Question - Full Frame Cameras??

Question

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What's the Deal with Full Frame Cameras?

Answer
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The question is really Full Frame Vs. Cropped Frame.

First off what is your camera? SLRs (Single Lens Reflex) cameras were traditionally full frame. In the olden days, film was usually shot on 35mm negatives. Now when the initial switch to digital occurred the image now had to be captured on a sensor. Initially the cost of making the sensors was incredibly expensive as it was new technology. Ideally you would want the sensor to be the same size as the 35mm film cameras so that you could use your lenses to capture the entire image. This proved to be too costly to manufacture so companies generally agreed to offer cropped sensors. Smaller sensors meant less price. You still get amazing quality out of the smaller sensors but the switch to digital had come at a cost.

The same lenses that you would use on a 35 mm film camera now had an issue on dslr. For example say you have a standard 18-200 mm lens. Now take a dslr that has the sensor reduced by 1.5 times in physical size than a 35mm sensor. When you look through the viewfinder what you're seeing is a magnified image. The cropping factor means your image has been magnified by 1.5 times. Take a look at the two images below to get an understanding of what I'm talking about here.

35 mm Equivalent (Full Frame) shot at 18 mm

Cropping factor of 1.5

dslr Cropped Sensor Equivalent shot at 18mm (equivalent to 27mm)

Notice how in the full frame version you have a wider angle shot. You see a lot more in the photo. Now when you look through a dslr even though you have the same lens attached, you're seeing a lot less at 18mm. Why? the sensor is smaller so it can't see as much of the image. Notice also how the image is now more "zoomed in". This is called the magnification effect. Your 18mm lens now becomes a 27mm lens.

So what are the pros and cons of full frame?

Pros: Much wider angle shot with your lenses. An 18mm lens is a true 18mm. More resolution in the shot.
Cons: Bigger/Heavier camera and freakishly expensive.

Pros and Cons of Cropped Sensor Cameras?

Pros: Lighter, smaller, cheaper cameras. Lenses give you more telephoto zoom. i.e. a 18-200mm is really a 27- 300mm lens.
Cons: Dedicated lenses must be bought to work with cropped sensors to refract and concentrate light on smaller sensor. Need a dedicated lens for wide angle shots.

Bottom Line is get Full Frame cameras such as (D700, D3, 5D Mark II) if you're doing commercial studio shots, high end wedding photography, landscape photography. Generally full frame cameras give you sharper control and more dedicated resolution.

Hope that Helps,

Shutter Nirvana