Is it my imagination, or does the whole true equivalence trolling only apply to m43 sensors? I can't recall when Canon or Nikon folk have argued that lenses used with APS/DX sensors are not what they are labelled as. Maybe there's a connection between the number of bodies and lenses sold by Canon and Nikon for that sensor size, and the conspiracy of silence.
Ahhh... but of a Friday morning chat... ;-)
I don't think it's a conspiracy. I see it as much with Nikon and Canon APS-C users but it's definitely not as voracious.
When fourthirds came out it only took minutes before the Bloggeratti began crapping on it for its smaller sensor size. It was different then, though - because there were lots of people who actually saw the logic in having a slightly narrower, but taller frame. Less cropping, better ability to fill the frame for modern photo-print sizes.
Since 2003, a lot of armchair experts and bloggers have surfaced. People on the internet are far bolder now and it's MUCH easier to "make an expert" now than it was then. It seems like people create theories just to be contrarian and the loudest voices carry farthest. The whole equivalency thing is BS...It all started when a bunch of people looking to become experts on something that nobody really cared about so they began blurring the distinction between F-Stops and T-Stops. Anyone worth their salt can read up on exactly what an "F-Stop" is and see that it represents a fraction of the lenses mathematical focal length. But no, that's not interesting enough so we have these armchair-experts making mountains out of molehills by incorrectly re-defining F-Stops.
It made a justification in many people's heads for going to full-frame cameras to take photos of their cats, dogs, and children. Often crappy photos with one half of a childs iris in focus because they walk around shooting at f1.4 or f1.2. How do they justify buying a camera like a 6d and a lens like an 85mm f1.2 for that if they can't explain their purchase? They make up a BS equation that makes everything else appear to be a lie. They spend so much time online talking about this stuff that their photos are often mediocre.
Nobody ever called a half-frame f2.8 lens an f4.2 lens. ...and these f-stop shenanigans stop dead in their tracks as soon as someone brings up medium format because it's not a "format for the masses".
Ever notice that lens and camera manufacturers refuse to get into the aperture-equivalency dance?
I think the trick is to look at the amateurs who AREN'T spending hours in forums talking about this stuff. Those people spend time taking pictures. Often, they're fantastic pictures. I love looking at the photos people post here. Sharp photos, excellent lighting and once in a while, people like me, putting our feet in our mouths... ;-)
The funny thing is that now we even have great speedboosters (for those that are comfortable shooting manual), so with that or the fastest m43 lenses, I don't see much PRACTICAL advantage to full frame. I occasionally miss the lower pixel count though, for landscape etc.
