Lens eqvlnts of compacts vs SLRs

[Chuck Norris]

I was just thinking of purchasing a compact (Fuji F20) which starts at 36mm at the wide end. Would the field of view be the same as the 36mm equivalent on an SLR with a 1.5x crop factor?

I'm trying to determine if the 36mm would be wide enough for self pix of me and my girl? (i.e. we hold the cam at arms lenght and snap away)

So would it be the same as 36mm on say an 18-70 lens + D50?

I first thought probably not because of the larger sensor on SLRs, but then I thought why should the 35mm equivalents be quoted all the time then if they were different for every camera, so I guess it should be the same - but I just want to make sure :)

[tim11]

I don't understand the equivalence, but with F30 such shots will fit. Easily with landscape, It will be a bit tight portrait.

[John_Reed]

I was just thinking of purchasing a compact (Fuji F20) which starts at 36mm at the wide end. Would the field of view be the same as the 36mm equivalent on an SLR with a 1.5x crop factor?

I'm trying to determine if the 36mm would be wide enough for self pix of me and my girl? (i.e. we hold the cam at arms lenght and snap away)

So would it be the same as 36mm on say an 18-70 lens + D50?

I first thought probably not because of the larger sensor on SLRs, but then I thought why should the 35mm equivalents be quoted all the time then if they were different for every camera, so I guess it should be the same - but I just want to make sure :)Digital cameras, especially fixed lens DCs, generally have very short actual focal lengths. My TZ1, for example, has true focal length ranging from 5.2mm to 52mm, but like you say, its "35mm equivalent" range is 35mm to 350mm. Likewise, when you talk about 18mm to 70mm on a D50, it has a 1.5X crop factor (I think?), so its "35mm equivalent" range is 27mm to 105mm. Comparing these two cameras as examples, they're set "the same" when the TZ1 is at full wideangle, and the zoom on the 18-70 lens is tweaked to put that camera at 35mm equivalent.

But, as the other poster said, a 35mm or 36mm equivalent should be wide enough to capture you and your girl friend, depending on the combined size of the two of you, and the length of your arms?;)

[tim11]

....
But, as the other poster said, a 35mm or 36mm equivalent should be wide enough to capture you and your girl friend, depending on the combined size of the two of you, and the length of your arms?;)
Unless you are extremely big with extremely short arm. :)

[David Metsky]

Literally any camera on the market will take a picture of two people at arms length.

-dave-

[Chuck Norris]

Well, I ended up with the F30 instead of the 20 and yep, it's definitely wide enough for 2:)

^^
There's still quite a few I think, that won't work, I think those that start at 39mm won't work too well. The reason I asked was because our old cheapo film P&S could barely squeeze our faces in one frame. But I don't know how wide the lens was. I'm guessing it was probably 39-40mm.