For example, if I have a 400mm focal length lens for a 35mm camera, can that translate to a magnification level? Most people that aren't familiar with optics or photography ask me what kind of lens I have.... when I tell them it's a 400mm they just kind of look back with a blank stare. I think they would understand better if I could them it was a 10x or 12x or something like that.
I'm a entry level independant photographer and I like talking to people about my work to generate possible intrest in doing work for them, and I just want to be able to put things in laymen's terms for them.
2006-09-22 03:41:58 · 6 answers · asked by CJP 3 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
Your eye sees at close to a 50mm lens. So a 100 is 2X a 400 is 8X.
2006-09-22 03:50:51 · answer #1 · answered by Nelson_DeVon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a little complicated, because it depends not only on the focal length but the size of the "film" or picture area (in most cameras, 35 mm or the equivalent).
Cameras and lenses are standardized so that a 50mm lens on 35mm film produces a picture the same apparent size as was viewed by the photographer. As a rule of thumb, for the same camera and film, a 100mm lense will double the apparent size (2x zoom). A 35mm lens will result in a small wide-angle effect.
2006-09-22 03:54:41 · answer #2 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other people are correct when saying that 50mm is a "standard", human eye-like focal length for 35mm cameras.
However, it would not be a correct way of comparing your lens to a consumer camera zoom. In consumer cameras traditional focal length at the wide end is 35mm, not 50mm. Thus, a camera with 35-105mm (or equivalent) zoom is called "3x", and 35-350mm - "10x"
So, you may rightfully claim your prime 400mm zoom to be "11.5x" :)
2006-09-22 15:01:35 · answer #3 · answered by alex_self 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Zoom is simply the ratio of the smallest focal length to the largest (making it a relative, rather than an objective value). Simply choose a standard as a minimum focal length and compare. For example, many entry level dSLR seem to think that a 18-55 mm lens is a "standard" all purpose lens that should go with a camera. Assuming 18mm as a frame of reference for zoom, that would make 400 mm a 22X zoom.
Or you could compare it to a 28mm lens (a more common lower end for standard zoom lenses) and call it a 14X zoom.
2006-09-22 05:05:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the 10x or 12x has to be relative to something.
Most 35mm photographers have accepted that about 50mm is a natural view, so 400mm/50mm would be an 8x magnification.
2006-09-22 03:51:01 · answer #5 · answered by Morey000 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You already have the answer but take a look at ths page...
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00FXfK&tag=
2006-09-22 04:53:33 · answer #6 · answered by Rustom T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋