Photography: Camera sensor size difference

(I have to make a new topic in order not to derail the dead kids ghost bike topic too much, there's some of you who is a bit confused by the whole 'cropped sensor' on DSLR.)

Basically normal film camera, your everyday http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/135_film format, 25.1x16.7**, so it's significantly smaller than 35mm, the advantage of that sensor size is that it's cheaper to mass produce and keep the camera body as small as possible despite the many disadvantage.

This is why the majority of DSLR are called 'cropped sensor' or 'APS-C format' camera, it's because it's smaller than the conventional 35mm size of 36x24.

Now that I have explain this, here is an example of a 50mm lens on a cropped sensor/APS-C DSLR on top of a 50mm lens on a full-frame/35mm DSLR picture;

A 50mm lens on a cropped sensor DSLR will be naturally cropped, this will give you a field of view of a 75mm lens***.

So if you want to have a 50mm lens but didn't like how badly it got cropped on a cropped sensor DSLR, you'd need a 30mm lens to give the same view of a 50mm lens, like the Sigma 30mm F/1.4 design exclusively for that reason.

For instance, in order to get a 28mm wide angle photo, you'd need your lens focal length to be set at roughly 18mm, so it will almost match a 28mm lens on a full frame/35mm camera;

• *Until recently full-frame DSLR becoming more and more affordable as technology is constantly being improved, and the cost of producing a big 35mm digital sensor getting cheaper.

• • **The disadvantage are higher noise levels (colourful grain appearing in your picture) at a higher ISO such as 400 ISO), 35mm lens will be cropped, depth of field will be bigger (but that also an advantage at the same time for some).
    
    

***Some camera sensor size are smaller or bigger than an APS-C sensor, Canon sensor is slighty smaller (50mm - 80mm view) whether Nikon is slighty bigger (50mm - 75mm view) for instance.

*credit go to Tynan for making the .gif of the photos.

now include olympus sensor sizes lol

now include olympus sensor sizes lol

even smaller than APS-C! I used to like Olympus but the ridiculously tiny sensor size is useless for studio photography.

Let just stick to APS-C sensor camera for now since it's the main one (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Sigma, Fujifilm etc. etc.).

even smaller than APS-C! I used to like Olympus but the slightly smaller sensor size is perhaps not as good for studio photography.

Fixed!

edit: but thanks for the posting

wow, your clever at this stuff.

Thanks for posting it, I find this area a little confusing.

it is ridiculously tiny compared to 35mm thought, it's less than half the size of it! far too small for studio photography really.

true, a fair bit smaller than 135 full frame, but not much smaller than APS-C. And you're right, probably not the first choice for studio: better for being out and about given bodies and lenses are a bit smaller and lighter as a rule.

Great photos from the Macaframa screening, btw.

ta mate, I tend to do studio photography, so narrow depth of field is a must.

on the Olympus sensor, an 50mm F/1.8 lens would have the depth of field of F/3.6*, far too large to create a dreamly blurry background and foreground with the subject right on focus like this;

*Olympus have release a 25mm F/2.8 lens, this is an equation to a 50mm on 35mm/full frame camera, with the aperture being at F/2.8, the depth of field would be a massive F/5.6 despite the speed of F/2.8, not a problem for some but it's limited in certain situation.

hell, Olympus don't even sell a portrait lens, that's how limited they are compare to the other giant such as Nikon/Canon.

True, although it all gets a bit complicated when you throw field of view into the mix as well...

Olympus do a 50mm f2.0, which works wonderfully, I'm told, as a portrait lens, but it is a shame they don't do more primes, despite the wonderful zooms (like the 14-54mm and 12-60mm and the fast 35-100mm f2.0).

Good job this got taken out of the D*** K*** thread...

Not quite the same DOF as your great shot above..:

They do a 50mm F/2.0 lens, but it's designed as a macro lens actually, can be use for portrait mind which is an advantage.

(50mm = 100mm).

So does an affordable full size (35mm) sensor camera exist?

So does an affordable full size (35mm) sensor camera exist?

depend on what you call affordable, a brand new Canon 5D body can be found for £1,000, and probably less once the new 5D Mark II is out in shops, almost matching the price of a Canon 50D with lens.

right now we have full-frame camera in small body (Nikon D700, Canon 5D MkII, Sony A900) for under £2000, body at roughly £1500, remember a full-frame camera 4 years ago would've cost £3,000.

So does an affordable full size (35mm) sensor camera exist?

a 2nd hand canon 5d. i guess they are about 700-800?

"on the Olympus sensor, an 50mm F/1.8 lens would have the depth of field of F/3.6*, far too large to create a dreamly blurry background and foreground with the subject right on focus like this;"

the eyes are out of focus in the black and white portrait

yeah I did notice, it was a quick test shot before we start the photoshoot, I can't release the photo with the main subject in it yet but I can use those test shot as an example.

I tend to do studio photography, so narrow depth of field is a must.

Video-photographers face same kind of problems ;-)

Video-photographers face same kind of problems ;-)

'Videographers'

The 5D mkII should sort you out !

it literally bridge the gap between photographer and videographer.

it literally bridge the gap between photographer and videographer.

it's a tool. i expect to see lots of jittery vids of dogs/kids and some nice sunsets.

you can buy paint by the gallon cheaply in B&Q but i haven't seen an increase in great art.

'Videographers'

The 5D mkII should sort you out !

i have a 5DmkII in my hands right now. i am also naked and available.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tnwf2RShNV0

that is all I can say

it's a tool. i expect to see lots of jittery vids of dogs/kids and some nice sunsets.

I pissed my mate off so much last week, he came online on messenger all excited going "Have you seen my news lens?" of which he got a dozen photo of the same bloody lens", I promptly told him no, cause I don't care about it, I just want to see his photos".

he hasn't spoken to me for a week, the twat.

i have a 5DmkII in my hands right now. i am also naked and available.

Keep it away from mirrors then. :O

i have a 5DmkII in my hands right now. i am also naked and available.

Keep it away from mirrors then. :O

and stay off ebay

don't worry i'm not into portraiture.

Who wants to buy my Nikon D80 (with 18-135mm lens) ?