New to digital (Page 2): The first thing to understand is that regardless if you are using a full frame lens (EF), or an APS-C lens (EF-S), the focal length of the lens does not...

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

archernf wrote:

OK, I am trying to understand the difference between Full Frame and APS-C. I have a Canon T6i and would like to better understand lens selection
Many thanks
Neil

The first thing to understand is that regardless if you are using a full frame lens (EF), or an APS-C lens (EF-S), the focal length of the lens does not change. A 50mm is still a 50mm, etc. What changes is the view perspective, or angle of view, if you wish. If you take 2 photos of the same scene, with the same lens on both an APS-C and a full frame camera and display or print them both at the same size the APS-C photo will appear to be a cropped and enlarged section of the FF photo. One big difference between the two is that if both cameras have about the same megapixels then the APS-C photo will be sharper with more detail because you are using all of the sensor's pixels, whereas if you crop and enlarge the FF to match it you are only using a portion of the sensor's pixels. That can be quite useful for some types of shooting.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

archernf wrote:

Nope , just 35mm......in fact my very first 35 mm was an Argus C-3 (a relic) but then I am dating myself...............

Neil

Ahh, the infamous "Brick"!
That goes back a ways.
Only seen and held them, but never actually used one.
Pretty much stick with looking through the viewfinder- you'll get what you see.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

archernf wrote:

Thanks for the replies, yes it is a bit confusing. My main interest is general photography and some macro. I have an 18-135 IS USM kit lens that also does macro. I would like to add a 50mm?? prime lens that will not destroy my piggy bank. It does not need to have the Canon label on it.
Neil

The best 50mm you can get for your camera for the money is the nifty fifty, the EF 50 f/1.8 from Canon. They've made about a zillion of them in a few variations. Many folks diss the current version 'cause it has a plastic mount, not metal. There's nothing wrong with the plastic mount, it's plenty strong and attached to the camera just as firmly as the metal ones do, and it helps keep cost and weight down also. The next step up is the EF 50 f/1.4, it costs about 3 times what a nifty fifty does and it has more metal in it. After that there's the EF 50 f/1.2L, which can be had for between $700 and $1500 depending on age and condition, $1500 will get you a shiny brand new one.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

archernf wrote:

Now that is interesting, so if I add a 50 mm lens to my Canon T6i it really is a 75 mm lens. Oh for the days of my old Nikon F3 when it was what you see is what you get.
Neil

Yes and No. The focal length does not change but the perspective and angle of view does. The cropping is different between formats.

A "normal" lens on a 35mm SLR (Nikon F3 for example) is a 50mm lens, that 50mm lens on a Crop Factor or your Rebel camera is a short portrait lens.

A 50mm on a medium format camera (6x6 or 6x7 cm) is a very wide angle lens.

A 50mm on a 4x5" large format (view camera) is a super wide angle lens!

A 35mm lens is a "normal" lens for a ASP-C sensor digital camera.

Technically a "normal" lens has a focal length equal more or less to that of the hypotenuse (diagonal) of the film or sensor format. Example: 24mm x 36mm > 43mm.

The focal length never changes, but it's use and angle of view does. Do note though, a 50mm Nikkor F lens will not throw an image circle big enough for a 4x5" negative. But Nikon does make Nikkor W lenses for view cameras. I own a 150mm one on Copal shutter. More stuff to get confused about but it is beyond your actual question.

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

archernf wrote:

OK, I am trying to understand the difference between Full Frame and APS-C. I have a Canon T6i and would like to better understand lens selection
Many thanks
Neil

Here is a great website with reviews and recommendations that are honest and unbiased:
http://www.cameralabs.com/lenses/lens_buyers_guide/Canon_EF_lenses/Recommended_Canon_lenses.shtml

After looking at the Camaerlabs website and you've decided on which lens(es) to buy, to get great Canon lenses with some savings built into it, many people on UHH will recommend getting manufacturer-refurbished lenses (and cameras, too, for that matter). In my opinion, Canon is simply the best at doing this because its refurbs are completely reconditioned by its own technicians to the point of being as good as new, AND they offer a one-year warranty on all of them. Good luck in your selections!
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

archernf wrote:

OK, I am trying to understand the difference between Full Frame and APS-C. I have a Canon T6i and would like to better understand lens selection
Many thanks
Neil

FF has a sensor roughly the size of 35mm film, while a crop sensor is a but smaller.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/features/dx-vs-fx-its-not-debate-its-choice
http://www.lightstalking.com/cameras-sensor-size/
http://neilvn.com/tangents/full-frame-vs-crop-sensor-cameras-comparison-depth-of-field/

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

boberic wrote:

It is confusing with the myriad lenses available. ... (show quote)

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

archernf wrote:

OK, I am trying to understand the difference between Full Frame and APS-C. I have a Canon T6i and would like to better understand lens selection
Many thanks
Neil

1. The full frame camera has a larger sensor than the APS-c
2. Lenses for the full frame project an image on the sensor that is the same size as the sensor. This means that these lenses can be used on the camera with the smaller sensor, but only the middle of the projected image will be captured. A side effect of this is that a smaller angle of view will be captured and the effective focal length will be approximately one and a half times greater.
3. APS-c lenses project an image the size of the APS-c sensor, so if you put them on a full frame camera the sensor will only be illuminated in the center and the edges of the frame will be dark.

Bob Boner

If you anticipate ever owning a full frame canon, I recommend buying EF lenses for your T6i. As pointed out they will work with your T6i, but if you go to full frame, the EF-S lenses will not fill the frame.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

I carry two (2) different model Canon cameras with me. One reason is that Some (not all) lenses will not fit (or work well) on the Canon 5D Mark II (Full Frame) = However = Work well on the Canon 7D ("cut Sensor") camera. Or instance ... I can not use the 10 - 18 MM Wide lens on the 5D -- But works great on the 7D.

I do not like to change lenses on cameras where I may miss a photo-moment. And I have a lot of lenses to use on both cameras.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

CatMarley wrote:

1. The full frame camera has a larger sensor than ... (show quote)

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YES! THIS..... Very well explained ...

Thank You = "Cat"

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

CPR wrote:

If we use the Nikon example the crop sensor camera... (show quote)

It is important to know that the crop factor does not increase your focal length. Crop factor is about the field of view, what you see in the image. The smaller senors will not show the same height or width of a full frame sensor, a full frame can not show the height and width of a medium format sensor. Using the 50mm example above---your focal length is 50mm, but what see is as if you are using 75mm. However, this never figures in while you are making a image because you frame what you want in the image.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

archernf wrote:

Nope , just 35mm......in fact my very first 35 mm was an Argus C-3 (a relic) but then I am dating myself...............

Neil

==============

GREAT camera == The C-3 was my first 35mm I was in high school and bought it used (of course) as it was built in Ann Arbor, MI from 1940 to 1950. I was 15 years of age. This camera I still make use of - If for nothing else - To remind me of where I began over fifty years ago.

Long Live "The Black Brick".

wattsimages

Lots of good information here. if you're new to digital I would suggest that you watch some of the YouTube videos that explain these topics. Tony Northrop is a good place to start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtDotqLx6nA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbUIfB5YUc

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

archernf wrote:

Thanks for the replies, yes it is a bit confusing. My main interest is general photography and some macro. I have an 18-135 IS USM kit lens that also does macro. I would like to add a 50mm?? prime lens that will not destroy my piggy bank. It does not need to have the Canon label on it.
Neil

I believe that the Canon 50mm f1.8 is about the least expensive 50mm you can get for your camera. It is also an excellent lens optically. I have one and love it for what I use it for.