How it works
Calculate 35mm equivalent focal length for different sensor sizes.
Input query strings and outputs
Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.
Input query strings
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?cropFactor=Crop FactorChoice · Optional · Default: 1.0
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?focalLength=Focal Length (mm)Number · Optional · Default: 50
Outputs
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resultResultText · Primary output
result contains the calculator’s complete rendered result area, including its visible result cards, tables, charts, and messages.
Calculate 35mm equivalent focal length for different sensors
Description
The Camera Lens Equivalent Calculator is a photography tool used to understand how a lens will “behave” on different camera bodies. Because different cameras have different sensor sizes (like APS-C or Micro Four Thirds), the “effective” zoom of a lens changes. This tool calculates the 35mm Equivalent, allowing you to compare the field of view across any camera system.
Inputs
- Focal Length (mm): The physical focal length written on the side of your lens.
- Crop Factor: The multiplier for your camera’s sensor size.
- 1.0: Full Frame (Standard)
- 1.5 / 1.6: APS-C (Nikon, Sony, Canon)
- 2.0: Micro Four Thirds (MFT)
Outputs
- 35mm Equivalent: The effective focal length you would need on a Full Frame camera to get the same view.
Chart
- N/A: This tool provides direct numeric optics results.
“Good to Know”
- The “Zoom” Effect: A 50mm lens on an APS-C camera (1.5x) looks like a 75mm lens—it appears more “zoomed in” because the sensor is smaller and only captures the center of the lens’s image.
- Depth of Field: While the focal length changes effectively, remember that the physical properties of the lens stay the same.
- Wide Angle vs. Telephoto: Use this tool to see if a lens is wide enough for landscapes (usually <35mm equiv) or long enough for sports (>150mm equiv).
Examples
Example 1: Nifty Fifty on APS-C
- Input: Focal: 50mm, Crop: 1.5
- Output: 75 mm
Example 2: Wide Angle on MFT
- Input: Focal: 12mm, Crop: 2.0
- Output: 24 mm
Example 3: Full Frame Standard
- Input: Focal: 35mm, Crop: 1.0
- Output: 35 mm