Originally posted by SpecialK Yes to that :-)
A recent poll indicated about 80% of respondents started on 35mm film, so the crop factor indeed is relevant. But yes, it should refer to the angle of view, not the length.
I don't place much stock in polls. The "science" in this discipline has devolved into relative meaninglessness in many cases.
If the question was: "Did you own and use a 35mm film SLR or interchangeable lens rangefinder camera at any time before you purchased your DSLR?" then the number could be close to valid. . .
If the question was "Have you used 35mm film for photography in the past?" then I'd question the validity -- anyone that ever used a disposable camera or a P&S film camera would think back and say "yeah". . . and respond positively -- but have no actual reference burned in as to the relationship of FL to FOV.
My personal feeling is that since the great majority of DSLRs are now APS-C format, this should be the current "standard" and FOV on this sensor should be the reference. Then, FL would be FL again, with an implied 24x16 FOV as the standard.
I shot 35mm SLRs from '67 to about '80 and have shot Pentax DSLRs (with tens of thousands more actuations) since '06 to the present. my F1 Original has not had film in it for 30 years and I couldn't mentally reference 35mm FOV to FL other than "normal" "wide" or "tele" to save my life.
Since "APS-C" is a PIA for me to type, I'd also shorten the sensor format description to AD ("D" for digital). Right hand holds the Shift key, A and D only needs the left hand.
This, of course, has little chance of gaining much foothold in the industry. The P&S camera makers constantly reference FL equivalence, and it's in 35mm film terms. The majority of first time DSLR buyers come from the P&S digital world, so the mfgs assume that they will want continuity. . . But that's not necessarily true because many of these users only real reference to FL is the "zoom factor" so they tend to think in terms of 3x, 18x instead of FL or even FL equivalence.
Perhaps we need a law that requires the Marketing Director of the mfg to answer every "crop factor" question that ever appears in any online forum dedicated to their camera make. . .
I assume that the MF digital community doesn't have this problem because the entry fee is high enough that only people with significant photographic background enter into it. . .
Sorry for the rant. . . I couldn't help myself
Scott