One of the common beliefs in photography is that a full-frame camera is far superior to a crop sensor, but is this true? How much of a difference does a larger sensor provide?
When I began my career as a photographer, one theme I heard from others was that full-frame cameras were for professionals and crop sensors were for amateurs. I didn’t start to question this until I realized that two of the most successful photographers I knew were using cameras with crop sensors. After trying out their gear for a while and comparing to my Canon 5D Mark IV, I began to wonder if the difference was as significant as I had thought.
This video from Becki and Chris provides the answers to many of the questions you might have about sensor sizes. Here, these two photographers shoot several clips of the same scene with two different sensor sizes to demonstrate the differences that each provides. They then go on to explain the benefits to each option and show in what situations a full frame might honestly be better for you.
I will add that after experience with both full-frame and crop sensors, the larger size is not the ultimate goal I initially thought it to be. Many incredible photographers prefer their crop-sensor cameras, and companies such as Fujifilm have some excellent options right now. What is your opinion? How much does the sensor size matter?
It sounds like you're kidding. I hope so.
It is all about flexibility. My full frame cameras have a crop sensor mode. They can do both depending on my needs. If I don't want to pack around a heavy FF lens I can always go with an APS-C lens. Sony rocks.
So does Nikon. I can do the same thing.
My move into Full-Frame probably had just as much to do with the contols/layout. The joystick and wheel on the Canon 5D made a world of difference compared to pushing buttons.
Here's the deal. The larger the sensor generally means larger pixels which means less noise at higher iso. That's it. It's all about the glass in front of the camera and the lighting.
So yes, full frame cameras are better in the sense that they are much more flexible in less than optimal lighting conditions. But if you had identical lighting conditions for optimal isos the images would be damn near identical. (Provided you had a comparable lens on each system)
" It's all about the glass in front of the camera "
thats a big problem. there arent many stellar prime lenses for crop. especially UWA
It is important for the end result, the amount of information you can get from your camera.
If I want to build a house, I choose a hammer that best suits this purpose. A shoemaker chooses a smaller tool.
Another thing that also needs to be taken into consideration is that if I buy a new camera 2019 with an crop or full frame sensor, I also need to get a new computer. Otherwise, my whole time goes to sit and wait for the computer to finish the work.
This photo has been taken with a 1/2.3" sensor.
Stuff that moves swiftly and is far away is usually better served by APS-C. Many photographers get good mileage out of a 7D2 + 100-400 for reasonable cost vs 1DX2 (or 5D4 if the frame rate doesn't matter) + 600 for example. Sure the 7D2 doesn't have the greatest sensor in low light but it's still a kick ass camera.
I've seen killer portraits out of a 7D + 24-105 + good lighting. As long as the client is happy the photographer should be happy.
If you're into the wickedly shallow DOF thing, sure, get a 5D4 + 85 1.2 and go to town.
I'm getting shallow DOF fatigue and happily embrace both eyes in focus. Ears too, on a good day. If an APS-C body plus an f/4 lens forces photographers to back up we're all better for it.
Everything else being equal, MF > FF > APSC > MFT when it comes to IQ under certain conditions. That said, I have MF, FF, and APSC cameras and do 90% if my shooting with the APSC (XT3) because it's smaller, lighter, fun to use, and the IQ more than good enough in most situations. At the risk of sounding cliche, the person behind the camera matters far more than anything else and I've got lots of awful photos from my MF to prove it.
"... I've got lots of awful photos from my MF to prove it." :-D
Only if you shoot DSLR Canon, only want native glass, and don't want to spend the money on L lenses. It looks like the EF-M lenses are getting the lenses that Canon always refused to make for EF-S.
I use full frame and medium format.
Some years ago, let's say 10 years ago, the superiority of bigger formats was really obvious.
Today there is not so much difference in quality.
But from my point of view, working essentially in advertising, the huge difference is that the bigger format you have, the easiest it is then in post production - composing
Not having watched the video yet, I look at FF vs. crop in the same light as going from f/2.8 (FF) to f/4 (crop). Not necessarily inferior, but you get more light. The tradeoff is FF is more expensive and usually heavier compared to equivalents in M4/3 or APS-C. At a certain point, you simply cannot get more light on an APS-C sensor when you can on FF. For example, I'm not aware of an equivalent to f/1.2 lenses for crop sensors (f/0.8). Same goes for controlling DoF. They're both just different tools, but all things being equal, a bigger sensor is better.
Well, according to this report (https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/camera-market-has-collapsed-84-s...), all the camera manufacturers are fighting to get a piece of 15-20 million camera units (as oppose to 110m+ units in 2010).
Very soon dedicated camera shooters will be a niche (which is a very good thing) and so the camera manufacturers (whoever remains without getting bankrupt till then) will shift their focus on distinguishing their products from smartphone photography by (1) either offering the features pros ask and hence pushing pro photography miles away from casual shooting or (2) adapt more AI centric features to camera equipments (to compete with smartphones) and ruin the pleasure of photographic experience for most or (3) take a middle approach by offering mix of both.
In the future, the difference in camera lines should not be on the core features, but on the add-ons. For example:
Basic features of all camera (similar to the cars now days):
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Image stabilization, high & low light performance, 10+ actual fps (the ones that actually locks its subject throughout the the fps) combined with longer buffering (maybe 10 seconds), pixels that fit the sensor size (not the "pack all pixels you can" attitude) delivering excellent pixel depth, off camera JPEG options (bit of basic computation here), excellent battery (about 800 shots regardless of the camera - APSC and up), ability to control or handle lens flare, no distortions at any focal range, smaller and lighter lenses, dual high speed card slot (or in-built 1TB x 2 drives)
Then they can extend it to "tech-plus" package with added cost (maybe $500 more):
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Off mark shooting warning (when you go away from all sorts of rules), composition guide (camera reads what you look through your lens and suggest best composition), repeat warning (often repeated online shot warning), on-shoot location information (when you compose, it could suggest similar images shot by others and enjoyed more and suggest exposure, etc according to it), computational low light (similar to Pixel feature), etc..
Then the third version of the same camera will add vlog features (maybe another $500 more).
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4k, 6k videos at 60, 120 or more.
In canon terms, instead of 6D, 5D, 1D... you will have single camera with Photography Only as one option, Photography + Computational as second option and then Photography + VLOG as third option and then Photography + Computational + VLOG as fourth option
Dreams.....
I started with a crop sensor. Now i have full frame. But my "Dream" camera is the D500. Why? I do 95% wildlife. Mostly birds. I miss the crop factor. And by what i have read, it is a D5 with a crop sensor. Can't get better then that. Just need to figure out how to pay for it. Living on disability sucks.