How do I compare zoom between point&shoot and DSLR camera?

dslr camera lens terms image

Robert Mag

I want to buy a camera with really good quality and very high zoom, I see a lot of point&shoot cameras that specify their zoom level, like some new models now indicate 20x zoom.
However, how would that compare to a dslr camera if I buy a telephoto lens or something,
how do I know if the dslr and lens have better than 20x zoom?

Answer
Most cameras now show the focal length in 35mm equivalents. If I take my old compact as an example then:-

It had a 10x zoom. The wide angle lens on this camera started at 25mm. That means simply the "zoom" was 25-250mm in equivalent terms as 25x10=250.

My DSLR lenses on the otherhand are:

18-55mm = 3x
50mm = 0x
70-300mm = 4.3x

Although the crop factor changes the values slightly in 35mm terms (18-55 becomes a 28-80 approx) the 3x "zoom" stays the same.

I think one of the biggest zooms on DSLR is the Tamron 15x 18-270mm

What zoom setting do I use on a Canon DSLR lens to equal 24x on a FujiFilm S3280 camera?

kfinpgh

I own a Fujifilm Finepix S3280 24x zoom camera and just got a Canon Rebel t3i DSLR camera. What are equivalent DSLR lens settings for the zoom factor on the Fujifilm camera? I have a couple of additional lenses for the DSLR, but want to compare "apples to apples". Thanks.

Answer
Once you left the P&S arena, you have got to buy different lenses to cover similar focal lengths to your S3280

The zoom lens with the most range would be the 18-200 mm lens (11x) in P&S terms.

I can use four lenses on my dSLR to produce the most focal lengths usually needed when shooting assignments

* 14-24 mm
* 24-70 mm
* 70-200 mm
* 200-400 mm

In P&S terms, those lenses equal about 28x

If you visit this site, you will see what it costs to purchase those four lenses.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Camera-Lenses/All-Lenses/index.page

When you went from owning a P&S to a dSLR system, you certainly jumped into the deep end of the photographic pool

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What zoom setting do I use on a Canon DSLR lens to equal 24x on a FujiFilm S3280 camera?

dslr camera lens terms image

kfinpgh

I own a Fujifilm Finepix S3280 24x zoom camera and just got a Canon Rebel t3i DSLR camera. What are equivalent DSLR lens settings for the zoom factor on the Fujifilm camera? I have a couple of additional lenses for the DSLR, but want to compare "apples to apples". Thanks.

Answer
Once you left the P&S arena, you have got to buy different lenses to cover similar focal lengths to your S3280

The zoom lens with the most range would be the 18-200 mm lens (11x) in P&S terms.

I can use four lenses on my dSLR to produce the most focal lengths usually needed when shooting assignments

* 14-24 mm
* 24-70 mm
* 70-200 mm
* 200-400 mm

In P&S terms, those lenses equal about 28x

If you visit this site, you will see what it costs to purchase those four lenses.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Camera-Lenses/All-Lenses/index.page

When you went from owning a P&S to a dSLR system, you certainly jumped into the deep end of the photographic pool

Will a 400mm zoom take good pictures from the top balcony at the United Center during a hockey game?

ComeAtMeBr

I go to Blackhawks games a lot (I'm obsessed with Jonathan Toews :D) and I am currently looking for a high quality DSLR camera and possibly lens. From high up, will a 400 mm zoom take high quality pictures from a very far distance? Also, if you have any camera suggestions, let me know!

Answer
No. Even if you were willing to drop $10,000 on a 400mm f/2.8 prime, your pictures from the balcony wouldn't be as good as the ones you'll see the next day in the paper. They might not even let you in carrying a setup like that. Just enjoy being there!

If you must do this, my advice is rent a DSLR and lens rather than buying. In Chicago, your best bet is Progear. Just call them up and talk to a tech, and they'll point you in the right direction in terms of what gear you need. I'll warn you, though, that they might (like me) just tell you to enjoy the game.
http://progearrental.com/equipment-rental/equipment-rental.php

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Whats a good camera for great pictures but no experience in photography?

dslr camera lens terms image

Laly

I like taking pictures, especially of my kids. I want to buy a good camera for those priceless moments. I don't know a thing about cameras or photography but I love looking at those professional photos and I would love to get those results on my photos. Someone suggested the Nikon d5100 but I have been reading and the dslr cameras don't have a lot of zoom. I would have to buy an extra lens to get a good zoom and even with an extra lens, I wouldn't get a great zoom like some other cameras like the canon SX40 Hs (35x). I know that they are completely different type of cameras. (Honestly don't know why). But I would like to know what kind of camera would be good for me, even if I need an extra lens, for me to get amazing photos and a good zoom for taking far away pictures (soccer games, etc). Please explain in plain english because again I know nothing about cameras. :-/

Answer
"I don't know a thing about cameras or photography but I love looking at those professional photos and I would love to get those results on my photos."

It's not the camera, it;s the person behind it that is important. The camera is just a box and some glass that aptures light. the PHOTOGRAPHER is the one that decides what light get's captured and how the box captures it.

The camea doesn;t know anything about composition (ok so a couple of them are able to guess at the rule of thirds), the cmaera won;t know if the person's pose is bad, the camera won;t know that moving 3 feet to the left will give you better light ... you, as the photographer, have to see this before you press the shutter. YOU make the decision of what to include in the scene, when to take the shot.

No camera, will give you good results if you don't learn about photography ... none at all. all you'll ever get are porrly composed snapshots that are porrly exposed because you are letting the camera do the thinking.

Just to give you an idea ... this is the tpe of picture i was takicng when I got my first DSLR.
http://flic.kr/p/9mhSeA

This is what I shoot now:
http://flic.kr/p/appbzY
http://flic.kr/p/dmngSV
http://flic.kr/p/dmngWo

What has changed over the last 6 years? My understanding of photography.

So that being said, pick up your D5100 ... see if you can get a two lens kit (18-55 and 55-200) and that should have you well set in terms of lenses. Then spend a bit on a basic DSLR course and learn about photography ... just don;t expect to be creating stunning images right off the bat.

How much impact will a 1.6x crop factor have on my photography?

lollerskat

I am planning to buy a dSLR camera soon, the Rebel XSi and because it has a APS-C sensor, there will be a crop factor of 1.6x when I use an EF lens for it. I am told to invest in EF lenses but I am worried if the crop factor will have a large impact on it. What if I wanted a wide angle lens? How much will the crop factor impact the ability of this wide-angle lens?

Answer
A great answer by Pooky, my compliments to him on such a clear explanation of the visual effect of this - it's a good question too.

If you know about lenses in 35mm terms the 1.6 factor will make a big difference:
10mm > (acts like) 16mm (in comparison to 35mm)
20mm > 32mm
28mm > 45mm (so a normally pretty wide lens on a 35mm camera will act like a standard 50mm!)
50mm > 80mm (a standard 35mm lens would act like a moderate telephoto / portrait type lens)
75mm > 120mm

This means many digital SLR digital photographers don't have anything more than a moderately wide lens in their armoury, this is a very limiting factor for a surprising number of photographic situations - interiors, candid work in crowded spaces, low light situations, places where you can't step back any further, etc.

The implication is that you need to think very differently for what would normally (in 35mm terms) be considered a very wide lens.. and what may initially seem really wide, isn't at all!

To put this into context, this is not going to worry a wildlife, sports, or paparazzi / surveillance photographer at all. For most other purposes it's like losing a key part of your armoury.

I've been professional for 18 years now and all but a few dozen images out of many thousands were taken on lenses under 100mm in 35mm terms. It's subject driven but I'd guess I use wide lenses probably around 15-30% of the time.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers