One member of our community, Sean Allen, asked a question in our Community on Facebook. He asked what the difference is between full frame and crop sensor DSLR cameras.
Some of you may already know the answer to this question.
If you do, please share your knowledge in a comment below.
Welcome to the full-frame vs. crop-frame DSLR camera debate!
Background
Back in the stone age when we all used film, 35mm became the gold standard film size.
When we switched over to digital, there was no film to be used.
On most DSLR cameras, the digital imaging sensor, which replaces film, is significantly smaller than 35mm film.
In 2002, the first sensor that equaled the size of 35mm film was produced.
Canon was the first mainstream camera manufacturer to produce a DSLR camera with a sensor the size of 35mm film.
I can just imagine how the meeting went when the executives at the Canon marketing department sat down and tried to think of a way to make their new DSLR seem ultra-incredible and make everyone else's camera seem like it was half a camera.
They accomplished this task by calling their 35mm equivalent sensor a “full frame” DSLR camera, and decided to call all other DSLR cameras “crop frame” cameras.
The marketing worked. Many photographers feel like they have only half a camera unless they get the new, shiny “full frame” DSLR.
The truth is that the “full frame” sensors aren't “full” at all.
It is an arbitrary size that was chosen at some point long in the past.
Obviously, a much larger sensor could be produced.
If this ever happens, I'm sure the marketing department at Canon or Nikon will have another meeting.
The truth is that a more correct name for “full frame” would be “35mm equivalent sensor.”
The correct name for a “crop frame” sensor would be “APS-C sized sensor.”
Sometimes, politically correct photographers will refer to full frame and crop frame with these names, so they are handy to know.
The Benefits of Full Frame DSLR Cameras
Full Frame Advantage #1: Low-light performance
Digital imaging sensors have tiny little light sensors that record light and produce a pixel.
The tiny sensors are called photosites.
Naturally, the larger the photosite, the more ability it has to capture weak light signals.
Picture it like a satellite dish.
Therefore, when all other factors are equal, a full-frame sensor will always perform with less noise at high ISOs than “crop frame” DSLR cameras.
Full Frame Advantage #2: Depth-of-Field
You may have noticed that although your point-and-shoot has an f/1.8 lens, it is nearly impossible to accomplish short depth-of-field on most point-and-shoots.
The reason is that the sensor size affects apparent depth-of-field.
Since a 35mm equivalent (full-frame) sensor is larger, it can accomplish a more shallow apparent depth of field than an APS-C sized (crop sensor) camera.
Full Frame Advantage #3: Viewfinder Brightness
Because full-frame cameras use larger lenses, they can produce a brighter viewfinder image. Very handy.
Full Frame Advantage #4: Pro bodies
Unfortunately, both Canon and Nikon do not make DSLRs with all the bells-and-whistles in a crop sensor format.
In my opinion, this is a shame. Still, it's the world we live in.
Those who simply prefer a crop sensor camera cannot get all the same ultra high-end features available on the full-frame bodies. Ugh!
The Drawbacks to Full Frame DSLR Cameras
Full Frame Problem #1: Cost
Imaging sensors are cut out of large sheets of expensive chips called wafers.
Since a full-frame sensor is larger, only 20 sensors can be cut out of a standard-sized wafer.
This, among other similar production costs, means that full-frame DSLR cameras will always come at a premium.
Full Frame Problem #2: Field of View
This is both a drawback and a benefit. Landscape photographers like full-frame cameras because it makes all lenses seem like they are zoomed out more.
You might think of crop sensor cameras as having a built-in zoom of 50 or 60%.
This is a blog post all of itself to fully explain.
Just know that SOME wildlife photographers choose a crop frame camera to get the extra zoom and landscape photographers almost universally prefer full frame, even though a crop frame camera can achieve the same wide angle of view by buying a wide-angle lens built for a crop frame camera, like the fantastic Nikon 10-24mm.
Just to be technically correct, the sensor size doesn't magnify the scene at all, it just restricts the field of view.
Full Frame Problem #3: Weight
The sensor itself barely adds any weight to the DSLR, but it requires larger, heavier, and more expensive lenses.
This means that the gear can be much more cumbersome and awkward to use.
Full Frame Problem #4: Lens availability
Although full-frame lenses will work properly on crop frame DSLRs, the reverse is not true.
Therefore, crop sensor DSLR cameras have a greater variety of lenses available to them.
What this Means for Buying Lenses
On a Canon camera, you should know that a full-frame EF lens will work on any EF-S crop sensor body.
However, the reverse is not true. EF-S lenses do not work on full-frame Canon bodies.
In the Nikon system, both crop sensor DX lenses and full-frame FX lenses will function on crop or full-frame bodies.
However, (and it's a big however), if you put a DX lens on a full-frame body, you'll see that a significant portion of the edge of the frame is black.
This is caused by the smaller DX lens not reflecting the image onto the full area of the full-frame sensor.
So in short, full-frame cameras require full-frame bodies.
Crop sensor cameras can use either full-frame or lenses for crop sensor cameras.
The only difference between Canon and Nikon in this regard is that Canon's crop sensor lenses won't even mount on a full-frame Canon. On the other hand, the Nikon crop sensor lenses will mount just fine but the functionality is mostly useless.
I will be so ungrateful not to mention that I have been well informed by your, post, this will help me as I migrate from Samsung compact Cam to Nikon dslr camera. Thanks every one
My doubt is: FX lenses will work for DX bodies, right? But they will work the same way or they change the angle of view?
Is it applicable to a 50mm? And what about a 50mm macro?
Thanks!
hello Guys I use a full frame Nikon 810 it is a beast what do u guys think about it,sorry about the typo. web site is under constructions
Very clear and precise explanation of the differences. We’ll written article.
May I ask a question. I see it like this, a full frame camera takes a wider area of view than a crop sensor camera.
So if I put my wide angle sigma 10 – 20 mm lens on my crop sensor D7100 would I get less edge distortion by using say a 15 – 30mm lens on a full sensor camera.
Hi, thanks for the beautiful write up. Trying to make up my mind for either Nikon D610 (Full Frame) or Nikon D7500 (Cropped Sensor) which do you think is best for portrait, landscape, weddings and a bit of sport?
Thank you for that advice . I am a wildlife nature photographer going from SLR to DSLR and needed info on crop censor and full frame. I was considering the Nikon D720 and the D610.
The concept of full-frame DSLR cameras and the crop sensor DSLR cameras are clearly described in this article.
The factors by which both of them can be differentiated are also clearly mentioned.
OK, guess who needs to understand these things well. Me. I’m confused now