Canon 1.3x Cameras

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Also see my other Canon Tests and Crop Factors Explained.

December 2006

INTRODUCTION

Canon makes cameras with three different sized image sensors.

Full-frame digital cameras use a sensor the same size as 35mm film.

Consumer 1.6x cameras have a sensor 1.6x smaller than 35mm film.

These 1.3 x cameras use a sensor 1.3x smaller than 35mm film. These cameras are the professional Canon 1D series, which includes the original Canon 1D, the Canon 1D Mk II, today's Canon 1D Mk II N and the Canon 1D Mk III.

The sensors in these cameras are 19.1 x 28.7mm. 35mm film is 24 x 36mm.

1.3x Crop Factor (What's a Crop Factor?)

Because these sensors are 1.3x smaller than film, a lens used on these digital cameras shows a smaller angle of view. See Crop Factor for explicit details.

This lens on these cameras	looks like these do on a 35mm camera
12mm	15mm
14mm	18mm
16mm	20mm
17mm	21mm
18mm	23mm
20mm	25mm
24mm	30mm
28mm	35mm
35mm	44mm
50mm	63mm
70mm	88mm
85mm	107mm
100mm	126mm
135mm	169mm
200mm	251mm
300mm	377mm
400mm	502mm
500mm	628mm
600mm	753mm
800mm	1,004mm
1,200mm	1,506mm

I rounded these to the nearest mm, and I used the more formal factor of 1.255, which is 43.267mm / 34.475mm or 1.255 (the ratio of the formats' diagonals.)

Ultra-Wide and Fisheye Lenses

Sadly there is no way to get real ultra-wide results with these cameras.

The 1.6x cameras can use EF-S lenses, and the 10-22mm EF-S lens designed for them. EF-S lenses don't work on these 1.3x cameras.

That leaves the widest lens as the 14mm f/2.8 L, which for $1,800 gives the same view as an 18mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

The $1,500 16-35mm L is used my most pros with the 1D, which gives the same results as a 20 - 44mm lens on a 35mm film camera. Settling for a 20mm equivalent is OK, but sadly that's as wide as you get.

The 15mm Fisheye isn't very fishy on the 1.3x cameras because they crop and only use the middle of the image.

I'm not a fan of Sigma, but their unusual Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical covers a full 35mm film frame and gives an equivalent of 15 - 30mm on the 1D, which is worth a look if you own a 1D.

EF-S Lenses

EF-S lenses do not work on 1.3x cameras.

These are special, shorter lenses designed especially to take advantage of the smaller sensors of the 1.6x cameras.

These lenses don't make an image big enough to work on the 1.3x (1D series) or full-frame or film cameras.

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