Kaidan Incorporated • 703 E. Pennsylvania Blvd • Feasterville, PA 19053 • U.S.A.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do digital camera manufacters mean by 35mm format equivalent lens?
The CCD arrays in a digital camera are much smaller than the imaging area on
35mm film.The CCD size differs from camera to camera. So in order to eliminate any
confusion, the focal length is often stated by the camera manufacturer as a 35mm
format equivalent, because people are more familar with the 35mm lenses and what
kind of image a certain lens will often produce. In order to arrive at the 35mm format
equivalent they need to multiply the size of the sensor by a value called the “focal
length multiplier”. The focal length multiplier is expressed as a scale factor such as 1.5
or 1.6, thus on a digital SLR with a focal length multiplier of 1.5x, a 28mm lens would
produce the equivalent picture angle, (strictly “field of view”), of a 42mm lens. The
35mm format equivalent of the lens on your camera is usually included in the specifica-
tion section of your camera users guide or manual.
