Author Topic: Medium Format lenses to use as compact telephoto (Read 2136 times)

count_zero · « **on:** October 01, 2009, 07:03:04 PM »

Has anyone tried using for example a 80mm medium format lens on m43? You figure that should get you about 300mm equivalent, but the lens itself is half the length (and possibly weight). There are some nice russian medium format lenses for under $100.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2009, 08:47:51 AM »

unless im mistaken its gonna be ~ 160mm on the ep-1 but with an enormous image circle if you make a sliding contraption[think small movable board like board from view cameras , you might invent the first shift lens for the ep-1

count_zero · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2009, 12:54:05 PM »

Ok, I wasn't sure if there was magnification going on since a FF medium format sensor is twice the size of a 35mm FF sensor. I thought since m43 is 1/2 of 35mm FF, then it must be 1/4 of medium format to yeild 4x magnification/cropping. I guess 80mm medium format is equivalent to 80mm 35mm format.

Coveted Pixel · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2009, 01:50:13 PM »

You are correct if by FF medium format you mean 6x7, then it is about twice the crop as on 35mm, Like a Mamiya 7 or RB/RZ 6x7 camera or Pentax 6x7, then an 80 lens in that format would roughly equate to 320 on the M43. The Mamiya RB 127 lens is very compact lens. That'd take you to about the same crop as 508mm on the M43 format. Don't know how hand-holdable that would be, especially when you do the zoom-in to focus thing.

voyager · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2009, 08:05:40 PM »

Not to mention the size of the lens relative to the body in width.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2009, 08:41:20 PM »

i think an 80mm medium format is like a 50mm full frame 35 fov

Jman · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2009, 07:08:09 AM »

Umm...people. An 80mm lens is an 80mm lens. Period. A medium format 80mm lens lon m4/3 will look the same as a 35mm format 80mm lens on m4/3 which will look the same as a m4/3 80mm lens on m4/3. All of them are 80mm lenses. An 80mm lens is a normal lens on medium format, but that's because it casts a larger image circle, and the recording medium is larger, so it captures the same AOV as a 50mm lens on full frame or a 25mm lens on m4/3, but nothing about the optics changes. There is no 'master format.' An 80mm lens is an 80mm lens is an 80mm lens.

Coveted Pixel · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2009, 11:03:34 AM »

Quote from: Jman on October 03, 2009, 07:08:09 AM

Umm...people. An 80mm lens is an 80mm lens. Period. A medium format 80mm lens lon m4/3 will look the same as a 35mm format 80mm lens on m4/3 which will look the same as a m4/3 80mm lens on m4/3. All of them are 80mm lenses. An 80mm lens is a normal lens on medium format, but that's because it casts a larger image circle, and the recording medium is larger, so it captures the same AOV as a 50mm lens on full frame or a 25mm lens on m4/3, but nothing about the optics changes. There is no 'master format.' An 80mm lens is an 80mm lens is an 80mm lens.

Uhmmmm, I think the OP was referring to the approximate Angle of View comparison, not that the lens actually magically becomes something different, but that the represented field of view narrows, and then the rest of the folks were discussing the appropriate math to give the OP a point of reference of what that narrower view might be compared to.

Coveted Pixel · « **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2009, 11:07:13 AM »

Quote from: cosinaphile on October 02, 2009, 08:41:20 PM

i think an 80mm medium format is like a 50mm full frame 35 fov

Which medium format?

Medium format: 6x4.5, like a Mamiya 645 or Pentax 645, then yes about 50-ish, medium format: 6x6 like a Hassy, then different yet, Medium format: 6x7 like a Pentax 6x7, or a Mamiya RB67 or RZ67 or Mamiya 7, then different still, about 40. I still have my RB and RZ67, and I use those lenses adapted on Pentax APS-C and now GH1.

Jman · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2009, 05:02:18 PM »

Quote from: Coveted Pixel on October 03, 2009, 11:03:34 AM

Uhmmmm, I think the OP was referring to the approximate Angle of View comparison, not that the lens actually magically becomes something different, but that the represented field of view narrows, and then the rest of the folks were discussing the appropriate math to give the OP a point of reference of what that narrower view might be compared to.

I know that...and almost all the responses seem to think that an 80mm medium format lens has a different AOV on m4/3 than any other 80mm lens...which it doesn't. The AOV on an 80mm lens is the same regardless of the format it originally was intended for (provided the image circle is large enough to completely cover the new format). The fact is, an 80mm medium format lens will have the exact same angle of view as the Panasonic 45-200 set at 80mm has, or any other 80mm lens, whether it be 35mm, Olympus Pen F mount, whatever, when those lenses are mounted on a micro 4/3 camera.

Yes, an 80mm lens on medium format will be roughly 3.2x shorter (in angle of view) than an 80mm lens on m4/3, but that's irrelevant to the discussion.

pkloo · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:49:48 AM »

Field of view(FOV) is difference only.............

U buy large, medium or full frame lens 50mm.....Is still 50mm.

Just the FOV is not the same depend on the sensor size lol,,,,

cosinaphile · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2009, 08:54:46 PM »

there are other differences , one being the larger the image circle the lens was designed for ,the smaller the portion the 4\3 sensor will "see" ,the further away from the edge of the image circle it is where usually the most distortion and softness is to be found in a given lens

potentally the larger the format lens the sweeter and smaller the spot in the center of the lens the m4\3 sensor will use also there is a potential; to use very large image circle alenses on smaller sensor cameras as shift lenses for someone creastive enuf to design a lense board and shift mechanism

Medium Format lenses to use as compact telephoto