Film lens focal length vs digital lens focal length?

by chemisti

I have finally made the plunge to a digital SLR. I’ve ordered my Cannon Rebel XSI with an 18 to 55 mm zoom lens. In my ancient past, when I shot film, I had a good selection of lenses. And I had a pretty good idea of the degree of magnification for the range of focal lengths. For example, I knew what my 100 to 200 mm zoom lens was capable of. But now, as I researched the specs on digital cameras, a whole new set of parameters had to be learned. On my point and shoot digital, I understood that 3X, 5X, 10X optical zoom could be pretty meaningless as what was 5X to one manufacturer was something else to another. But, when it comes to DSLRs, the standards seem to apply across the board, but that doesn’t help me understand what to actually expect in performance.

My question is: Can someone copy a table, or please provide a link to one, showing a comparison of film camera lens focal lengths to those of digital camera lenses? Even if not a complete table, one that might show me what today’s equivilant is to the old 50 mm 100 mm, 200 mm, 500 mm lenses would be helpful.

Thanks.
Thanks, “proshooter,” for your quick answer.

So, if I got this right, if I wanted to find a digtal lens equivilant to an old 500 mm, I divided 500 by 1.6 and got 312.5. So, I’d be looking for something about 300 to 325 mm in the digital formats? Is that right?

Answer by proshooter
the XSi has a crop factor of 1.6 so your 18-55 lens has the view of a
a 28-88 mm lens on a film SLR, or a DSLR with a full frame sensor.

Just multiply the focal length by the crop factor to the effective focal length for your camera , for every lens and focal length.

http://photography.suite101.com/article.cfm/digital_camera_lens_crop_factor

Answer by selina_555
To answer your additional question.

Yes, you have that right, at least mostly.

You can’t generalize “in the digital formats” because they are not all the same. YOUR camera (and many others, too) has a 1.6 crop factor.
But there are other digital cameras with different crop factors (e.g.1.3) as well as digital full frame cameras that “act” like film cameras as far as the lenses are concerned.

Answer by electrosmack1
From your ancient past, do you remember anything called APS sized film? You know, the smallest widely available film type. Well, that’s pretty much what your “modern” camera is. Just multiply whatever lens you currently have by 1.6 and this will be the new focal length.

What do you think? Answer below!

01122007DANCE (169) 5X7


Image by chemisti
Learn how to light at Strobist.

SB-24, camera left @ 1/2 power, triggered by Ebay wireless slave
SB-600, camera right !@1/4 power, triggered by optical trigger
both fired into 43" convertible umbrellas on light stands, both about 4′ up and ~60 degrees from camera axis in front of my fireplace in my home.

Nikon D50, Manual – settings below
Nikon Digital 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom

Nikon D50
2007/01/12 19:34:22.5
Compressed RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3008 x 2000)
Lens: 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 G
Focal Length: 40mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Center-Weighted
1/80 sec – F/5.6
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Flash
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Auto Flash Comp: 0 EV
Color Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Normal
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Normal
Sharpening: Normal
Image Comment: JLW-
Long Exposure NR: Off

Canon (10 mp)

Continuous Shooting Speed: 1.4 frames per second
Digital Zoom: 4 x
Lens System
Optical Zoom: 3 x
Type: Zoom lens – 6.2 mm – 18.6 mm – f/2.8-4.9
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera: 35 – 105mm
Min Focus Range: 11.8 in
Macro Focus Range: 3-50cm
Lens Aperture: F/2.8-4.9
Max Shutter Speed: 1/1500 sec
Min Shutter Speed: 15 sec

Sony (12.1 mp)

Continuous Shooting Speed: 1.7 frames per second
Digital Zoom: 2 x
Lens System
Optical Zoom: 4 x
Type: Zoom lens – 5.35 mm – 21.4 mm – f/2.8-5.8
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera: 30 – 120mm
Lens Aperture: F/2.8-5.8
Max Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec
Min Shutter Speed: 1 sec

I take a lot of pictures of my twin nieces that are 2, so they move around a lot. It’s also indoors, too. I need something fast to keep up with them and there’s no delay between pictures. Please pick one for me and tell me why
I also heard something about a macro lense so that the pictures look professional almost, like it can blur the background and make the main thing in focus.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10980058

http://www.walmart.com/Sony-Cybershot-DSC-W230-Camera/ip/10965615
Thank you. My mom already bought the Sony for me, I currently have a Canon Powershot A520 but it wasn’t doing it for me. I think I’ll stick with the Sony because it’s not too expensive. Thank you!

Answer by Perki88
Could you provide a link to these two cameras? There are other specs I would be concerned with.

From just what you’ve given me to judge I would go with the Sony, even though I am a Canon fan. My daughter had the digital Elph and was never happy with it. The Ziess lens is a selling point for me. You will get lag on either one and noise with high ISO’s…just the nature of point and shoot cameras. I prefer eye piece viewers to hold the camera out at arms length and looking at the LCD, makes you shaky and causes blur.Personally I would go with neither and get a Canon G11 or G10 if I could get a good deal…much superior point and shoot, less lag.

What do you think? Answer below!

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