I'm planning on purchasing a Nikon D7000 soon but am becoming increasingly more confused about Crop Factor. I know what it is and what it does but I'm looking for some information on putting up with it. I'm also confused about buying lenses for a camera with a crop factor because it seems you can't just buy any. Also, with a crop factor camera, will you be able to see exactly the frame you'll take, with the crop, in the view finder or is it a case of guessing where the crop will be?
Working with Crop Factor
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TCR4x4
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Just dont worry about it. You can use any lenses (with nikon anyhow, others may be different) What you see in the view finder is what you get (some viewfinders are only 95% coverage but the crop factor has nothing to do with it)
Its not a crop factor anyway really, its just a smaller portion of a 35mm frame. Unless you use film, you wont even know the difference. There is no "putting up with it" Its how all digital cameras have been until the Nikon D3 came along. If you think of a compact camera, or a phone camera, thats even more of a "crop factor" but you dont worry about that do you?
Its not a crop factor anyway really, its just a smaller portion of a 35mm frame. Unless you use film, you wont even know the difference. There is no "putting up with it" Its how all digital cameras have been until the Nikon D3 came along. If you think of a compact camera, or a phone camera, thats even more of a "crop factor" but you dont worry about that do you?
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Ignore any talk of crop factor, these are cameras designed with sensors smaller than the 35mm frame with lenses designed to suit.
If you're confused because you've come from a 35mm slr, do you remember medium format? Where a standard lens was 75, 80 or 90mm? On a Canon crop, the standard lens length would be around 30mm, with a typical standard zoom of 18-55.
Just like with your 35mm kit the viewfinder shows about 95% of the image (better on the more expensive cameras).
Depending when you last used a 35mm slr and the quality of it, you might be disappointed with a modern viewfinder, due to the crop they're smaller and due to the AF mechanism they're darker than in the old days. Better with the more expensive cameras, and in no way terrible.
If you're confused because you've come from a 35mm slr, do you remember medium format? Where a standard lens was 75, 80 or 90mm? On a Canon crop, the standard lens length would be around 30mm, with a typical standard zoom of 18-55.
Just like with your 35mm kit the viewfinder shows about 95% of the image (better on the more expensive cameras).
Depending when you last used a 35mm slr and the quality of it, you might be disappointed with a modern viewfinder, due to the crop they're smaller and due to the AF mechanism they're darker than in the old days. Better with the more expensive cameras, and in no way terrible.
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No sure why this is NSFW, but I'll try to help. 
I'm not 100% well versed in Nikon cameras but speaking from a Canon point of view there are some lenses that have the EF-S fitments, which means they wont fit the 'pro' cameras ie the 5D and 1D. However the EF lenses fit all the cameras from billy basis to the pro, but are generally more expensive as the are made with better glass.
From a crop factor point of view what you see through the view finder is normally what you get, or at least 97% of it (for a 1.6 factor sensor). And it will be 100% on a full frame sensor.
The only downside to a smaller sensor means you loose focal length at the smaller end, ie a 10-20mm lens (wide angle) will actually be 16-32mm a 50mm will be 80mm. BUT... where it does help is the larger the focal length the bigger the zoom, so a 100-300mm lens will be 160-480mm giving you an uber zoom on things like wildlife or taking shots of the moon.
Have I helped at all? :shrug:
I'm not 100% well versed in Nikon cameras but speaking from a Canon point of view there are some lenses that have the EF-S fitments, which means they wont fit the 'pro' cameras ie the 5D and 1D. However the EF lenses fit all the cameras from billy basis to the pro, but are generally more expensive as the are made with better glass.
From a crop factor point of view what you see through the view finder is normally what you get, or at least 97% of it (for a 1.6 factor sensor). And it will be 100% on a full frame sensor.
The only downside to a smaller sensor means you loose focal length at the smaller end, ie a 10-20mm lens (wide angle) will actually be 16-32mm a 50mm will be 80mm. BUT... where it does help is the larger the focal length the bigger the zoom, so a 100-300mm lens will be 160-480mm giving you an uber zoom on things like wildlife or taking shots of the moon.
Have I helped at all? :shrug:
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There's nothing wrong with crops. If you combine crops with prime EF lenses youhave absolutely fantastic fast cameras. An example being the 7D, i'm pretty sure the 7D is the best camera Canon do. IMO anyway!
You see either 99% or 100& coverage on any camera, it's just the sensor that is smaller. Nothing else. Nikon have 1.5x sensors and full frame.
Hope that helps
You see either 99% or 100& coverage on any camera, it's just the sensor that is smaller. Nothing else. Nikon have 1.5x sensors and full frame.
Hope that helps
Phil V said:
Thank you for your reply. So what I see in the view finder will be the exact shot?
I used a friend's DSLR a few months ago and every picture I took was smaller than what I'd seen on the view finder. It was a Sony a350 18-55 I think - if that's what they're called.
clawz said:No sure why this is NSFW, but I'll try to help.
I'm not 100% well versed in Nikon cameras but speaking from a Canon point of view there are some lenses that have the EF-S fitments, which means they wont fit the 'pro' cameras ie the 5D and 1D. However the EF lenses fit all the cameras from billy basis to the pro, but are generally more expensive as the are made with better glass.
From a crop factor point of view what you see through the view finder is normally what you get, or at least 97% of it (for a 1.6 factor sensor). And it will be 100% on a full frame sensor.
The only downside to a smaller sensor means you loose focal length at the smaller end, ie a 10-20mm lens (wide angle) will actually be 16-32mm a 50mm will be 80mm. BUT... where it does help is the larger the focal length the bigger the zoom, so a 100-300mm lens will be 160-480mm giving you an uber zoom on things like wildlife or taking shots of the moon.
Have I helped at all? :shrug:
I'm new to this forum. I don't know what NSFW means. Thank you for your reply anyway.
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Crop factor is not the same as cropping a picture.
For all intents and purposes, when you look through the viewfinder, what you see is what you get. There is nothing to "work around" in that respect, and nothing to get worried or confused about.
For all intents and purposes, when you look through the viewfinder, what you see is what you get. There is nothing to "work around" in that respect, and nothing to get worried or confused about.
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With Nikon, all lenses fit all bodies. The only issues are with the lower end bodies, some lenses wont autofocus, but I believe the D7000 has the focus motor, so thats not an issue. and also if you put a lens desgined for a crop camera on a full frame body, the glass in the lens isnt wide enough to cover the sensor, so you either get vignetting, or the camera automaticly reduces the amount of the sensor used to match the lens.
Whatever the lens says it is, thats what it is. a 18-55mm lens is the same on any body.
The difference is simple. On a D7000, the sensor is smaller than say a D700.
Imagine a large rectangcular window with a wonderfull view outside. You can see 100% of the window and all that it looks onto. Now draw the curtains closed about half way and look out.. You can see the same view, its just now some of it is obscured from the curtains. Because of this, your eyes trick you into thinking the view you are seeing is closer.. Its not, just you can see a smaller portion.
That is the crop factor.
Whatever the lens says it is, thats what it is. a 18-55mm lens is the same on any body.
The difference is simple. On a D7000, the sensor is smaller than say a D700.
Imagine a large rectangcular window with a wonderfull view outside. You can see 100% of the window and all that it looks onto. Now draw the curtains closed about half way and look out.. You can see the same view, its just now some of it is obscured from the curtains. Because of this, your eyes trick you into thinking the view you are seeing is closer.. Its not, just you can see a smaller portion.
That is the crop factor.
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NSFW: means Not Safe For Work (generally applied to any post that you really wouldn't want to click on whilst you are at work, perfect example in the 'Nude and Glamour'
section on the forum. Looking at these kinda shots when your boss walks past may get you the sack! lol!! Same also applies to rude jokes that sort of thing that could be taken out of context.clawz said:NSFW: means Not Safe For Work (generally applied to any post that you really wouldn't want to click on whilst you are at work, perfect example in the 'Nude and Glamour'
Thanks for clearing that up - what an unusual tag! I'm using the iPhone app for this forum so was unaware of its meaning.
