I find it very interesting that the new line of lenses coming out shortly from Pentax are all designed to work with a 1.3 ratio sensor. Perhaps this is a very strong indicator of things to come, not in the too distant future...

Ben

Benjikan, please forgive my ignorance, but I'm just learning all these different sensor sizes and how they relate to output. In my way of thinking a 1x3 sensor would lend it self better to landscape panoramas as opposed to standard pictures. Is this correct? In my way of thinking, the output would relate (uncropped) to a 2x6, 3x9, 4x12, 5x15, etc. Again, is this correct? If so, how would this benefit the future of sensors and general photographers?
Ken

Benjikan, please forgive my ignorance, but I'm just learning all these different sensor sizes and how they relate to output. In my way of thinking a 1x3 sensor would lend it self better to landscape panoramas as opposed to standard pictures. Is this correct? In my way of thinking, the output would relate (uncropped) to a 2x6, 3x9, 4x12, 5x15, etc. Again, is this correct? If so, how would this benefit the future of sensors and general photographers?
Ken

No Ken, it is a 1.3 ratio sensor, i.e. If you were to buy a fixed prime 100mm lens it would translate to a 130mm lens on the 1.3 ratio sensor or more specifically a 1.3 multiple. The Nikon, Pentax and Sony sensors are a multiple of 1.5 which are smaller and would make the 100 a 150mm lens.

Ben

Oh...ok...sometimes it takes a sledgehammer to get this stuff thru my skull...hehe...Thanx for the clarification...I can now see where the advantage will be...
Ken

That is interesting. It's possible they're doing it as a compromise in order to take best advantage of the sweet spot in the glass. But it would be cool if they went to a larger sensor size. That would be a bold move - especially since everyone but Canon seems pretty committed to the 1.5x sensor size.

What if they found someone to make a sensor that is not in the 1:3 aspect ratio, but more like 4:5 or 3:4 (I tried the Olympus but I don't like the cameras)? For portraits, magazine pages, and such I'm always chopping off the ends of the frame.

The 645 and 6:7 formats on my medium format machines seem to utilize more of the frame for the actual final image.

Ben, I'd be interested in your thoughts on this. Even printing an A3 from a modern sensor forces you to either cut off the ends or make the print narrower.

What if they found someone to make a sensor that is not in the 1:3 aspect ratio, but more like 4:5 or 3:4 (I tried the Olympus but I don't like the cameras)? For portraits, magazine pages, and such I'm always chopping off the ends of the frame.

The 645 and 6:7 formats on my medium format machines seem to utilize more of the frame for the actual final image.

Ben, I'd be interested in your thoughts on this. Even printing an A3 from a modern sensor forces you to either cut off the ends or make the print narrower.

Now that the Star lenses are available..Just wait for some new surprises in the near future...