I need help understanding digital photography. Nikon 100mm lens becomes 150mm does that mean the zoom is greater or with the sensor being smaller the zoom is the same and the angle of view is equal to a150mm lens.
This diagram may help you understand about "crop factor". Any given lens will
project the same field-of-view on every camera. The difference is the size of each camera's sensor.
"Full frame" (FX) digital cameras have sensors the same size as 35-mm film ratio used in film cameras: 24-mm x 36-mm.
"Cropped" (DX) digital cameras have smaller sensors (approx 16-mm x 24-mm) which see & record a smaller area of the image projected by the lens. This is generically called an APS-C size sensor.
On Sony, Fuji, Nikon DX, and other APS-C cameras, we use a crop factor of 1.5x to figure the apparent view, which would match the lens needed on a 35-mm film camera to capture the same field-of-view.
On Canon APS-C cameras (slightly smaller sensors), we use a crop factor of 1.6x to figure the apparent view, which would match the lens needed on a 35-mm film camera to capture the same field-of-view.
Read more here:
FAQ: Sensor Sizes Chart & Comparative Format Views at
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26503-1.html
Small correction, Nikonian: You have Olympus listed with the cameras with a crop factor of 1.5
The crop factor for the 4/3 sensor Olympus uses, is actually 2.
roy4711 wrote:
I need help understanding digital photography. Nikon 100mm lens becomes 150mm does that mean the zoom is greater or with the sensor being smaller the zoom is the same and the angle of view is equal to a150mm lens.
There are two different format cameras that take the same lenses.
Canon, Nikon and some others make both. With the "full-frame" bodies, the 100mm lens has the same field of view as it would on a 35mm film camera. If you put that same lens on the smaller sensor cameras, you get a narrower and of view. The focal length does not change with the smaller APS-C cameras, just the angle of view because the imaging area is smaller.
There are other size sensors than these, but a lot of confusion happens with full-frame and APS-C sensors, I think because the same lenses that work on the bigger sensor cameras can be used on the smaller.
Morning Star wrote:
Small correction, Nikonian: You have Olympus listed with the cameras with a crop factor of 1.5
The crop factor for the 4/3 sensor Olympus uses, is actually 2.
Correct. Olympus removed from APS-C list.
This chart compares 4/3 sensor size to APS-C and full frame sensors.
I was recently asked: "why did't the camera makers stick with one sensor size like full frame as I remember in film cameras, is it because of the cost?"
Answer: Film cameras had several different formats, including 8x10, 4x5, 126, 120, 70-mm, 135 (35-mm), 110, half-frame, Minox, etc. Here are the current sensor sizes, from full-frame to cellular telephone.
Nikonian72 wrote:
I was recently asked: "why did't the camera makers stick with one sensor size like full frame as I remember in film cameras, is it because of the cost?"
It certainly would have kept the confusion down.
that was a good answer for me to understand the question.thank you.
Whuff
Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa
I have a hard time understanding what difference any of this makes at all. I just snap the shutter when I have what I want in the viewfinder.
roy4711 wrote:
I need help understanding digital photography. Nikon 100mm lens becomes 150mm does that mean the zoom is greater or with the sensor being smaller the zoom is the same and the angle of view is equal to a150mm lens.
The lens does not change, it is still a 100mm lens. There is no change in magnification or "reach".
The field of view which the DX sensor captures is the same as the field of view which an FX sensor would capture with a 150mm lens. So the DX sensor shows
less of the scene.
The "effective" magnification changes when the full image is
displayed, either on a monitor or a print. If you are making a 24x36 inch print, the FX image needs to be magnified by 25x, while the DX image needs to be magnified by 38x. That is the other place where the 1.5x factor comes up.
Whuff wrote:
I have a hard time understanding what difference any of this makes at all.
When you
do want to understand the difference, this is the forum to ask.
boberic
Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
I don't know this is the reason for full frame and crop sensor models but it may be cost and marketing. The crop sensor cameras are less expensive and are targeted as "consumer " items while FF cameras are sold as "pro" cameras. If all cameras were over $ 3,000 as full frames with lens are much fewer would be sold. Your basic hobby photographer (as am I ) would be forced to a point and shoot or cell phone camera. Again I do not know that any of this is accurate, but it sound possible to me.
Whuff wrote:
I have a hard time understanding what difference any of this makes at all. I just snap the shutter when I have what I want in the viewfinder.
If you are happy with the photos you are getting, then it's great. :-)
boberic wrote:
I don't know this is the reason for full frame and crop sensor models but it may be cost and marketing. The crop sensor cameras are less expensive and are targeted as "consumer " items while FF cameras are sold as "pro" cameras. If all cameras were over $ 3,000 as full frames with lens are much fewer would be sold. Your basic hobby photographer (as am I ) would be forced to a point and shoot or cell phone camera. Again I do not know that any of this is accurate, but it sound possible to me.
I don't know this is the reason for full frame and... (
show quote)
There are technical, engineering factors as well. It is not easy to fabricate the full frame sensor. Consider the difference between computers today and those from 10-20 years ago. Similar engineering advances were needed with computer processors.
Whuff wrote:
I have a hard time understanding what difference any of this makes at all. I just snap the shutter when I have what I want in the viewfinder.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
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