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Nikon DSLR Cameras
D3100
questions on what's best
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<blockquote data-quote="Bob Blaylock" data-source="post: 547025" data-attributes="member: 16749"><p>35mm and 50mm refer to the focal length of the lens, which affects the angle of view. Don't confuse the 35mm focal length of a lens with the 35mm film format.</p><p></p><p> For a camera that takes 35mm film, and shoots a standard 36×24mm frame thereon, a 50mm lens is in the range of what is considered a “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_lens" target="_blank">normal lens</a>”, and approximates the angle of view of the human eye. The same holds true of “full-frame” or “FX-format” DSLRs, which have a sensor that is about the same size as a standard frame of 35mm film.</p><p></p><p> Both your D40 and your D3100, however, are “DX-format” cameras. Their sensor is smaller than a standard 35mm film frame, and so the lens needs to be scaled down accordingly, to get the same angle of view. A lens with a focal length of 35mm is a “normal lens” on that camera, approximating the same angle of view as a human eye, or as a 50mm lens on an FX camera or a 35mm film camera.</p><p></p><p> So, for most purposes, a 35mm lens will be more desirable to you than a 50mm lens. On your camera, a 50mm lens would be a “slightly-telephoto” lens, giving about the same angle of view that a 75mm lens would give on an FX or 35mm film camera.</p><p></p><p> As for ƒ/1.8 vs ƒ/1.4, that refers to how wide the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture" target="_blank">aperture</a> can open. A smaller number means a wider aperture, which lets in more light. An ƒ/1.4 lens will open slightly wider than an ƒ/1.8 lens,letting in more light. A lens that can open wider is more desirable, and is referred to as being “faster” than a lens that doesn't open as wide.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bob Blaylock, post: 547025, member: 16749"] 35mm and 50mm refer to the focal length of the lens, which affects the angle of view. Don't confuse the 35mm focal length of a lens with the 35mm film format. For a camera that takes 35mm film, and shoots a standard 36×24mm frame thereon, a 50mm lens is in the range of what is considered a “[URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_lens"]normal lens[/URL]”, and approximates the angle of view of the human eye. The same holds true of “full-frame” or “FX-format” DSLRs, which have a sensor that is about the same size as a standard frame of 35mm film. Both your D40 and your D3100, however, are “DX-format” cameras. Their sensor is smaller than a standard 35mm film frame, and so the lens needs to be scaled down accordingly, to get the same angle of view. A lens with a focal length of 35mm is a “normal lens” on that camera, approximating the same angle of view as a human eye, or as a 50mm lens on an FX camera or a 35mm film camera. So, for most purposes, a 35mm lens will be more desirable to you than a 50mm lens. On your camera, a 50mm lens would be a “slightly-telephoto” lens, giving about the same angle of view that a 75mm lens would give on an FX or 35mm film camera. As for ƒ/1.8 vs ƒ/1.4, that refers to how wide the [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture"]aperture[/URL] can open. A smaller number means a wider aperture, which lets in more light. An ƒ/1.4 lens will open slightly wider than an ƒ/1.8 lens,letting in more light. A lens that can open wider is more desirable, and is referred to as being “faster” than a lens that doesn't open as wide. [/QUOTE]
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questions on what's best
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