Question on focal length

[alinsyed]

After months of agonizing, graduated to digital SLR by buying a 300D. Quick uninformed question. Am I correct in assuming that for all EF (or other non EFS) lenses, should multiply the focal length by 1.6 for digital ie a 50mm Prime is actually 80mm for my camera.

BTW, have been following the forum for some days, great work guys.

Thanks

[Anteros]

Yes, you are correct. You must multiply any lens (EF or EF-S) by 1.6 to get the effective focal length.

A 50mm would effectively be an 80mm.

[alinsyed]

Anteros, many thanks for the clarification.

[tim]

You get the same field of view as you would with a lens 1.6X longer on a 35 mm camera. It's more correct to call it a crop factor than what some people call it, a magnification factor.

[Dante King]

Welcome to the forums!

[Jon]

As Tim said, that 1.6x doesn't change the real focal length. All it really means is that if you're used to working with 35 mm cameras a lens on the 300D will give the same field of view of one 1.6x longer on a 35 mm camera. If you don't have a 35 mm background, just forget the number and save yourself a lot of headaches (plus you can laugh hysterically every time someone else starts another one of the 10,000,000 posts on the "X Factor" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45388)).