ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Crop factor

Crop factor is a way of looking at how big or small a camera sensor is compared to a full-frame sensor. Imagine you have a big pizza and a small pizza. The big pizza is like a full-frame sensor, while the small pizza is like a crop sensor. The crop factor tells you how much smaller the small pizza is.

When you take a photo with a camera that has a crop sensor, it captures a smaller area than a camera with a full-frame sensor. This means that the image you see will look like it's been zoomed in, even though you haven't changed the lens or the distance to your subject. The amount of zoom will depend on how much smaller your camera's sensor is compared to a full-frame sensor.

For example, if your camera has a crop factor of 1.5, it means that the sensor is 1.5 times smaller than a full-frame sensor. So if you take a photo with a 50mm lens on a crop sensor camera, it will look like you've taken the photo with a 75mm lens on a full-frame camera.

Crop factor is important to understand because it affects how your photos will look. If you're used to shooting on a full-frame camera and switch to a crop sensor camera, your images will look narrower and closer. However, if you're shooting wildlife or sports, the crop factor can actually be an advantage, as it can make your subject appear larger in the frame.