Focal Lengths

Eagle wrote in post #2606559
This is the truth. The 1.6 crop factor is just a field of view crop. It doesn't get you zoomed in any closer, you just see less of the edges of the shot.

I have struggled with this since I wend digital SLR. It's got to apply only if the pixel density is the same. If it's the same, then it is no different than what digital zooms do today, just crop out the edges. But double the pixel density on the smaller sensor then you in effect do get zoomed in closer, not optically, but digitally.

I'm not sure I understand the question, but I guess if asked, I'd just state the focal length and the camera on which it was used since I use a 20D (1.6 crop), 1DMk11N (1.3 crop) and a 5D (full frame). The field of view is dependent on the camera in use, but focal length is focal length.

Mark

What Jon said and Eagle expanded on.

I come from a 35mm background and still use 35mm film cameras, and have just got used to the 1.6x crop factor. but the focal length of a lens does not change, you just have to get used to the differing field of views.

gjl711 wrote in post #2606642
I have struggled with this since I wend digital SLR. It's got to apply only if the pixel density is the same. ...

The pixel density is really irrelevant in terms of FOV and focal length equivalents. The only thing that additional pixel density adds is the ability to capture additional detail within the given FOV, provided that the lens is capable of resolving it in the first place.

Lens Focal Length for me

kevin_c wrote in post #2614723
What Jon said and Eagle expanded on.

I come from a 35mm background and still use 35mm film cameras, and have just got used to the 1.6x crop factor. but the focal length of a lens does not change, you just have to get used to the differing field of views.

Exactly!

If the smaller-sensor cameras didn't use the same mount, there would be no such thing as a "crop factor," because the lenses would be different.

There still is no such thing as a "crop factor," but that is a different argument.

Pete wrote in post #2603996
Having changed over to a 5D, I totally disregard them as well.

No math for me, either. I have full-frame, 1.3X and 1.6X bodies. Life shouldn't be that difficult.

I shoot what looks good =)