The DSLR Magnification Effect

[DogHeadGod]

This has been bugging me all day...

Since we get this 1.5x (approx) magnification effect because of the smaller chip size in digital cameras when compared to 35mm film, how does if compare to what we see in the view finder?

I.e. do we still see through the view finder the exact image that will be saved, or is the image going to be slightly smaller that what we are looking at?

I have quite a few bird images with wings just cropped out when I was sure I had them fully in the viewfinder when I pressed the shutter, I know it may be the fact that the bird is moving and I am panning so it can easily shift out of position but I would like to be sure it is not down to this magnification effect.

Cheers,

DHG

[OsmosisStudios]

WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get.

The reason you be "seeing" more is that most viewfinders dont cover 100% of the sensor: most are in the 95% range. That means that there's about a millimeter in your viewfinder that isn't seen through the eyepiece of is by the sensor. The difference is nowhere near what youre claiming.

[DogHeadGod]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The difference is nowhere near what youre claiming.

I'm not claiming the view finder magnifies by 1.5x , the 1.5x comes from the fact a digital chip is smaller than 35mm film. I.e. a 50mm lens used on a dSLR gives an image equivillent to what a 75mm lens would on film. So what I am asking is, does the view finder take this crop factor into account?

Crop factor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by DogHeadGod

do we still see through the view finder the exact image that will be saved, or is the image going to be slightly smaller that what we are looking at?

You will see approximately what will be captured. Unless you're willing to shell out for a camera with a 100% viewfinder, you'll capture a bit more than you see.

[vandergus]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get.

The reason you be "seeing" more is that most viewfinders dont cover 100% of the sensor: most are in the 95% range. That means that there's about a millimeter in your viewfinder that isn't seen through the eyepiece of is by the sensor. The difference is nowhere near what youre claiming.

I think you got this a little backwards. With a 95% viewfinder, you actually get a little more in the final image than what you see in the view finder. So this couldn't be the cause of the bird wings being clipped by the edge of the frame.

So what I am asking is, does the view finder take this crop factor into account?

In short, yes.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by vandergus

I think you got this a little backwards. With a 95% viewfinder, you actually get a little more in the final image than what you see in the view finder. So this couldn't be the cause of the bird wings being clipped by the edge of the frame.

Perhaps I worded it wrong: What I mean is that there's some of the scene that is captured by the sensor but that wont be visible through the viewfinder.

And to the OP: The mirror doesnt have to take into account the crop factor: its a smaller mirror to go with a smaller sensor: As I said in my first post, what you see is what you get, minus a mm or two.

[DogHeadGod]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

its a smaller mirror to go with a smaller sensor:.

Thanks, that clears it up