Getting 35mm view on a crop
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It doesn't matter whether the lens is designed for full frame EF, EF-S, micro 4/3rds or anything else, the focal length is always designated the same. For example, a 35mm lens on full frame will be marked as 35mm and will have a field of view of 35mm. On a Canon 7D, the same lens will have a field of view of 56mm. If the lens was available as a special EF-S version, it would still be marked 35mm and still have the same 56mm field of view. On a micro 4/3rds camera, the same lens will have a field of view of 70mm. Again, an Olympus specific 35mm lens would still have a 70mm field of view.
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Being a pedant, that's not strictly true. Sticking a 35mm lens on a 7D, the lens will still have the field of view of a 35mm lens, but the sensor on the 7D will only capture a part of the image equivalent to the field of view of a 56mm lens.
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Wouldn't it be better to just use the field of view you like best rather than think about a specific focal length
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It would be useful but FoV changes whereas focal length doesn't so it is much better to print focal lengths on the lenses.
It is all about EQUIVALENT field of view, that being equivalent to a 35mm film camera (or nowadays a full frame digital camera).
With a 35mm (focal length) lens, the field of view you get on a crop body is EQUIVALENT to the field of view you would get with a 56mm lens on a full frame camera.
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I meant look through the viewfinder, zoom in or out to get the photo you want and go for it
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big soft moose
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this - although knowing about comparable FoV is still important for when you are using primes
big soft moose
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supose you are in a fixed location though - like on the edge of a cliff, on a footpath, shooting a wedding from a fixed point in a church etc
or supose you are planning a shoot where once you've started you won't have time to change lenses (weddings again for example)
A lot of people use the nifty fifty for lowlight performance at gigs, weddings etc - so its important for those people to realise that on a crop body the FoV is about equivalent to 85mm on a FF,
or supose you are planning a shoot where once you've started you won't have time to change lenses (weddings again for example)
A lot of people use the nifty fifty for lowlight performance at gigs, weddings etc - so its important for those people to realise that on a crop body the FoV is about equivalent to 85mm on a FF,
woof woof
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When you look through the VF you see what the camera captures or a little less as not all VF's are 100%, you may see 90 odd %. But what you see isn't necessarily what the lens is capable of displaying
as with an APS-C or MFT or any other smaller than 35mm system what you are seeing when you look through the VF is a "crop" from the centre of the image.Therefore on APS-C when using a 23mm lens (if there is such a thing) you see a crop from the centre which makes it look like the FoV you get with a 35mm lens on FF
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Both. The lens will still create the full sized image in the camera (eg. 35mm field of view,) but the smaller sensor will only pick up the middle of the image which is what you see through the viewfinder.
The term 'Crop Sensor' is used as the rest of the full image is discarded/cropped giving the impression of a longer lens. It still has the perspective of a 35mm lens but will give the field of view of a ~56mm lens.
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Comparable field of view is just lazy shorthand, and bears no significance to people who only use one format of camera.
The fact that I need a medium tele for a certain shot doesnt require a 35mm equivalent to measure against. I know it'll be an 85mm on my crop sensor. It would have been my 135 on 35mm film or a 150 on my MF kit. The numbers don't work out perfectly, but they're the commonly available lenses. In the same way I'm happy that 30mm is a std prime length for my current kit, without having to look for something around 31.3 lens. Trying to force 35mm equivalent lens lengths into crop shooters minds just makes them feel that they're using kit that needs a real camera for comparison.
But an EFS or other built for crop lens wont project an oversized image that's being cropped down. It's just a nonsense:bang:
The only correct answer to 'what's the field of view of a 35mm lens' is 'what's the format of the camera?
On a 4/3 camera it's a short tele, on a common crop body it's roughly a standard lens, on FF or 35mm it's not very wide, on MF it's a wide and on a 5x4 camera it's an ultra wide.
We never used 'equivalent' focal lengths pre-digital, it was understood that a photographer would understand the format they were shooting. And IMO we don't need them now, unless a photographer is using the same lens for more than one format camera.
The fact that I need a medium tele for a certain shot doesnt require a 35mm equivalent to measure against. I know it'll be an 85mm on my crop sensor. It would have been my 135 on 35mm film or a 150 on my MF kit. The numbers don't work out perfectly, but they're the commonly available lenses. In the same way I'm happy that 30mm is a std prime length for my current kit, without having to look for something around 31.3 lens. Trying to force 35mm equivalent lens lengths into crop shooters minds just makes them feel that they're using kit that needs a real camera for comparison.
But an EFS or other built for crop lens wont project an oversized image that's being cropped down. It's just a nonsense:bang:
The only correct answer to 'what's the field of view of a 35mm lens' is 'what's the format of the camera?
On a 4/3 camera it's a short tele, on a common crop body it's roughly a standard lens, on FF or 35mm it's not very wide, on MF it's a wide and on a 5x4 camera it's an ultra wide.
We never used 'equivalent' focal lengths pre-digital, it was understood that a photographer would understand the format they were shooting. And IMO we don't need them now, unless a photographer is using the same lens for more than one format camera.
woof woof
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It's not nonesense, IMVHO. The EF-S lens is still a 30mm lens (or whatever...) but it gives a smaller image circle so in effect thinking about crops still works. IMVHO it's not nonesence to think in terms of 35mm "FF" if you grew up to think that way. I still think in terms of FF and convert to MFT when that's what I'm using, it works for me
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LOL how to take a perfectly good explanation and completely muddy the waters! KUDOS!
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Most of the time yes, but in this case I wanted to know what I stick it on to get my pictures resembling the same as a 35mm on a full frame. One day I may go down the prime route and this is an easy way to have a play.
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It's not nonesense, IMVHO. The EF-S lens is still a 30mm lens (or whatever...) but it gives a smaller image circle so in effect thinking about crops still works. IMVHO it's not nonesence to think in terms of 35mm "FF" if you grew up to think that way. I still think in terms of FF and convert to MFT when that's what I'm using, it works for me
If it works for you - then great - but so many of these threads are for the benefit of new photographers who have only ever shot on crop digital SLRs. So the 'benchmark' is just something that they need to learn that's then irrelevant.
Image circles and relative lens focal lengths are muddying the waters more than they need to for an OP who was already confused by some 'advice' that he needs to look for a 35mm equivalent lens. :shrug:
My film kit was 645 MF, how helpful to you would it be if I suggested a 50mm equivalent lens? (medium to wide btw
) would you want me to turn it to a FF
equivalent to make it easy for you. FF, 35mm or whatever isn't any kind of 'standard' that everyone should be measuring against - it's mad and I can't understand why some people want to show their 'old school' knowledge or new kit pride by sticking to it.
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If it works for you - then great - but so many of these threads are for the benefit of new photographers who have only ever shot on crop digital SLRs. So the 'benchmark' is just something that they need to learn that's then irrelevant.
Image circles and relative lens focal lengths are muddying the waters more than they need to for an OP who was already confused by some 'advice' that he needs to look for a 35mm equivalent lens. :shrug:
My film kit was 645 MF, how helpful to you would it be if I suggested a 50mm equivalent lens? (medium to wide btw
FF, 35mm or whatever isn't any kind of 'standard' that everyone should be measuring against - it's mad and I can't understand why some people want to show their 'old school' knowledge or new kit pride by sticking to it.
Is the air thin up there on that high horse?
(light hearted before anyone passes out in offence! :bonk For those of use who shoot multiple formats it's very useful to have a standard reference point, no it's not a mandatory thing by any means, but is useful. If I was top go out and buy a Medium format rig, I wouldn't have a clue what lens I would need, but I know I'd be looking for a 24mm FF equivalent. Same when I just bought my S3, I didn't immediately know what lens I would want because it was again a different set of focal lengths to what I'm used to.
I wholeheartedly agree about the pedantry of equivalence, it really isn't needed, but a basic crop factor is a very useful thing in determining what lens is suitable for your needs.
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Alan Clogwyn said:Is the air thin up there on that high horse?
For those of use who shoot multiple formats it's very useful to have a standard reference point, no it's not a mandatory thing by any means, but is useful. If I was top go out and buy a Medium format rig, I wouldn't have a clue what lens I would need, but I know I'd be looking for a 24mm FF equivalent. Same when I just bought my S3, I didn't immediately know what lens I would want because it was again a different set of focal lengths to what I'm used to.
I wholeheartedly agree about the pedantry of equivalence, it really isn't needed, but a basic crop factor is a very useful thing in determining what lens is suitable for your needs.
That'd be really useful, but the OP doesn't shoot multiple formats and the whole thread is due to the fact that someone told him to shoot at 35mm equivalent and it confused him.
So you might see the equivalence factor as a godsend, but you shoot multiple formats. To the OP it's one piece of information too much.