For distant motorsport photos that I crop heavily, should I prioritize focal length or sensor size?
Asked 8/8/2017
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I photograph Formula 1 cars from about 100m away and usually zoom to the maximum focal length, then crop heavily afterward because the car still occupies only a small part of the frame. I’m upgrading from an older compact camera and am looking mainly at fixed-lens superzoom cameras for portability.
I understand that actual focal length determines how large the subject is projected onto the sensor, while sensor size changes the field of view. If I’m going to crop to the car anyway, does a larger sensor actually help me, or should I mainly prioritize more reach?
In other words: when comparing cameras for this kind of distant action photography, should I care more about true focal length, 35mm-equivalent focal length, sensor size, or pixel count for getting the best cropped image quality?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Caleb's answer is true; that a smaller senior will allow you to fill more of it from a greater distance, because it will change the apparent focal length compared to a 35mm equivalent.
However, after that you still have some choices to make.
Using a shorter focal length will in effect keep the car in frame for longer, allowing you to later crop out the best part.
The upside is that it makes the photograph easier to get.
The downside is that you are throwing away a lot of potential detail.
Alternatively, using a longer lens will enable you to capture the car in its full glory, filling the frame.
The downside is that following a racing car on a long lens is a practised art - you will miss more than you find to start with, & a lot of those may be blurred.
The upside is that the track looks great if it's motion-blurred behind the car, with the car sharp & standing out against it.
Search "formula one photography" on Google Images & you'll quickly spot the differences between
'news' photography - F8 & be there where the image is sharp right through &
'art' photography - a detail against a soft background.
You may need to choose your lens depending on which you would aim for.
Originally by user57929. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user57929
8y ago
0
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For your specific use, reach matters first. A longer actual focal length makes the car’s image larger on the sensor, so you throw away less when cropping.
Sensor size still matters, but not in the way many people assume. With similar megapixel counts, a smaller sensor gives a narrower field of view with the same focal length, so the subject occupies more of the frame. A larger sensor with the same lens sees more background, which is only helpful if you want that wider view.
That said, larger sensors generally have image-quality advantages, especially in lower light and overall file quality. So the trade-off is:
- more reach / easier subject fill: smaller sensor or longer lens
- better overall image quality: larger sensor
Also compare 35mm-equivalent focal length when judging how tight the framing will be between different sensor sizes; compare actual focal length when thinking about how large the subject is projected onto the sensor.
For motorsport, a very long lens can give better detail, but it also makes tracking and keeping the car framed harder. So the best choice is a balance between enough zoom to fill the frame and a camera/lens combination you can actually pan accurately.
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