puttin 35mm lens on digital? - DPChallenge Forums

02/23/2006 05:00:34 PM · #1

thinking about starting digital photography (did a bit of 35mm), and i just want low budget stuff to mess around with. the thing is, i have no clue really how digital works, and the fact that you 1.5x the length of lens if you put a 35mm lens on a digital makes me confused even more. anyway, i'm gonna get a nikon d50. i have the kit lens from my fm10 that goes 35-70mm. that translates into around 53-105mm for digital. i'm thinkin bout gettin a prime wide angle lens for my 35mm so that it'd work out pretty nicely as a natural lens for digital. concerned if things are really that simple, if there's any quality lost doing such a thing

cresus

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/23/2006 05:16:49 PM · #2

Nope...that simple. Actually quality gained because the smaller sensor doesn't see the outside of the image circle that is traditionally worse.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

02/23/2006 06:35:05 PM · #3

k, thanks a lot

ElGordo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

02/23/2006 06:57:51 PM · #4

The focal length multiplication is actually a 'crop factor' due the fact that the digital camera sensor is smaller than a 35mm frame. No lens parameters actually change, you are just looking a smaller part of the image. For the D50 that crop factor is 1.5, meaning that the sensor is 67% of a 35mm frame. Your older 35mm lens does not have all the bells and whistles that newer lenses have, but if you are willing to live with mostly manual settings, particularly focus, then it will work well for you.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/23/2006 07:08:05 PM · #5

i happen to be a loser and love manual focus, mmm, manual focus

talmy

Nikon D300s

02/23/2006 08:12:31 PM · #6

Originally posted by kablargh:

i happen to be a loser and love manual focus, mmm, manual focus

I used manual focus cameras for decades, but the problem with today's cameras is that they are designed for use primarily with autofocus lenses and have viewfinders without focusing aids and reduced magnification. Some of the new lenses don't even have focusing scales and many more don't have the DOF scales. (Look at the D50 kit lens for an example of both of these and the D70 kit lens for an example of the latter.)

WhatAreYouLookingAt

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/23/2006 11:42:55 PM · #7

Ok, here's a related question... Does using a 35mm lens on digital body affect aperature as well? Or would a f/4 remain f/4?

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

02/23/2006 11:52:47 PM · #8

Originally posted by WhatAreYouLookingAt:

Ok, here's a related question... Does using a 35mm lens on digital body affect aperature as well? Or would a f/4 remain f/4?

f/4 remains f/4 for the most part.

If you are using a 50mm lens on a 1.5x crop factor sensor, your focal length is like that of a 75mm lens, but the f/4 aperture would create a depth of field like the 50mm lens. It's a bit strange, but if you think about it, it will make sense.

wheeledd

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/23/2006 11:52:52 PM · #9

Originally posted by WhatAreYouLookingAt:

Ok, here's a related question... Does using a 35mm lens on digital body affect aperature as well? Or would a f/4 remain f/4?

f/4 will still be f/4

There is no effect on shutter speed or f/stops; these work exactly the same on a digital camera.

--Dan

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/23/2006 11:56:15 PM · #10

Originally posted by WhatAreYouLookingAt:

Ok, here's a related question... Does using a 35mm lens on digital body affect aperature as well? Or would a f/4 remain f/4?

The aperture remains the same. The only difference is this. If you have a crop factor of 1.5 and take a shot with a 50 mm lens, it will have the same framing as a 75 mm lens. You do NOT get the same magnification as if you actually shot with a 75 mm. You are not 1.5x closer than with a 75mm lens...