sensor.

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Jun 22, 2019 08:15:56   #
mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma
 
I too have a micro 4/3s camera. I’m getting better quality images now than I did with my Nikon. The crop factor on my camera is x2. When I acquire lenses or deciding what I’m anticipating to shoot, I take it into consideration. Otherwise, I don’t think about it.

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Jun 22, 2019 08:17:41   #
BebuLamar
 
The crop factor is only meaningful for someone who used to the 35mm cameras and lenses.

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Jun 22, 2019 08:26:20   #
Silverman Loc: Michigan
 
calvinbell wrote:
I have a micro 4/3rds camera and am wondering about the concept of crop factor. Does it affect image quality?


If I am correct, "Crop-factor" affects the "Field of View" (F.O.V.). I am not familiar with the "Crop-factor" of the Micro 4/3 camera sensor, but with my Nikon D3300 for example, my 50mm lens, must be multiplied 1.5 " Crop-factor", so my actual F.O.V. with my 50mm would equal 75mm. Yours will be a different " Crop-factor. So, does Crop-factor effect the image quality? ....No, it should not.
Crop-factor is determined by the size of the Camera's Sensor.

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