Which lenses most closely match Scarlet's S35 sensor?

[Luis Avila]

I'm hoping to get a minimal crop factor when using still lenses. I read somwhere in the threads that Nikon's DX lenses have a smaller coverage area than other full frame SLR's.

 

[Gerald Menclik]

this is because the DX sensors are a lot smaller then fullframe 35 ....... but as you say there are a lot of threads hittings that, so I's say you better check out there ....

 

[Michael Hastings]

I'm hoping to get a minimal crop factor when using still lenses. I read somwhere in the threads that Nikon's DX lenses have a smaller coverage area than other full frame SLR's.

It doesn't matter the coverage of the intended sensor, it just matters the focal length.

a 20mm lens will have the same angle of view whether it is Canon, Nikon stills; Ultraprime, Masterprime cine; fujinon for video or whatever. millimeters is millimeters

The so-called "crop factor" is just a way of referencing the angle of view to full frame 35mm SLRs (36mm x 24mm) - a common format that many people are familiar with. So if you recognize that a 50mm lens is "normal" on FF slrs then the 1.6 "crop factor" for APS-C DSLRs tells you it will act like a moderate telephoto on those cameras.

The only difference between a lens designed for the full frame or a smaller frame is that since the smaller frame lens doesn't have to cover as large of a sensor you can get the same basic performance and F stop using smaller, lighter, and usually less expensive glass elements.

An f1.4 lens for a 2/3" sensor of a normal angle of view can be extremely small - maybe just over an inch in diameter, where the same lens to cover s35 would normally need to be twice the size or more. A 10:1 F1.7 normal zoom for 2/3" can fit in your hand - A 10:1 F2 normal zoom for S35 cine is huge - requiring rails and lens supports.

The problem you have with still lenses for 2/3" is there will be no real wide angles since a 90 degree wide angle for 2/3" would be about 5mm and the widest (non-fisheye) Nikon or canon SLR lenses are 10mm to 14mm.

 

[Gerald Menclik]

An f1.4 lens for a 2/3" sensor of a normal angle of view can be extremely small - maybe just over an inch in diameter, where the same lens to cover s35 would normally need to be twice the size or more. A 10:1 F1.7 normal zoom for 2/3" can fit in your hand - A 10:1 F2 normal zoom for S35 cine is huge - requiring rails and lens supports.

Thats exactly what I meant ... so sensor size matters in terms of getting the whole picture the lens delivers to the electronics without loosing parts of the frame the lens sees (aka crop) .... right?

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Thats exactly what I meant ... so sensor size matters in terms of getting the whole picture the lens delivers to the electronics without loosing parts of the frame the lens sees (aka crop) .... right?

Yes, sensor size matters. Focal lengths are equivalent, regardless of which sensor or film format you are shooting too. So a 100mm lens will have the same angle of view per mm of your image or sensor format, regardless of whether it is an APS-C, S35 or FF35 lens, or a medium format lens, for that matter.

So if you take a 50mm FF35 lens and put it on a RED One, you will get the exact same image and angle of view that you would get if you were to use a 50mm APS-C or 50mm S35 lens. However, because the latter two lens formats typically have a smaller coverage area, they will likely vignette on a FF35 sensor. You will get the same angle of view, it's just that the sensor itself will be larger than what the lens itself projects.

The "crop factor" that is often referenced around here is something that pro stills photographers seem to need. When they're coming from a FF35 SLR camera and trying to relate their framing knowledge to S35 or the RED One sensor, it gives them a frame of reference. RED One 4K is a bit smaller than S35 -- it's actually very close to 35mm Academy format. 5K on the mysterium-X will be larger than S35. I would assume that Mysterium-X cameras, or at least the Epic models, will also have a ~4.4K mode or something like that to give the same sensor dimensions as an S35 frame.

Many people coming over from shooting FF35 lenses on a 35mm adapter system are also thinking in terms of crop factor.

Personally, I find it more useful to not think in terms of "crop factors", especially since we're going to be getting several new imaging formats with new cameras. Not everyone thinks in terms of crop factors -- those coming from an S35 background or those not experienced with the FF35 format, won't see the real purpose of a crop factor when relating to the RED One or Mysterium-X 4K, 5K, S35.. To me, it's much more useful to make a simple chart in the form of a grid with sensor sizes running horizontally across the top. Focal lengths running vertically down the left side. Then fill in all the angles of view in the grid.... But that's just me.

 

[Gerald Menclik]

Yes, sensor size matters.

However, because the latter two lens formats typically have a smaller coverage area, they will likely vignette on a FF35 sensor. You will get the same angle of view, it's just that the sensor itself will be larger than what the lens itself projects.

aaaahhhhhhhhhh. ..... vignette was the term I was searching for !!!!

Thanks Jeff, you're right ... the "crop factor" is not a term to work with ....