Thread: Newbie question - how do you convert the mm of a lens into a magnification factor?
View Single Post
  #1  
Old 01-02-06, 02:10
Terry O'Nolley's Avatar
Terry O'Nolley Terry O'Nolley is offline  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Age: 60
Posts: 8
Default Newbie question - how do you convert the mm of a lens into a magnification factor?
For example, I have a Nikkor 300mm lens for my D-50. How does that translate into a magnification factor?

Like, my binoculars ar 16x. That, I understand. The images I see are 16 times larger than in reality.

But with a 300mm lens, how much magnification is there?

Do I assume 35mm is "real" and then divide 300mm by 35mm to come up with a 8.5x mag factor?

Thanks!
__________________
I'm going to live forever or die trying.
- Joseph Heller, Catch-22
There is no fate that can not be surmounted by scorn.
- Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus
Reply With Quote