Crop Factor TRUTH: Do you need Full Frame?

The same lens produces different results on cameras with different sized sensors. As a result, it can be tough to cross-shop Micro Four-Thirds, APS-C, Full Frame, and Medium Format cameras. Crop Factor is a conversion that makes it simple to determine the exact results you’ll get with any given lens, regardless of your camera’s sensor size. By multiplying your camera’s crop factor by a lens’ focal length AND aperture, you can determine the full-frame equivalent angle of view, depth-of-field (background blur) and a good estimate of the low-light noise. Here are common crop factors: 1X: Full-frame cameras like the Nikon D610, D750, D850, D5, Canon 6D, 5D, and 1D, Sony a7, a9, Pentax K1 : APS-C cameras like the Nikon D7200, D5300, D3400, Sony a6500, and Fuji X-T3 : Canon APS-C cameras like the Canon 7D, 80D, 77D 2X: Micro four-thirds (M43) cameras like the Panasonic GH5, G9, and Olympus E-M1, E-M5, and E-M10 For more information and to see the previous crop factor and equivalency videos, see To get an outside opinion, here are articles and videos by other people on the same topic:
Back to Top