Percentage of "full-frame" users?

[dlwjiang]

Aren't full-frame dslr's really big? (professional size?)

When someone says something like: "This 50mm lens should be part of EVERYONE'S kit"

Is that a recommendation of lens quality or shot potential with regard to angle of view, does this automatically translate to "Get a smaller mm if you don't have a full frame sensor."

[inkista]

Originally Posted by dlwjiang

Aren't full-frame dslr's really big? (professional size?)

Not all of them. I just got a 5D Mark II, and it's pretty much the same size/heft as my 50D (I'm actually having problems telling them apart). Most of the pro-level cameras are so big because they have integrated grips, not because they're full frame.

When someone says something like: "This 50mm lens should be part of EVERYONE'S kit"

Is that a recommendation of lens quality or shot potential with regard to angle of view, does this automatically translate to "Get a smaller mm if you don't have a full frame sensor."

Both.

A 50mm prime tends to be a very inexpensive good lens, because it was the kit lens on most 35mm film cameras, both rangefinders and SLRs, so not only does everybody have a few decades' worth of experience in making them, but also 50mm is a relatively "easy" focal length to design optics for. So, most 50mm lenses are good.

But yes, the angle of view of any given lens is going to be narrower on a crop body than on a full frame, so if you want an equivalent field of view, you should be getting a wider lens with a shorter focal length for a crop body. That's why most crop bodies are described with a "crop factor" so you can work out how to "translate" from one field of view to the other.

The main key thing to realize, though, is that the lens's focal length doesn't actually change. A 50mm lens is still a 50mm lens, regardless of how big the sensor behind it is.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by dlwjiang

Aren't full-frame dslr's really big? (professional size?)

They can be. Generally they're in the bigger bodies with integrated vertical grips. However, Canon and Nikon both have smaller Full-frame bodies. Canon's 5D series isnt much bigger than the 7D, and Nikon's D700 is essentially identical to a D300s body.

Originally Posted by dlwjiang

Is that a recommendation of lens quality or shot potential with regard to angle of view, does this automatically translate to "Get a smaller mm if you don't have a full frame sensor."

50mm, on full-frame, is generally regarded to give the same magnification as the human eye, in that what you see through the lens is about the same size as what you would see without the camera in the way. This doesnt change just because the lens is put on a crop-sensor body.

What does change is the field of view, and this is because the smaller sensor is an automatic crop from the lens' image circle. With Canon, this means a x1.6 increase in apparent focal length, and with Nikon and Sony, x1.5. Note that this is an apparent focal length change, not an actual change.

If you want to get a similar field of view, then you need to get a lens that is 1.5x or 1.6x shorter (28mm for Canon, 30-35mm for Nikon or Sony). That'll give you a similar overall view as a 50mm on full-frame, but will not give you the same optical effects.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by inkista

I just got a 5D Mark II, .

congrats

[inkista]

Originally Posted by candleman

congrats

Thanks! The Canon Loyalty Program strikes again. ($1802 for a refurbed 5DMkII body; and I got to recycle my dad's busted S50. The 5D had 12 clicks on it when it arrived). Naturally, after I purchased it, Canon saw fit to lower the refurb price another $100.

Trouble is. I got sick the day the camera arrived, and I haven't been able to take it out. Hopefully, I'll be feeling well enough this weekend to finally go and get some test shots of something other than my ceiling.

[candleman]

hehe, bummer..
hope you're feeling better soon. will be looking forward to seeing some of your latest images with it.

now comes the tough choices.. which lens on which body for your excursions.

[inkista]

Oh, no. It's worse than that. You forget I'm a manual lens adapter. I'm going to have to decide if I'm going to take a Dremel tool to my Zeiss glass.

*facehands*.

But yeah. I am soooo looking forward to using the 24-105 on this thing.

[RichardTaylor]

@candleman
Quote.

"now comes the tough choices.. which lens on which body for your excursions"

Actually it is a lot easier. I shoot with a full frame body and crop bodies.

The 5D almost always has the 24-105 F4 L on it and that takes care of 90% of the general purpose stuff. It really does make for a good combination.

The crop bodies usually have a "spe******ed" lens attached.
The lens being a 12-24 if I am shooting in "tight" locations, or a 135 F2 for low light and/or those dreamy backgrounds at F2, or a Canon 100-400 for motor sport/birding etc.

[ravncat]

The Nikon Full frame bodies are all larger than the dx bodies -

Though, the d3/x/s are just large with the integrated grip , the d700 is only a little larger than the comparable bodies. - much larger than the smaller entry level nikon dslr's.

I say +1 to what Inkister said. I tend to recommend the 35 1.8 over the 50 1.8 for crop cameras in nikkor land because of the angle of view. - but either prime for a variety of reasons - sharpness, speed, fixed focal length. Depends on style really.


I am currently using both Full, 1.5x crop and 2x crop. I`ve found it`s not too hard to choose what to take where. I tend to use my 1.5x crop for macro and telephoto work - and my 2x crop for it`s small size.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by ravncat

The Nikon Full frame bodies are all larger than the dx bodies -

Though, the d3/x/s are just large with the integrated grip , the d700 is only a little larger than the comparable bodies. - much larger than the smaller entry level nikon dslr's.

D700 = D300 body with a slightly different top plate (to allow for the larger prism). That's it.