Understanding Digital Camera Lens Specs by Alfred DeBat
When comparing digital camera zoom lens views there can be some confusion. Here is some explanation to help you out.
Article rating: 8.29
Point-and-shoot digital cameras and interchangeable-lens digital single-lens reflex (dSLR) cameras use different nomenclature to describe lens focal lengths. The lens focal length usually indicates the field or angle of view produced by the lens.
In the film SLR camera world, 50mm or 55mm focal lengths are considered “normal” lenses. Here’s an approximate comparison: A moderate wide-angle lens is 35mm, shorter focal lengths are wide-angle (24mm to 28mm) and super wide-angle (17mm to 20mm). Lenses longer than 50mm are considered telephoto. Depending on focal length, there are short telephotos (75mm to 140mm), long telephotos (200mm to 300mm), and super-long telephoto lenses, which can range from 400mm to more than 1,000mm.
Tamron AF55-200mm F/4-5.6 Di II LD Macro lens
On digital SLR cameras, the physical size of the sensor array determines how much the lens “sees”. It is the same for point-and-shoot models and digital cameras with non-detachable lenses. Because there are no standard sensor chip sizes, manufacturers list the digital camera lens focal lengths by the equivalent view produced by 35mm film camera lenses.
In other words, when a point-and-shoot digital camera is listed with a 38-117mm zoom lens, it produces views equivalent to that focal-length range compared to a 35mm film camera. The actual focal length of a digital camera’s zoom lens could be 5-12mm, but it doesn’t matter because the sensor chip is so much smaller than a 35mm-format negative.
Pentax DA 16-45mm lens
The system based upon 35mm film camera focal lengths works well and allows buyers to decide what they can expect from a particular camera. The trouble arises when selecting interchangeable-lens dSLRs where lenses are listed by the actual zoom focal lengths. These focal length references have no relationship to 35mm film camera views.
This can be a particular problem for photographers who have a collection of film SLR lenses, and want to use their older lenses on new dSLRs. The lenses will fit the camera lens mount, but not produce their listed focal length views.
Interchangeable-lens digital SLR brands include Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, Sigma, Sony, Tamron, and others. The film SLR lenses will capture the correct view, only if the digital camera sensor chip is the same size as a 35mm-format negative (36-by-24mm). Unfortunately, only one popular camera maker now produces a dSLR with full-size sensor array – and that’s Canon. Therefore, if you have Canon EOS SLR lenses, they will operate correctly on the expensive Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II dSLR.
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Now let’s see what you get when you purchase one of the new “digital” lenses for the current crop of dSLRs. The chip is approximately half the size of a full-frame 35mm negative. So there is a focal-length conversion factor listed in the dSLR specifications – typically a factor of 1.5. The “digital” zoom lens frequently sold with these cameras is advertised as an18-55mm zoom, but it actually produces images equivalent to a 27-82mm zoom lens. That may not matter to you, but if you were expecting the super wide-angle view that 18mm film camera lenses produce, you’re not going to get it.
For example, if you own a family of SLR lenses from your film SLR camera shooting days, what happens when you put a 70-250mm zoom on a dSLR body with a 1.5 focal-length factor? You’ll now have a zoom range equivalent to 105-375mm long telephoto. (You multiply the focal lengths by the conversion factor for the equivalent lens view.) That zoom focal length might be great for sports and wildlife photography, but it’s not the best for general picture taking.
By the way, if you can mount a new dSLR camera lens on a suitable SLR film camera, you’ll find that the lens image does not cover the entire 35mm-format negative, because the lens is designed only to produce a complete image for the much smaller sensor array.
A dSLR focal-length conversion factor number is seldom prominently advertised and consumers usually have to go online to find the information buried in the individual camera’s technical specification sheets. (In current dSLR models, the focal length conversion factor can range from 1.3 to 1.7.) You can check the conversion factor by reviewing interchangeable-lens dSLR specs at camera manufacturers websites, including Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, Sigma, Sony, and Tamron.
If you are interested in wide-angle photography, a couple of digital cameras can produce images in the wide-angle equivalent range of 23mm and 24mm lenses, which are great focal lengths for indoor picture taking in tight spaces. Digital point-and-shoot cameras with built-in wide-angle lenses include three EasyShare Kodak models: The dual-lens, 23mm, plus 39-117mm zoom Kodak V570 and Kodak V705 models, or the 24-140mm zoom lens Kodak P880 camera.
This was really helpful, considering I'm new at Digital SLR"S. Just got a Canon Rebel XT. I've got a few extra lenses, and this article will help me to choose better lenses.
Posted by: Rick R. Jan 29, 2007 @ 3:38 PM EST
I would like to see samples of photos taken with the lenses you are reviewing
Posted by: Chrys Chrysanthou Jan 29, 2007 @ 4:23 PM EST
Having a number of film SLR lenses from my Konica cameras is my problem. I would like to purchase a dSLR camera and have these lenses work. Any idea what cameras they will fit. Thanks
Posted by: Ernest Brammer Jan 29, 2007 @ 5:2 PM EST
i would second the idea of representing the above info with sample photos
Posted by: Jay Jan 29, 2007 @ 5:25 PM EST
The article was excellent but it raised some other questions for me. Besides focal length, what else is impacted on a DSLR vis a vis a 35mm camera by having a less than full sized sensor array?
Posted by: Robert Gates Jan 30, 2007 @ 4:4 PM EST
This is a good basic article about the 'cropping' factor but what about the special lens coatings for digital? I would also like to understand the relationship between the 'mm' rating and the 'X' rating for zoom lenses - example: a 120mm lens on a Nikon dSLR is 180mm (120 X 1.5) but how does this convert to the 'X' rating on some cameras i.e. 10X. I have just read that Olympus is coming out with a point and shoot with a 17X lens. WHat does this mean in terms of mm.
Thanks,
J.
Posted by: Jodz Feb 1, 2007 @ 1:24 PM EST
I have the same question as Jodz Feb 1, 2007 - I have a Rebel XTi and am looking for a zoom lense - how do you evaluate or convert the "X" zoom on the mm lenses?
Thanks,
T
Posted by: Terry O Feb 19, 2007 @ 8:14 PM EST
I received an Rebel XT for xmas 2006. Forgive my ignorance, but I do not understand the "mm" that follows the lens range (28mm, 55mm etc.). I have not been able to find explination. Does this mean millimeter, metric meter or something else?
Posted by: Curtis Mar 27, 2007 @ 11:7 AM EST
This write up fails to address the "focal length" vs "croppping factor" issue. It's one thing to talk about field of view, but quit another to talk about image compression or expansion. That is, with a normal focal length (50mm for a 35mm film camera) the apparent visual distance between near and far objects in a picture will appear the same as when viewing in person with the naked eye. So, there is a question: if I have a 29mm film lens on a digital camera with a 1.7 lens factor, although I end up with a 49.3mm field of view (29 x 1.7 = 49.3), will I also have normal depth perception in the picture or will I have expanded depth perception like I would get with the 29mm lens on a film camera?
Posted by: David Dornbusch Jul 13, 2007 @ 2:10 PM EST
Great Article to understand the difference. Others are looking for additional information which is lacking however, I feel this give those film users an understanding of how digital compares. At least the basics.Simple said and straight to the point for novices and ameteurs.
Posted by: Bhruti Nov 6, 2007 @ 12:10 AM EST
Very useful article. How about an approximate 'at a glance' conversion table for an average weighting e.g. 1.5?
Posted by: richard Apr 19, 2008 @ 7:58 AM EST
Can you please tell me that, can I use my film SLR's external lenses in D-SLR camera. Your opinion will be valuable.
Thanks.
Posted by: Piyush Nasa May 30, 2008 @ 2:10 AM EST
how and why do 'lens cap' sizes vary within a focal length range? I thought that the thread size should be similar within a lens type (for instance all 55mm lens from canon irrespective of digital lens or analog lens) resulting in only one sized cap for 55mm lenses within a brand.. am i wrong?
Posted by: Vinita Gowda Jun 21, 2008 @ 12:58 PM EST
Article needs updating re two Nikon full frame cameras: D3 and D700.
C Hamilton
Posted by: C A Hamilton Sep 11, 2008 @ 10:31 PM EST
I was simply looking for a formula that would tell me what to expect from a digital camera, since I can only visualise or conceptualise what a given focal length would look like in digital camera focal length designations. Apparently, judging from the article, unless you know the chip size, there isn't any precise, or even close, formula. I'll still just have guess, and realise that lower numbers fore a digital camera equal somewhat higher numbers in a 35mm film camera lens, which I already knew/know.
Posted by: Robert Sanders Sep 19, 2008 @ 5:12 PM EST
very helpful article - but boy is the print size small!
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Posted by: Williams Dec 22, 2008 @ 7:36 PM EST
I'm just learning the basics of digital photography. The article helps but I'd like to learn more about the conversion factors of lenses and what various macro/micro do to the picture.
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