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Understanding relative focal length with crop sensors (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi all,

I'm trying to better understand relative focal length. I shoot with a Nikon D500 (APS-C) and up until now have done mostly sports photography. I'm trying to get more into street photography but trying to understand what I'll be shooting with based on the lenses that I currently own and I'm a little confused. Can you please confirm if my thinking here is correct.

Here are the lenses I currently own and (my assumption about the relative focal length with this crop sensor camera):

Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR (105-300mm)
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G (75mm)
Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX (35mm since it's a "DX" lens)

Are my assumptions correct? If so, do I not have a true 50mm focal length lens for this camera body? I was looking to shoot with a 50mm to start out my street photography journey.

Thank you for the help.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Focal length is a property of the lens, not the sensor. The 35mm on your camera will appear as a 52.5mm lens (35 x 1.5) would on a full frame camera.

The thing that makes it a crop lens is the smaller image circle projected out the back to cover a smaller crop sensor. It allows the whole design to be smaller in size and weight than a lens made for full frame. But it’s the same 35mm’s as any other 35mm lens whether designed for full frame, crop, 4/3rds, or medium format.