On Jul 14, 2005, at 3:44 AM, Paul Stenquist wrote:
Perspective is a function of distance, but the distance one stands from the subject is a function of FOV. An example makes this relationship quite obvious: I frequently shoot front 3/4 or 7/8 pics of cars with a 400mm lens. Art directors like that with long cars because it bunches them up, bringing the back wheels forward. I used to use it with my LX. I now use it with my *istD. Because the *istD FOV is tighter, I'm further away from the subject when I shoot. The same distance from the subject I would be if using a 600mm lens on the LX. So, in effect, I get the same perspective with the 400 on the *istD that I would get with a 600 mm lens on the LX.
Well, you can think of it that way too. BUT ... Listen to what you've said:
"Art directors like it that way because it bunches them up..." in other words, you're trying to achieve a particular perspective. So you go the distance required to get that perspective, and then fit a long lens so that you can fill the frame reasonably with the primary subject matter for maximum quality.
With the D/DS's smaller format, you can achieve the same frame- filling function with a 1/3 shorter lens at the same perspective distance.
Godfrey
