Attached Link: http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=focal+length

PeeWee, here is one link that might help a bit.

Keep in mind that the confusing "zoom ratio" advertised with some point and shoot cams is not the same thing as magnification, as magnification with binoculars, for instance.

Magnification is not the same as Zoom Ratio. Generally, a lens of about 50mm in a 35mm cam will show the same view as the eye, not magnified and not reduced. Go to a 100mm and you have a 2x magnification. Go to an 18mm lens, and you have a smaller image in the viewfinder than the eyes see but a wider angle in the viewfinder than the 50mm.

This stuff can be confusing. I use an 18mm to 120mm zoom, a 55mm prime lens and a 100-300mm zoom. For most of my images, the first one listed does most of the work. For macros, etc., the 55mm and the 100-300 for wildlife shots but almost always on the 300 mm. I could have used a 300mm prime lens just as easily, looking back at my shooting habits with the lens. I hope this helps. Others know much more that I do on this stuff. Tom.

Message edited on: 02/21/2006 19:00