Nikon Z50 crop factor: 1.53×
The Z50 was Nikon’s first DX-format (APS-C) mirrorless camera. Nikon calls DX a 1.5× format; its published sensor size gives 1.53×. Its 23.5 × 15.7 mm sensor has a 28.26 mm diagonal, so lenses frame 1.53× tighter than on full frame.
A 40 mm lens on APS-C (1.53× crop) frames like a 61 mm lens on full frame. At f/2 it gives the depth of field of about f/3.1 there — but exposure stays the same as f/2.
- Horizontal field of view
- 32.7°
- Vertical field of view
- 22.1°
- Crop ratio
- 1.53×
- Sensor size
- 23.5 × 15.6 mm
Full-frame equivalent of a 40 mm f/2 lens on each format
| Sensor | Focal length | Aperture (DoF) |
|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 40 mm | f/2 |
| APS-C (1.5×) | 61 mm | f/3.1 |
| Canon APS-C (1.6×) | 64 mm | f/3.2 |
| Micro Four Thirds | 80 mm | f/4 |
| 1-inch | 109 mm | f/5.5 |
| Medium format (44×33) | 32 mm | f/1.6 |
| Phone main camera (1/1.3″) | 141 mm | f/7 |
Sensor size and crop factor
Crop factor is the full-frame diagonal (43.27 mm) divided by the sensor diagonal. For the Z50: √(23.5² + 15.7²) = 28.26 mm, and 43.27 ÷ 28.26 = 1.53.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Sensor size | 23.5 × 15.7 mm |
| Diagonal | 28.26 mm |
| Crop factor (computed) | 1.53× |
| Crop factor quoted by the maker | 1.5× |
| Area vs full frame | 43% |
| Circle of confusion (diagonal ÷ 1443) | 0.020 mm |
| Resolution / pixel pitch | 20.9 MP · 4.20 µm |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z (DX) |
Source: Nikon technical notes: 23.5 × 15.7 mm CMOS sensor (Nikon DX format), 20.9 million effective pixels.
Equivalent focal length and aperture for Nikon Z (DX) lenses
The full-frame equivalent is the focal length × 1.53. The DoF-equivalent aperture (f-number × 1.53) describes depth of field and total light at the same framing; exposure — shutter speed and ISO — is set by the real f-number as usual. Hyperfocal distances use a 0.020 mm circle of confusion.
| Lens | Focal length | Full-frame equivalent | Max aperture | DoF-equivalent aperture | Horizontal view | Hyperfocal at f/8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR (kit)at 16 mm | 16 mm | 24.5 mm | f/3.5 | f/5.4 | 72.6° | 1.62 m5.30 ft |
| NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR (kit)at 50 mm | 50 mm | 76.5 mm | f/6.3 | f/9.6 | 26.4° | 15.7 m51.4 ft |
| NIKKOR Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VRat 50 mm | 50 mm | 76.5 mm | f/4.5 | f/6.9 | 26.4° | 15.7 m51.4 ft |
| NIKKOR Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VRat 250 mm | 250 mm | 383 mm | f/6.3 | f/9.6 | 5.4° | 391 m1,282 ft |
| NIKKOR Z DX 12–28mm f/3.5–5.6 PZ VRat 12 mm | 12 mm | 18.4 mm | f/3.5 | f/5.4 | 88.8° | 91 cm2.99 ft |
| NIKKOR Z DX 12–28mm f/3.5–5.6 PZ VRat 28 mm | 28 mm | 42.8 mm | f/5.6 | f/8.6 | 45.5° | 4.93 m16.2 ft |
| NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 | 24 mm | 36.7 mm | f/1.7 | f/2.6 | 52.2° | 3.62 m11.9 ft |
| NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (full-frame lens) | 28 mm | 42.8 mm | f/2.8 | f/4.3 | 45.5° | 4.93 m16.2 ft |
| NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (full-frame lens) | 40 mm | 61.2 mm | f/2 | f/3.1 | 32.7° | 10.0 m32.9 ft |
| NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S (full-frame lens) | 50 mm | 76.5 mm | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | 26.4° | 15.7 m51.4 ft |
| NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S (full-frame lens) | 85 mm | 130 mm | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | 15.7° | 45.2 m148 ft |
What is different about the Z50
Nikon lists the Z50 sensor as 23.5 × 15.7 mm — 0.1 mm taller than Sony’s APS-C figure, which makes no difference after rounding: the diagonal is 28.3 mm and the crop factor 1.53×. Every Z-mount lens fits, and Nikon marks lenses designed for the smaller sensor with "DX" in the name.
Nikon’s DX prime range is small, so many Z50 owners use compact full-frame primes instead. The Z 40mm f/2 frames like a 61 mm lens — a slightly long "normal" — and the Z 28mm f/2.8 like 43 mm, the classic normal for street photography. The DX 24mm f/1.7 (37 mm equivalent) is the brightest DX option. The Z50 has no in-body stabilisation, so the VR kit zooms are the stabilised choice.
FAQ
What is the crop factor of the Nikon Z50?
1.53×. The 23.5 × 15.7 mm sensor has a 28.26 mm diagonal, and 43.27 ÷ 28.26 = 1.53. The maker rounds it to 1.5×.
What is the full-frame equivalent of the NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR?
24–77 mm in field of view, with the depth of field of about f/5.4–f/9.6 on full frame. Exposure does not change: f/3.5 still needs the same shutter speed and ISO as f/3.5 on any camera.
What does the NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 equal on full frame?
About 37 mm f/2.6: the field of view of a 37 mm lens and the depth of field of f/2.6 on full frame. Its hyperfocal distance at f/8 on the Z50 is 3.62 m (11.9 ft).
What does DX mean on Nikon lenses?
DX is Nikon’s name for its APS-C format. DX lenses project an image circle just large enough for the 23.5 × 15.7 mm sensor of cameras like the Z50. Full-frame (FX) Z lenses also work on DX bodies and frame 1.53× tighter; DX lenses on a full-frame body switch it to a cropped DX mode.
Other cameras
- Sony a640023.5 × 15.6 mm · 1.53× crop
- Sony a670023.3 × 15.5 mm · 1.55× crop
- Sony ZV-E1023.5 × 15.6 mm · 1.53× crop
- Canon EOS R5022.3 × 14.9 mm · 1.61× crop
- Canon EOS R1022.3 × 14.9 mm · 1.61× crop
- Fujifilm X-T523.5 × 15.6 mm · 1.53× crop
- Panasonic Lumix G9 II17.3 × 13 mm · 2.00× crop
- Sony RX100 series13.2 × 8.8 mm · 2.73× crop
- iPhone 17 Pro main camera≈ 10.0 × 7.5 mm · 3.46× crop
More on the APS-C format — depth of field, hyperfocal and star charts — on the APS-C (1.5×) sensor page. The theory is in crop factor explained.