T3i 3x Crop Zoom Comparison

[Taky]

Some screen caps with T3i with the Canon 17-55mm lens with and without the 3X crop zoom.

at 17mm

at 55mm

at 17mm 3x Zoom

at 55mm 3x Zoom

With this 3x crop zoom feature, it turns the 17-55mm lens into 17-165mm lens (neglecting the 1.6 APS-C crop factor). That's pretty sweet.

 

[Regnis]

how do u find the resolution when zoomed in? a little hard to tell from these shots does give a good perspective tho.


sorry for this out of place question but is there ML for the t3i? i am weight up between buying this and the t2i

 

[Taky]

The resolution is the same. I was shooting 1080p. So no matter zooming in or not, it's 1920x1080 resolution.

 

[nigelbb]

I see no loss of quality at all on my new 600D when using the 3X zoomed in crop mode. It's one feature of the GH2 that has kept me using it despite the horrible ergonomics & quirks of that camera. This is really awesome. I just spent £1800 ($2900) on a 70-200mm F/2.8L for use with our 5DIIs but this new crop factor just turned my 17-50mm F/2.8 lens into an 80-240mm F/2.8 for free! For weddings & other events this new 3X crop factor on the 600D is not only saving a load of money on long lenses but you don't even need to change lenses to get the extra zoom range.

 

[deltoidjohn]

Taky, if possible, I think a far better demonstration would be the 17-55 at 55mm and f/2.8 with the 3x crop, and the 70-200 at about 165mm and f/2.8. That would give you a better example of exactly what trade off's are taking place - ie what differences there are between sharpness, noise, DOF, etc.

Also, being nitpicky here, but keep in mind you are not turning your 17-50 f/2.8 into a 51-150 f/2.8. You are simply cropping the image. There is no change to the depth of field or to the perspective (the spatial relationship between different objects). It is essentially the same as shooting with a camcorder with a smaller sensor.

 

[Taky]

I will try that setup next time while I still have my 70-200mm lens. However, it's impossible to know exactly when the zoom reach 165mm. Otherwise, consider it's an extra feature with the t3i that I have extra zoom power without changing lens, or investing an expensive zoom lens. Even if there is some minor difference, I would still prefer the current setup as it's cheaper and more flexible.

The crop zoom feature doesn't turn the lens into anything else other than what it is. But it does gives the extra power to be able to zoom in closer without degradation of image quality. Unless there is a 17-165mm F2.8 available, this combination does allow me to obtain the same/similar result over it's standard zoom range. It is definitely not the same as shooting with a camcorder with a smaller sensor. Camcorder with smaller sensor always perform poorly in low light. With the 3x crop zoom, the T3i + lens performs the same way under low light with or without the crop zoom.