When purchasing a camera, especially when considering DSLR or mirrorless cameras, you may come across the term "crop factor." This is an indicator of how much smaller the sensor size is compared to a full-frame camera, significantly affecting the angle of view during shooting.
This time, we will introduce the basic concept of crop factor and its impact in an easy-to-understand manner.
What is Crop Factor?
Crop factor is a numerical value that indicates how much smaller a sensor (such as APS-C or Micro Four Thirds) is compared to a full-frame sensor (equivalent to 35mm film) and how it narrows the angle of view.
For example, the crop factor of an APS-C sensor is generally 1.5x (1.6x for Canon), meaning that when a 50mm lens is mounted on an APS-C camera, it provides an angle of view equivalent to 75mm (80mm for Canon) on a full-frame camera. This phenomenon makes the shooting range appear "cropped" due to the smaller sensor size.
Photo by 好 | Kodai Yamashita
What is the Impact of Crop Factor?
Crop factor provides significant advantages for telephoto shooting. When a 200mm lens is mounted on an APS-C camera, it offers an angle of view equivalent to 300mm on a full-frame camera, allowing you to capture distant subjects more prominently. This is not because the focal length of the lens changes, but because the smaller sensor narrows the angle of view, enhancing the telephoto effect.
This is particularly advantageous for distant shooting, such as bird or sports photography. However, when using wide-angle lenses for landscape photography, you may face limitations as the desired wide area may not be captured. Therefore, it is important to consider the impact of crop factor depending on the scene you wish to shoot.
Photo by the Oji brown
Tips for Shooting with Crop Factor
Understanding crop factor makes choosing cameras and lenses more enjoyable. Opting for an APS-C camera, which is more cost-effective than a full-frame camera, and focusing on telephoto shooting is one approach.
If you want to use wide-angle lenses, selecting a slightly shorter focal length can compensate for the narrowing of the angle of view due to crop factor. By incorporating such strategies, you can find the optimal camera settings for your shooting style.
