Analog to Digital: Making the Switch [Reader Question]
Damien Franco | Oct 15, 2008 | Comments Comments
Here’s a reader question from Lars in Chile. Yep, we’re global! This is an email exchange with last names and email addresses omitted. This also means that any errors in spelling and grammar are kept in tact.
Hello!
I have been into film photography for close to 40 years but am new to
digital photography.
herefore am very interested in knowing if SLR lenses are basically the same
for 35mm or digital cameras? (Provided the similar mountings are
used,mnaturally).
In other words, will a 35mm reflex lens interchange with a digital camera
of same mounting?
Your help would be most appreciated!!
Lars
Here was my response
Like any other answer with photography, it depends.
If you are able to get your hands on a “full frame” sensor, then your old lenses will behave almost exactly the same. There may be issues with auto focus or metering, but the length of the lens will be the same.
If the DSLR in question has a smaller sensor you’ll effectively need to use the conversion for that camera manufacturer. Canon is 1.6X and Nikon is 1.5X I believe. This basically means you multiply the lens length by the conversion factor to give you an approximate “new or accurate” length. So a 50mm prime on a DX sensor effectively acts like a 75mm lens, approximately.
By the way, which camera are you looking at?
Lars answers back
Hello Damien Franco.
Thanks. It’s very kind of you to answer me!
To answer your question, I am thinking now of buying a Canon EOS 50D. I believe it seems to be a good bet overall. (Have in fact used “compact” digitals for some years now but definitely want to upgrade).
My “old” (35mm) SLRs are:
Olympus OM-1 & original lenses
Contax NX (28-80 Zeiss lens)
Canon EOS50 (analog) Lenses: Tokina Aspherical 24-80/Canon/USM 70-300/Canon 35-80.
Its these last 3 lenses that I would like to interchange with the digital Canon I’m buying.
Yes, naturally feel free and use any or all these comments in your blog!
Best regards,
Lars
My final answer to Lars
Hi Lars,
First congratulations on deciding on the Canon EOS 50D. I own the 30D myself and love it still. It’s two models old now so I’ll be shopping soon for an upgrade. The 50D does have a smaller sensor so you will have to take that into account. The two Canon lenses should fit without any problems. I’m assuming the Tokina will fit as well because it fits your current analog Canon.
The hardest thing for most people to grasp is that the lenses don’t really change. It’s all about the FOV (Field of View). The lenses don’t act stronger per se. They behave exactly the same as they would on a full frame sensor. The lenses will still display the same depth of field and will have the same imperfections that it always had. What happens is that the image is sort of “pre cropped”. Think of a projector showing a movie on a screen that is too small for the projector. Only what fits on the screen is visible.
Canon uses a 1.6X crop factor. All you have to do is multiply the focal length of your lens by 1.6 to get your “effective focal length”.
Here are the approximate breakdowns on your three lenses with the conversion factored in.
Tokina Aspherical 24-80mm will effectively become a 38-128mm
Canon 70-300mm will effectively become a 112-480mm
Canon 35-80mm will effectiely become a 56-128mm
The hardest thing to get used to is not being able to work a wide angle lens the same. For a smaller sensored digital camera if you want a wide angle lens you’ll have to put down some cash on an untra wide angle lens. That’s the biggest drawback on the smaller sensors.
There will be a short period of time where you may or may not like the difference in Field of View but after a while you’ll get used to it.
As an alternative camera option, the Canon 5D Mark ll just came out. I’m guessing that if you’re looking at the 50D then the 5D Mark ll is not in your price point, but used 5D’s may fall in that range. This is something to consider as you’ll then be using a full frame sensor which acts just like a 35mm frame.
Just something to think about. Always be cautious when purchasing a used camera and try to do so locally. Test drive it and maybe have a camera shop look at it to ensure it has been well taken care of.
Did I miss anything in answering Lars’ questions about making the switch?
If you have a question for me, feel free to use the contact form or shoot me an email to damien[at]yourphototips.com.
I’ll always ask you first if I can share with the readers so you can feel safe to ask anything without feeling embarrassed. The only bad question is the one you don’t ask!
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