Enter the focal length of the lens and the standard focal length to determine the zoom factor. This calculator helps to understand the magnification level of a lens compared to a standard reference.
Zoom Factor Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the zoom factor.
ZF = FL / SFL
Variables:
- ZF is the zoom factor (X)
- FL is the focal length of the lens (mm)
- SFL is the standard focal length (mm)
To calculate the zoom factor, divide the focal length of the lens by the standard focal length.
What is Zoom Factor?
Zoom factor is a measure of the magnification of a lens compared to a standard reference. It is a dimensionless number that indicates how much closer the subject appears through the lens compared to the naked eye or a standard lens. A higher zoom factor means greater magnification. It is commonly used in photography and videography to describe the capabilities of camera lenses.
How to Calculate Zoom Factor?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Zoom Factor.
- First, determine the focal length of the lens (FL) in millimeters.
- Next, determine the standard focal length (SFL) in millimeters. This is often 50mm for full-frame cameras.
- Next, gather the formula from above = ZF = FL / SFL.
- Finally, calculate the Zoom Factor (ZF).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
focal length of the lens (FL) = 200mm
standard focal length (SFL) = 50mm
