49mm vs. 50mm

[BIGTUFFGUY]

I'm still very new to photography and I have a question for you guys.

i have a 49mm wideangle lens and a 50mm (kit) lens

if there is 1mm difference why is one wide and the other not?

i'm sure there is a perfectly good explination that will make me say.. RIIIIIiiiigHT but i just cant seem to figure it out on my own


thanks in advance
-James

[foxbat]

Established 35mm terminology. 50mm was considered "normal" and everything less "wide" and more "telephoto".

[Jman13]

Actually, even on 35mm, 49mm is not wide by any stretch of the imagination. 50mm is actually longer than true normal on a 35mm system, but it became customary to use it that way. 49mm is imperceptibly close to 50mm. The true 'normal' focal length on 35mm format is a smidge longer than 43mm, so both are actually mild telephotos.

On your 350D, they're both short telephotos, so don't worry about it. The true 'normal' focal length for APS sensors is 27mm, so take that for what it's worth.

If you didn't know, the 'normal' focal length is equal to the diagonal of the sensor / film.

[Andy_T]

A 49 mm lens would not be considered wide.
However, a 28-49 mm lens (not that I knew of one, but it's in your sig) would be considered wide, as 28 mm is wide angle on full frame.

Best regards,
Andy

[CyberDyneSystems]

You will not perceive any difference in field of view going from 50 to 49mm.
It's really that simple,. there essentially the same.

[PacAce]

Is that 49mm lens for a medium format camera? If so, then that may be the reason it's referred to as a wide angle lens 'cuz it sure ain't wide for a 35mm format camera. :)

[DocFrankenstein]

Is that 49mm lens for a medium format camera? If so, then that may be the reason it's referred to as a wide angle lens 'cuz it sure ain't wide for a 35mm format camera. :)
But you can't have a 28mm for MF

Well... not that I know of ;)

[BIGTUFFGUY]

i was wondering the same thing guys, i only realized after that my 28-49 is a prime. Thus making it imposible for it to be a 28-49

here are two photos to illustrate why I'm confused.
http://www.bigtuffguy.com/internetpics/28mm.JPG
http://www.bigtuffguy.com/internetpics/28mm2.JPG

[cdifoto]

That's a 28mm prime with a 49mm thread size for filters and such. It's not a 28-49mm focal length zoom lens.

[Tom W]

Yep - filter thread is 49 mm. I'm not too sure that it's all that common of a size, though.

[BIGTUFFGUY]

the o with a line through it means thread size?

[Tom W]

the o with a line through it means thread size?

Diameter, in this case. As in filter thread diameter.

[mbze430]

MUHAHAHAH

[BIGTUFFGUY]

MUHAHAHAH

? thanks ?

but seriously thanks guys, i had never come accross the Ø

[Andy_T]

Hi Bigstuffguy,

I assume that these lenses are in the Canon FD mount (so that they fit on your AE-1).
That means they will not work on the 350D, which has the newer EF mount that is not compatible with the old mount.

You might read more about it in this thread:
Using FD (and other) lenses on digital bodies (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57023)

It also means that most likely you will need new lenses ... did you order any? The EF-S 18-55 'kit lens' and the EF 50/1.8 (successor to the lens you have in FD mount) make a decent beginning setup.

Best regards,
Andy

[hmv]

Yep - filter thread is 49 mm. I'm not too sure that it's all that common of a size, though.

Common enough amongst non-EOS lenses; whether by chance or not most of my manual non-EOS lenses have 49mmm as the filter size.

[Jon]

Yep - filter thread is 49 mm. I'm not too sure that it's all that common of a size, though.
It's one of the standard ones. A lot of Pentax screw-mount and Olympus lenses used it. You want an odd size, Canon's 50 f/1.8 FL was 48 mm.

[Tom W]

It's one of the standard ones. A lot of Pentax screw-mount and Olympus lenses used it. You want an odd size, Canon's 50 f/1.8 FL was 48 mm.

Since I own that lens, I thought 48 was normal and 49 was odd. Statistical sample of 1. :)

[BIGTUFFGUY]

thanks for all the replies guys. I know that these lenses are FD and that the 350 takes the newer EF & EF-s. I'm just getting used to the controls of an SLR and when the 350 comes in i will be using the kit lens and hopefully get better glass eventually.

I know a lot of you have a lot of experience with SLR cameras and the digitital ones you have are def. not your first.

thanks a lot everyone.
-James

[Jon]

Since I own that lens, I thought 48 was normal and 49 was odd. Statistical sample of 1. :)I used to have it. Don't know if it's still rolling around somewhere or not.

[BIGTUFFGUY]

well i officially took the plunge. I'm waiting for my batt to charge then i will post my first photo.


i cant believe i did it... i guess i have to find some kind of source of income...