Over the last couple of days, there's been discussion of "normal" focal lengths for S8 and 16mm. The "normal" focal length for a super 8 lens is approximately 12mm, while the "normal" focal length for a standard 16mm lens is approximately 25mm. I'm a little confused, however, on how, if at all, this information applies to using a 16mm lens with a super 8 camera.
If, for example, I wanted to use a 12mm-120mm zoom lens made for a 16mm camera with my super 8 camera, does this mean that for super 8, the lens would work as a 6mm-60mm lens, or am I analyzing this situation incorrectly?
Thanks to anyone who might be able to provide some advice!
-Karl
S8/16mm Lens Discussion Revisited
Moderator: Andreas Wideroe
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Karl
The so-called "normal" lens for either 16mm or S-8mm is the lens focal
length for each film size which reproduces objects with the same perspective as your vision. Shorter focal lengths reproduce objects making them look smaller or farther away (wide angle) and longer focal lengths make objects look larger or closer (telephoto). So for 16mm film a 25mm (or 1 inch) lens is normal and for S-8mm (which is half as wide as 16mm film) a 12.5mm is normal. A 25mm "C" mount lens would be "normal" on a 16mm camera, but would be telephoto when used on a S-8mm camera. In short, a lens focal length does not change no matter what format of a camera it is mounted on. You can probably guess why many 35mm still cameras with interchangeable lenses come with a 50mm lens as standard. I hope this helps.
The so-called "normal" lens for either 16mm or S-8mm is the lens focal
length for each film size which reproduces objects with the same perspective as your vision. Shorter focal lengths reproduce objects making them look smaller or farther away (wide angle) and longer focal lengths make objects look larger or closer (telephoto). So for 16mm film a 25mm (or 1 inch) lens is normal and for S-8mm (which is half as wide as 16mm film) a 12.5mm is normal. A 25mm "C" mount lens would be "normal" on a 16mm camera, but would be telephoto when used on a S-8mm camera. In short, a lens focal length does not change no matter what format of a camera it is mounted on. You can probably guess why many 35mm still cameras with interchangeable lenses come with a 50mm lens as standard. I hope this helps.
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David M. Leugers
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Re: S8/16mm Lens Discussion Revisited
[quote="Anonymous"
If, for example, I wanted to use a 12mm-120mm zoom lens made for a 16mm camera with my super 8 camera, does this mean that for super 8, the lens would work as a 6mm-60mm lens, or am I analyzing this situation incorrectly?[/quote]
Hi, Karl!
As David explained, a 12mm lens is a 12mm lens, regardless of what camera you put it on. On a 16mm camera, the 12mm lens will look wide angle but on a super 8 camera, it will look normal with no apparent wide angle or telephoto effect. Therefore, the 12-120 zoom will go from wide angle to telephoto on a 16mm camera but will go from normal to extreme telephoto on a super 8 camera.
If, for example, I wanted to use a 12mm-120mm zoom lens made for a 16mm camera with my super 8 camera, does this mean that for super 8, the lens would work as a 6mm-60mm lens, or am I analyzing this situation incorrectly?[/quote]
Hi, Karl!
As David explained, a 12mm lens is a 12mm lens, regardless of what camera you put it on. On a 16mm camera, the 12mm lens will look wide angle but on a super 8 camera, it will look normal with no apparent wide angle or telephoto effect. Therefore, the 12-120 zoom will go from wide angle to telephoto on a 16mm camera but will go from normal to extreme telephoto on a super 8 camera.
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MovieStuff
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