Crop Sensor and Focal Length

After receiving many questions regarding crop sensors and focal length, I decided to make a quick video providing more information/clarification. Regardless of the camera (Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc.), crop sensors are great/solid. Nonetheless, many believe the focal length changes when a fixed lens is attached to a crop sensor, but does it really change? Come along for the ride and enjoy the lesson!:)
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=== LINKS ===
Nikon 50mm review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2O3i4mrbN6Nn8k
Purchase Nikon 50mm: amzn.to/2kD7EkF
Nikon 35mm review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHiTlo2QlrKgj6c
Purchase Nikon 35mm: amzn.to/2J3qHmU
============
Be safe!

[@mlks007]

On of the best photographers i met on youtube. Photography it's all about having fun after all, choosing a nice composition or being at the right spot at the right time.

[@cheeto.1]

Always excited to see a Real World video drop!

[@RealWorld]

TY sir!:)

[@kamazenji9466]

Oh my good sir!! You are the reason i bought Nikon D3400 and you know what been awhile since i watch your videos. Watched them again just now and God i love those momebt learning from you not just the skills i learned but the true factor of having a camera and taking those moments to freeze coz they matter most than anything else. The gears just make them look better but the moment never change. Thank you for reminding me again on what shooting moments is all about.

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/feedback and glad to be of help!:) Always good to grab the camera and head out into the world:).

[@bagery]

I keep thinking I'd have more fun with a full frame camera, then one of your videos will come out and I realize I'm wrong. Thank-you for always keeping it down to Earth :)

[@RealWorld]

LOL - glad to be of help:). I have shot with both over the years (full and crop) and both are good/solid. Full is nice if you want a larger sensor to capture more light. Nonetheless, a crop will take awesome shots as well:).

[@carlcrosby7035]

@@RealWorld Old saying(?) It's not the arrow, It's the INDIAN!

[@MissLiveLaughLove1]

Hi Mark, Thanks for this really easy to comprehend explanation. Happy Autumn!

[@kapangmitkong698]

Your videos always deserve a thump up.👍

[@MrMiss-cp9bw]

Great video; nice and concise 👍

[@shahriar_wayne]

don't ever stop making videos, you're the best ❤️

[@RealWorld]

Appreciate the post/feedback!:)

[@steveboys5369]

Crystal clear explanation as ever Mark. Good Work !

[@johnray424]

I had done the same test when I had my D7200 and D750. If you look at your image with the D3400, the image appears closer to you, like you had zoomed in. I also did an extra image, see I used my 70-200 Nikon f2.8 for test. This way the lens stayed fixed at one focal length and same composition. I shot both at 70mm and had exact results as you. So I then put full frame back on and zoomed in to 105. There was only a slight difference between the D750 at 105 and the D7200 at 70. Reason, the images are the same size, means if you look at them in LR or PS, the width and height are the same, but the crop sensor gave you "more reach". If you put a TC of 1.4 on the D600 and shot the same scenario, your would get almost same image as the D3400. This is why a lot of wildlife photogs use the D500.

[@RealWorld]

Sounds like we went down similar paths:). Interesting for all to understand and see how the crop factor comes to play.

[@NaveedDevOps]

Thank you Mark for the videos. I had learnt a lot from RealWork. Stay Safe.

[@Enrique-the-photographer]

Nice to see you (and the video/tutorial) on you-tube. Stay safe Mark.

[@davidmill7289]

Thanks Mark for the best explanation of this topic I’ve seen or read!

[@RealWorld]

Appreciate the feedback David and glad to offer some insight!:)

[@TudorSmith]

Great explanation on crop senors. Now it makes sense!!!! Thanks again for your insight.

[@mariobravo8253]

Love your Logic ❗️. I had noticed the same. A 30mm on my APSC still has the character of a 30mm. Just that it's a cropped size

[@TeestaFalcon]

You cleared my doubts. Thanks again for the great video

[@schemkesa]

So true, relax, enjoy, learn and forget about that discussion. It never ends....

[@perihelion54]

Always easy and informative 👍🏻

[@RealWorld]

Appreciate the feedback and glad to be of help!:)

[@oldfilmguy9413]

You have explained this quite well, as always. I think some of the confusion comes in because folks might think the lens changes somehow - as you note, the distance to the sensor is the same regardless of the camera - i.e. 50mm is 50mm. So this means the image circle produced by the lens is always the same, just the amount of the image used by the sensor changes. Great job! Cheers!

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/feedback and agreed!:)

[@kaviarasansenthil3732]

Great technical review mr. Mark Thanks 🙏

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post and glad to be of help!:)

[@Hansinho10]

I think nowadays the crop sensors have a really good performance. It's just the question, if someone want's the little extra Bokeh for portraits or a little less noise in low light situations. On the other hand there are also advantages, if you want to capture sports or wildlife with a tele lens. The crop factor gives you a little bit of extra reach. There are companys like Fuji, that only produce crop-factor-cameras (and medium format). And in the end nobody looks at an image and asks for the sensor format.

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post and agreed!:) 'in the end nobody looks at an image and asks for the sensor format' - that is the truth:).

[@carlcrosby7035]

Good explanation! I recmmended your site to a member of my photo club after she had some questions regarding her D 3400, and the 70-300 f/4.5-6.3 tele.

[@RealWorld]

Thanks Carl and glad to be of help!:) Always to good to have a basic understanding of crop vs full.

[@jimwlouavl]

Thanks. I think there’s a lot of confusion about the equivalent focal,length concept.

[@RealWorld]

Agreed and glad to be of help:). I have responded to many similar questions recently and thought a video might provide additional information/clarification:).

[@Srijitupload]

Another great teaching video..Thank you so much again. Learnt a lot

[@RealWorld]

Glad to be of help!:) There seems to be some confusion on crop sensors and focal length - hopefully this will help someone:).

[@Srijitupload]

@@RealWorld Yes it helped a lot and also makes sense why Fx lenses can be used in dx bodies but not the other way around.

[@mikey_w1834]

thanks man, always explained in the simplest manner! 👍if anyone ever asks for recommendations on where to start learning photography, i know exactly where to send them!

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/feedback Michael!:) Glad to be of help!:)

[@wolfydragon4511]

I just wanted to say how much I've learnt from watching your video.. I had no idea how to use my Nikon D3400. Excellent info and I now know about aperture shutter speed esc. Thank you for the video's.. 🙏👍

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/feedback and glad to be of help!:) The D3400 along with others in the same line are very powerful/capable in the right hands ... a bit of knowledge and experience go a long way:).

[@andysuzierawlins5462]

Really well presented, hope you are keeping well over there in the U.S

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/feedback!:) So far, so good in the United States. Our country is quickly dispersing vaccines and chartering a new pollical course with President Biden at the helm:). Stay safe:).

[@nigelchase2407]

Very well said, i love your tutorials.

[@RealWorld]

thank you - appreciate the feedback!:)

[@richardrizzo_photography]

very helpful, thank you.

[@wirednomore]

Hi Mark, just discovered your videos. I thoroughly enjoy them, and your presentation style is awesome. Looks like you are an Indiana guy? My wife and I are new Hoosiers as of last year, now in Hendricks County. Thanks for great content with hints of Indiana thrown in!

[@RealWorld]

Yes indeed - located in the great state of Indiana (near Indy)!:) You will see various videos with shots from different parts of the state. I shot this particular video near Fort Harrison.

[@CanadianArchivist]

When I use my existing gear or buy a new lens, I consider the crop factor. I have a D3400. People say you need an 85 for portraits. So I picked up the 50mm 75mm with 1.5x crop) I shoot minor hockey. So I picked up a 70-300. ( 105-450). A little close sometimes for the play. But for the goalie .. it’s great. The camera came with the 18-55 kit ( 27-82mm). People say to get a 35mm (52mm) for landscapes or astrophotography. So I’d go further back and instead of a fixed prime, I’d be picking up the Tokina 11-16mm 2.8. ( 16.5-24mm). This is gear and tools of the craft. So when getting gear, I think of which length I’m missing, and what is it I want to do with my photography.

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post Andrew and agreed:). Sounds like you are on the right path as well ... focus on the range needed:).

[@brandonprescott5753]

Well explained. 👏👏

[@BigReege]

great explanation thanks for this! I’ve been thinking I need another camera and I really don’t just yet

[@RealWorld]

Glad to be of help Regis:).

[@pers4855]

Thanks Mark much appreciated

[@RealWorld]

Glad to be of help Craig!:)

[@marlogarcia8284]

love it !!!,, keep safe

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the feedback Mario and do the same!:)

[@louvega8414]

Hey, Mark. So when full frame photographers are extolling the virtues of the nifty fifty, does that mean us 'crop-sensor commoners' need a thrifty thirty-five to get the same effect? I love the Nikon 50mm on my D3400, but I find the 35mm much more versatile. Am I seeing with the 35mm what full frame photographers would see with the 50mm? PS: Discovered your channel recently when I bought my first D3400 and just love it; informative, entertaining and very....'real-life'! You have a gift, man. Thank you for sharing it.

[@hachewie]

Love my 50mm on my D700 or my D3400.

[@sburgos9621]

I bought a 45mm made for a pentax 67 system and put it on my Pentax 645z because I was told it would be equivalent to a 24mm on a full frame but I saw no difference. I then put it on my full frame camera and again no difference on the vertical. The only difference was due to the fact that the 645 has a more box like crop so there was a little more visible only on the sides of my full frame but none on the vertical. I then pulled out my 24mm for the full frame and put it on my full frame and it looked nothing like the 45mm. It captured much more of the scene on the vertical. Not sure what I am missing except for the $520 I wasted on buying a 45mm 6x7 lens thinking it was equivalent to a 24mm on a full frame.

[@russellstall169]

I don’t see anyone talking about the fact that the distortion and compression doesn’t change. Sure you’re getting a “cropped” image but the main draw back on crop sensors is they are going to be so much more prone to distortion when you go for a standard field of view. Additionally you won’t get the same level of compression as a standard tele. I think you are hinting at that here - but could be covered a little more.

[@sakoen]

I have questions what about aperture? If we have lenses 1.4 aperture in full frame are in apsc will change to 1.4 x 1.5 (crop factor) ?

[@RealWorld]

Yes, the aperture falls into the same situation with regards to depth of field:).

[@johnheron8198]

I'm confused, does my d3400 with kit lens of 18-55 actually shoot at 18-55 or 27-82.5, or both?

[@Archmage88ttv]

Ive been using the d3400 for about Three years now. If my lenses the 35 prime, nifty Fifty, and 55-300mm dx vr are compatible with a full frame. Id love to get one next. Im a huge fan of d3400, what kind of full frame would you recommend?

[@RealWorld]

if you stay in the Nikon family, i would consider the D750 ... older but solid. if you are open to another manufacturer, i would consider sony (A7 III). :)

[@wahabdilawar]

Excellent video. I have a question. I shoot my videos early in the morning with my D5300. The sun rises behind me and the exposure quickly changes. By the end of my 20-30 minutes long video... there's a noticeable difference between the exposure in the beginning of the video and the end. What can I do so that the camera changes the shutter speed of the video according to the exposure. Thank you very much for your time and effort.

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/question:). Interesting situation as well. Always a challenge shooting continuous video with changing light (sun up or sun down). Curious to know more about your settings for video. If you shoot in full auto, the camera will adjust everything as needed. Although doing so could yield undesired results. If you shoot in shutter priority, the camera will control the aperture and ISO could be fixed or auto. I would consider auto ISO regardless providing the camera starts with a reasonable ISO. As the sun rises, the ISO should start to drop in order to maintain a proper exposure.

[@wahabdilawar]

@@RealWorld Thanks for the prompt reply. So...I used to shoot in full manual mode wide open, because I love the BG blur and I adjusted the variable ND filter so that the shutter speed will be 1/50s for 24p, but as I wrote above...the changing exposure caused a lot of problems in the post. I just tried shooting in A mode. I could see the shutter speed changing while the light changed in front of the lens and over 27 minutes...the camera did a good job maintaining the exposure. So...it was much easier than I thought. The thing to remember is to use spot metering and fixing the spot on something in the background which is not moving. Thank you very much again.

[@AshRaj299]

Hi there, thanks for the explanation. I've been shooting with a D5200 + 35mmdx to get approximately the standard 50mm view of a fullframe camera. I understand the crop factor and focal length part. I also understand that the depth of field slightly varies when using the same lens at same aperture on a crop and fullframe camera. But my question is when using a 35mm lens on a crop sensor to get the 50mm view of a fullframe, how does the distortion compare? Does a 35mm lens on a crop sensor produce slightly more distortion than a 50mm lens on fullframe camera, as 35mm usually distort a little more than 50mm, or does it get even due to the crop factor? Slightly bothered as shoot mostly portraits and I need have clarity on this before going for a fullframe camera someday :)

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/feedback and glad to be of help:). Distortion is another topic/subject that might be worthy of a video:). In short, every lens has some optical distortion to some extent. The 35mm might have slightly more than 50mm, however fixed lenses do a great job to minimize optical distortion. Keep in mind there is another distortion to consider called perspective distortion which involves the distance of the subject to the lens:).

[@AshRaj299]

@@RealWorld Yeah exactly, the perspective distortion, that's what I'm unable to understand. There should be a way to calculate the distance at which a 35mm lens gets even with a 50mm. Optics :) I'll wait for your video on that. Thank you again for your time and patience.

[@ViikaSingh]

Thanks Mark, i still have a question. If image clicked by full sensor camera cropped just like image from crop sensor camera. Which image have more no. of pixels? Consider both cameras having same no. of pixles on the sensors. If image with crop sensor have more pixles, then doesn't it true that image with crop sensor has more magnification than of full sensor?

[@RealWorld]

Ahhhhh yes, great observation and you are correct providing the resolution is the same:).

[@ViikaSingh]

RealWorld Thanks Mark.

[@MrXelsior]

I have a new speedlight flash that i'm just starting to use more often.I use it on my Nikon d5600. The Neewer Speedlite 750 iii. However I noticed that sometimes when I have it on "burst" speed, the first picture will come out fine, but the second picture will be slightly darker, then the third picture will be even darker that that. Is this some kind of setting on my speedlight flash that I am overlooking? It didn't seem to do that when I first bought it.

[@RealWorld]

Hmmm - may check the batteries. As batteries wear down, the time to recharge increases. This is not a problem in most situations (i.e. using single shots and time between shots). Burst mode is a different story as it demands immediate recharge.

[@MrXelsior]

@@RealWorld yeah but the 4 batteries in the Speedlight Flash were new. And the battery in my D5600 was just about fully charged. If I snapped 3 pictures in burst mode, the first picture was normal, the second pic was slightly darker, then the 3rd pic was even darker than the second pic. But I noticed when I took the speedlight off the camera and used burst mode I didn't have that problem. I think I was using TTL mode also.

[@RealWorld]

Every speedlight has a rating to recharge (typically 1.5 seconds to fully recharge). I believe most have a capacitor as well which is capable of storing a portion of the charge (perhaps 70%). If you are in burst mode with new batteries, I suspect the camera fires at 100% on the first shot > 70% at the second > perhaps 30% on the third > and near zero for the forth on.

[@carlcrosby7035]

@@RealWorld Excellent explanation!

[@Fujisan185]

Hi Mark! Quick question! If i have a 24mm on an apc camera. What focal length do i need to use to achieve the same field of view on a full frame? I am confused. Would i need a 14mm or a 35mm?

[@RealWorld]

Hi Jon ... you would need a 36mm to achieve the same range on a full sensor (24 x 1.5):)

[@Fujisan185]

@@RealWorld thank you Mark!

[@mrwonderful2081]

Such a cutie

[@CK-cf6xf]

Hello very informative video! I'm learning photography and confused between Nikon d5600 and d750 (which is cheaper now). This would be my first dslr camera. Which one should I go for?

[@RealWorld]

Both are solid however the D750 is a full sensor camera:). The D750 is a staple in the Nikon full sensor lineup. If you are getting into photography and feel you will stay with it, I might lean towards the D750. Some might say to start with the D5600 or D3400 or perhaps the D3500 in the Nikon realm all of which are good/solid choices IMO. However, if you go doe the crop sensor path and decided to upgrade to full sensor, you will need to buy full sensor lenses. If you are not certain what the future holds with regards to your photography desires, I might lean towards the D5600:). Either way, the resale value is relatively strong.

[@CK-cf6xf]

@@RealWorld thanks for your speedy response mate. Are the full sensor lens costlier than the crop sensor ones ? Because I can only afford the kit lens and the body as of now and in the future I won't be doing any professional work wrt to my photography as a hobby so I don't think investing too much also would be a good idea. Please advise on above

[@RealWorld]

Glad to be of help!:) Yes, typically full sensor glass cost more than crop (more glass, etc.). With the given information provided I would suggest the D5600:). The D5600 is solid/sharp. Not certain if you caught my review on the camera - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3XIiGSGjqiho6M ... the touch flip screen works great as well - no major issues on my side:).

[@CK-cf6xf]

@@RealWorld well noted mate. Thanks. One last question, I have a great bridge camera Canon hs50sx. Can I learn photography on it? Would you recommend to use that for a year or two to learn the basics and then buy a good full sensor camera?

[@RealWorld]

Absolutely - you can learn on the bridge camera until you get your feet completely wet:). The hs50sx has the ability use all modes as well (aperture, shutter, manual, etc.). I created a video on stepping away from auto that should be a good starting point - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYXRlomJrdtkp9U ... play with the camera and get the feel for all the adjustments and don't forget to play with post processing using Lightroom or the like (post processing plays a big part in the overall polish to any given image IMO). Above all - have fun!:)

[@earavichandran]

I don't worry about crop factors , blah blah blah....All I do to take images and enjoying. That's all. Thanks for making this video. Nice job.

[@RealWorld]

LOL - you have the right idea Ravi!:) Get out and capture some memories:).