It’s all about “CROP” and this topic is very confusing, people who market Nikon DX cameras will have you believe you are getting more magnification using a full frame FX lens onto a DX camera but in fact what you are witnessing is nothing more than the middle of the lens being used by the smaller sensor so it looks like you are getting a 1.6x magnification when you are actually getting the same picture as a full frame camera but a cropped version.

You would swear P2 was indeed 2x bigger than P1 but in reality you are getting the same picture but the smaller sensor in the micro Four Thirds camera is only using the centre of the lens if I were to now crop P1 I could make it look the same as P2.

A 10mm lens on a 35mm camera will have a field of view 1.6 times greater than it does on a camera with an APS-C sensor.  The reason the Nikon DX lenses offer good value is because it will only give full sensor coverage on a APS-C sized sensor (F3 users beware!!!), so on a 35mm senor you would have a solid vignette around the outside of the image. Nikon do not adjust the focal length stated on the lens to suit different sensors, in the just the same way as Sony don’t. So at the end of the day a 10mm DX lens will have the same FOV as a 10mm lens from any other product line.

The crop factor is exactly the same. What happens is the smaller sensor CROPS you image and creates an image that would be the same as if you used that lens on a full frame but since you lose the edges of the picture it makes an image that appears to be magnified.. The magic word is cropping, the rest of the image spills over the sides. The image size on the sensor is the SAME for either sensor. This is why these new small sensor lenses dont do well on full frame since the lens design does not have to support the increased area of the large sensor.

We are all looking for the perfect fast lens to use with the AF101 and yesterday I thought the 17-55mm f2.8 was indeed that lens but alas we are just going to have to wait for the camera to arrive and do some hands on tests to determine a good all round f2.8 lens for the Panasonic AF101. I must thank a few of my readers for pointing me in the right direction.

The rumors are true!  Birger is coming out with a lens control system for EF mount lenses on the Panasonic AF100. Control for the iris, both auto and manual, will be from the camera.  Continuous (video-style) auto-focus will be supported on most Canon “L-series” lenses.  Power is provided by the camera for most lenses.  Image stabilization is supported on “IS” lenses, and this feature can be turned on or off from the lens.  Ships 14 February 2011.  MSRP $700 for the adapter.  Optional cinema-style remote control, available at additional cost, to be announced January 2011.  Sign up for the “General News” email list to receive updated announcements.  Photo below is a prototype on an engineering sample of the AF100, and a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 lens.

This is the news all Canon “L” glass owners have been waiting for the Rolls Royce of electronic adapters, this in conjunction with the wireless remote will finally allow professional pull focus on the Panasonic AF101 making this a fantastic camera for drama, interviews, commercials and pop promos…the queue for ownership has just got longer.   PS. You can pre order the mount at H Preston Media for an expected January release.