A Quick Guide: What Focal Length

[Rovers_Andy]

Ok

Here is a very quick illustration of different focal lengths.

The distance from the camera to the subject is roughly 6 Metres

Shot 1 @ 100MM (D3S + 70-200)

Shot 2 @ 200MM (D3S + 70-200)

Shot 3 @ 400MM (D3S + 400)

Shot 4 @ 650MM (D3S +1.7+400)

Shot 5 @ 1000MM (D300S +1.7TC+400MM)

Hope this helps

Andy

 

[Trig's]

Andy, #4 with your D3s wasn't it & not a D300s.... (so the exif says)

Just thought I'd point that out incase...

 

[Rovers_Andy]

Andy, #4 with your D3s wasn't it & not a D300s.... (so the exif says)

Just thought I'd point that out incase...

Well Spotted :bonk: did one with D300S and 400 and one with D3S TC and 400

 

[Trig's]

No worries.. Just thought I'd mention it - mainly for the "crop" sensor...

bottle of "bud" 4 me when ever your getting them in

 

[Scarecrow]

Useful comparison for some noobs out there.

Slightly off topic, but on my monitor they all look slightly over exposed.

 

[akr]

This should be useful

Either I'm missing something (quite possible) or the last one is closer to 600mm +1.7 to get 1000m?

Al

 

[Rovers_Andy]

This should be useful

Either I'm missing something (quite possible) or the last one is closer to 600mm +1.7 to get 1000m?

Al

Hi Al 1000MM includes the crop factor of the sensor on the D300S to give an effective focal length

 

[akr]

Hi Al 1000MM includes the crop factor of the sensor on the D300S to give an effective focal length of 1000MM

Aha! I knew that, just asking the question in case anyone was too scared...ahem

 

[Deleted member 27472]

Great, thanks.
What spec was the canon lens?

 

[Rovers_Andy]

Great, thanks.
What spec was the canon lens?

The Nikon lens used was the 70-200MM F/2.8 VRII for the first two shots and the 400MM F/2.8 VRI for the final three

 

[Deleted member 27472]

Opps, sorry. I read it as a Canon D3. God knows why.
Great clear shots though

 

[tdodd]

This online simulator allows one to experiment with focal lengths and fields of view - http://www.tamron.com/lenses/learning_center/tools/focal-length-comparison.php

 

[Deleted member 27472]

Ow, thanks for the link.
I still don't know if I need to go longer than 70.

 

[tdodd]

Ow, thanks for the link.
I still don't know if I need to go longer than 70.

There is a calculator on this page - http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-lenses.htm. If you know the distance to your subject, the size of your subject and the format of your camera then you can figure out the focal length required to fill the frame.

e.g. to shoot a 6' man with a Canon crop body camera in portrait orientation from 20m away, leaving just a little space top and bottom of the frame you would need a focal length of around 220mm

 

[Deleted member 27472]

Tim, you are a star.
I suppose it helps to get the search terms in google right, otherwise you end up with pages of useless guides.

 

[tdodd]

Try this - GOOGLE SEARCH. I selected the Cambridge in Colour result as I know it to be is a very useful information resource.

 

[Trig's]

Tim, you are a star.
I suppose it helps to get the search terms in google right, otherwise you end up with pages of useless guides.

or a load of porn related sites - esp towards the end of the search pages...

or does that only happen to me :shrug:

 

[Deleted member 27472]

Hasn't happened to me yet. Depends what terms you are using! lol

 

[Trig's]

Hasn't happened to me yet. Depends what terms you are using! lol

You'd be amazed... Have a look right at the end of the search pages (1278935 pages found) - look in the last 935 & it will have something regarding porn... over 80% of the internet is porn based - may even be higher....