A Beginner's Guide to Crop Factor in Photography

One of the most fundamental but frequently misunderstood concepts in photography is crop factor, or how different sensor sizes relate to each other. If you are new to photography and not sure of how crop factor works, this excellent video will get you up and running in no time. 

Coming to you from Photo Genius, this great video will show you the ins and out of crop factor. Crop factor is often misunderstood or poorly explained, but it is an important concept to master, especially if you are using a sensor size other than full frame. This is because crop factors are always defined relative to a 35mm sensor, and the focal lengths of lenses are always given in those terms, even on other formats. Thus, if you are shooting with a micro four thirds, APS-C, or medium format camera, you have to take into account these differences whenever you are purchasing a lens or choosing one for a shoot. You can also use this to your advantage, however. For example, many sports and wildlife photographers will carry an APS-C body in addition to their main full frame body for getting extra reach when they need it without having to carry another pricey and bulky lens. Check out the video above for the full rundown. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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