 Giordano |
Lenses for Digital and Film Cameras Hi, I just entered the world of digital photography and I'd like to buy a 28mm lens (compared to film cameras) for my Nikon D70s. I know that if I want to buy a lens "for film cameras", I have to look for a 19mm lens (19*1.5=28.5), but what about lenses "for digital cameras"? Do I have to look for a 19mm even if it's "for digital cameras"? Or is a 28mm lens for a digital camera the same as a 28mm for a film camera? Thanks!
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Jon Close |
Focal length is a property of the lens design and does not change if mounted to a 35mm film camera or a smaller-sensored digital. To get the same angle of view that 28mm gives on the 35mm film camera, you need 19mm on the D70s - whether it be a "film" lens like the 18-35 f/3.5-4.5D AF, or a "digital" lens like the 18-70 f/3.5-4.5G AF-S DX.
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Giordano |
Thanks a lot Jon! Giordano
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Alan N. Marcus |
Hi Giordano, Welcome to the world of digital photography. Most photographers gained their knowledge from books, teaches and self learning based on the 35mm camera. This is true because over the years the 35mm format become the defacto standard. Most digitals will have an image sensor chip that is about 66% smaller. The size difference makes it a little difficult to make comparisons. Say we admire the performance of a 28mm wide angle as used on our 35mm. Now to duplicate this performance on our smaller digital, we must mount a lens that is about 66% shorter. So 28 x .66 = 18.4. Round this value up or down as you like, either 18mm or 19mm will about duplicate the performance of the 28mm on a 35mm camera. We can do this backwards: We like the 19mm on our digital. What focal length to mount on our 35mm to duplicate this performance? 19 x 1.5 = 28.5mm hint: multiplying by 1.5 is about the same as dividing by 66% (more popular because multiplication is easier than division).
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