Mamiya 65mm vs 50mm
pcd...@ix.netcom.com
I bought a 65mm lens for my RB67 Pro S to do some wedding work. Info
from Mamiya stated that the 65mm is equal to 28mm in 35mm, and the
50mm is equal to 24mm in 35mm. I bought the 65mm and according to my
tests, it only covers the same as a 35mm in 35mm. Did I get the wrong
lens? Any comments?
David
William Howse
In <4qhd88$r...@dfw-ixnews2.ix.netcom.com> pcd...@ix.netcom.com ()
writes:
David,
According to the Mamiya RZ brochure (I would think it would be the same
with the RB) the 65mm is equivalent to a 32mm lens in 35mm, and the
50mm is equivalent to a 24mm lens in 35mm, I have the 50mm and I think
it is to wide for weddings (might be good for some shots), but as far
as group shots and overall I think the 65mm would do great, Most
wedding Photographers I know use the 65mm instead of the 50mm for group
shots and so forth.
I think you picked the right lens! it would be the one I would pick for
weddings.
Just my 2¢
William Howse
Joseph Albert
In article <4qhd88$r...@dfw-ixnews2.ix.netcom.com>,
<pcd...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>I bought a 65mm lens for my RB67 Pro S to do some wedding work. Info
>from Mamiya stated that the 65mm is equal to 28mm in 35mm, and the
>50mm is equal to 24mm in 35mm. I bought the 65mm and according to my
>tests, it only covers the same as a 35mm in 35mm. Did I get the wrong
>lens? Any comments?
>David
>
when comparing focal lengths in different formats, you have to be
careful to compare apples with apples, so to speak. Many camera
companies will report angle of view of a given focal length lens
that they sell. This will be the angle subtended by the diagonal
of the format.
Since 35mm and 6x7 formats have different aspect ratios, if you
choose a lens in 6x7 whose angle of view (as defined in the preceeding
paragraph) is the same as some given focal length in 35mm, the 6x7
lens will in fact be wider (or less magnification).
A better way to proceed is by comparing horizontal or vertical magnification,
or to decide on an aspect ratio of prints, and use angle of view for the
largest such rectangle that can be inscribed in the format.
In that vein, I generally compare focal lengths in 35mm and 6x7 by assuming
a 4:5 aspect ratio print. then the smaller dimension of the largest 4:5
rectangle that can be inscribed in either format is: 24mm for 35mm, and
56mm for 6x7. then, to convert from 35mm focal length to 6x7, just
multiply by 56/24 = 7/3.
In this case, I think Mamiya told you right, as 65 * (3/7) = 27.8,
so for making 4:5 prints, a 65mm lens for 6x7 is about like a 28mm lens
for 35mm format.
I suspect that the reason you are seeing coverage comparable to a 35mm
lens in 35mm format is that you are using the full width of each format
to see the horizontal view of each lens. here any given focal length
in 35mm gets a wider view because the horizontal dimension of the format
is wider. if you want prints in the aspect ratio 2:3, then the small
dimension of hte largest 2:3 rectangle inscribable in 35mm is still 24mm,
but in 6x7 it is now (assuming mamiya RB67 is 56mm x 68mm) 45mm.
thus, in this case, the 65mm lens in 6x7, when used for 2:3 aspect
ratio prints, is the same view as 65 * (24/45) = 34.67 or about 35mm.
So, you can see why I suspect you were comparing horizontal coverage
in your tests.
J. Albert
oop's
William Howse wrote:
>
> In <4qhd88$r...@dfw-ixnews2.ix.netcom.com> pcd...@ix.netcom.com ()
> writes:
> >
> >from Mamiya stated that the 65mm is equal to 28mm in 35mm, and the
> >50mm is equal to 24mm in 35mm. I bought the 65mm and according to my
> >tests, it only covers the same as a 35mm in 35mm. Did I get the wrong
> >lens? Any comments?
> >David
> >
>
>
> According to the Mamiya RZ brochure (I would think it would be the same
> with the RB) the 65mm is equivalent to a 32mm lens in 35mm, and the
> 50mm is equivalent to a 24mm lens in 35mm, I have the 50mm and I think
> it is to wide for weddings (might be good for some shots), but as far
> as group shots and overall I think the 65mm would do great, Most
> wedding Photographers I know use the 65mm instead of the 50mm for group
> shots and so forth.
>
> I think you picked the right lens! it would be the one I would pick for
> weddings.
>
> Just my 2｢
>
> William Howse
Just to add that I do think that the 50mm has too much distortion for
wedding group photos.
65mm would be a good choice.
rm
Steve Gundersen
pcd...@ix.netcom.com () wrote:
>I bought a 65mm lens for my RB67 Pro S to do some wedding work. Info
>from Mamiya stated that the 65mm is equal to 28mm in 35mm, and the
>50mm is equal to 24mm in 35mm. I bought the 65mm and according to my
>tests, it only covers the same as a 35mm in 35mm. Did I get the wrong
>lens? Any comments?
>David
Mamiya lists the 65mm as equivalent to 32mm in their RZ literature and
that is correct. Maybe you read it wrong or the RB info was wrong.
Personally I think the 50mm lens would add so much perspective
distortion that you made the right choice anyway.
Steve