Confusion about statements about optics in Blain Brown's "Cinematography – Theory & Practice"

[Jannik Tesch]

This might be a major mistake in my thinking, but I can't get my head around this statement: "The smaller the sensor size, the greater the angle of view will be for the same focal length."

Isn't it the other way around? Do I miss something here?

It's from the 4th edition from 2022.

I hope someone can clarify.

Thanks in advance.

[Dom Jaeger]

Sounds like a typo, it should be the other way around, you’re right.

The smaller the sensor size, the narrower the angle of view will be for the same focal length.

I’m not sure about the next point he makes on that page either though - that sensor size on its own directly affects depth of field. It may indirectly cause you to use different focal lengths or change the subject distance, which are factors affecting depth of field, but the sensor size itself is not actually affecting it.

That’s opening up a whole other can of worms though..

[David Mullen ASC]

Yes a mistake. It happens, sometimes in writing you accidentally say the opposite of what you meant to say…

[Jannik Tesch]

Thanks Dom and David for clarifying!

Meanwhile I continued reading, and again, I think there is a mistake a few pages further, am I right?

It should read "only the focal length has changed." right?

[David Mullen ASC]

Yes

 

[Jannik Tesch]

Thanks. Great book by the way!

[Simon Osaji]

I was given the 3rd edition 2016, will I be missing a lot  in the 4th edition?

[Mark Dunn]

27 minutes ago, Simon Osaji said:

I was given the 3rd edition 2016, will I be missing a lot  in the 4th edition?

Maybe those typos if you're lucky..........