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Cropped Frame or Full Frame????
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Aug 23, 2016 09:42:26   #
sinead
 
I've read this often, but learning photography can someone explain this? Thanks for clearity.

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Aug 23, 2016 09:51:09   #
jmizera Loc: Austin Texas
 
This refers to a "full sized" 35mm sensor vs a range of sensors that are a fraction of the size. Micro 2/3, APS-C, and so on. It affects the focal length of your lenses, and technically increases your depth of field. Bokeh or the blurred background is harder to achieve on smaller sensors. Larger sensors on average perform better in low light.

It's a mistake (IMHO) that a full frame camera is automatically superior to a crop sensor camera.

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Aug 23, 2016 09:52:55   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Full Frame, FX, has a sensor which approximates the full size of a 35mm frame, be it slide, or negative. Cropped Frame, DX, is smaller is size. There are several DX sensors of different length to width ratios.

Crop sensor cameras are OK, but limit the size of print that can be made from the original image. The main limit is image quality with large prints. Additionally, crop sensors tend to introduce more noise in an image.

Since crop sensors only sample a small area of the image circle, there is an apparent affect on focal length. The focal length of the lens itself doesn't change. This can lead to a great deal of confusion.
--Bob


sinead wrote:
I've read this often, but learning photography can someone explain this? Thanks for clearity.

Reply
 
 
Aug 23, 2016 09:56:12   #
sinead
 
Thank you.

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Aug 23, 2016 09:58:46   #
Galahad
 
There is a place for everything--depending on what you want. And I like the idea of living on the edge, as long as you don't fall off.

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Aug 23, 2016 10:00:04   #
Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
 
Here is a link that shows you how the different sensor sizes look in comparison with each other. Hope that it helps!

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2016/01/camera-sensor-size.html

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Aug 23, 2016 10:05:14   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
jmizera wrote:
This refers to a "full sized" 35mm sensor vs a range of sensors that are a fraction of the size. Micro 2/3, APS-C, and so on. It affects the focal length of your lenses, and technically increases your depth of field. Bokeh or the blurred background is harder to achieve on smaller sensors. Larger sensors on average perform better in low light.

It's a mistake (IMHO) that a full frame camera is automatically superior to a crop sensor camera.


Its no mistake that at present FF sensors are superior to crop sensors.

This implies very little about the camera. If you can't capture the peak moment or get the focus the sensor is irrelevant. Cameras are tools made with specific performance characteristics optimized for specific tasks. The key is to match the camera to the shooting preference.

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Aug 23, 2016 10:07:26   #
chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon
 
Let's correct one thing posted in this thread. A crop sensor does not increase focal length. Because the sensor is smaller than a FF sensor your angle of view or field of view is decreased. From the same spot a full frame will see more of the scene than a crop sensor, but a medium format sensor will see more of the scene than a FF sensor. With a 50mm lens on a crop sensor what you see is equal to a 75mm lens from the same spot.

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Aug 23, 2016 10:21:38   #
Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI
 
joer wrote:
Its no mistake that at present FF sensors are superior to crop sensors.


However, if you have to ask the question, then chances are FF is not for you :-)

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Aug 23, 2016 10:22:15   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
jmizera wrote:
This refers to a "full sized" 35mm sensor vs a range of sensors that are a fraction of the size. Micro 2/3, APS-C, and so on. It affects the focal length of your lenses, and technically increases your depth of field. Bokeh or the blurred background is harder to achieve on smaller sensors. Larger sensors on average perform better in low light.

It's a mistake (IMHO) that a full frame camera is automatically superior to a crop sensor camera.


Maybe this diagram will explain. Also one correction: the focal length of a lens doesn't change with sensor size, the angle/field of view does. While a 200mm lens on a 1.6 crop frame camera will have the same angle and field of view as a 320mm lens on a full frame, the focal length of the lens doesn't change. May sound like semantics, but an important distinction. Regarding full frame vs crop image quality, this is currently being debated (for the umpteenth time) on another thread - use the search function at the top of the page for more information on this subject.



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Aug 23, 2016 10:23:20   #
Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI
 
TriX wrote:
Maybe this diagram will explain. Also one correction: the focal length of a lens doesn't change with sensor size, the angle/field of view does. While a 200mm lens on a 1.6 crop frame camera will have the same angle and field of view as a 320mm lens on a full frame, the focal length of the lens doesn't change. May sound like semantics, but an important distinction. Regarding full frame vs crop image quality, this is currently being debated (for the umpteenth time) on another thread - use the search function at the top of the page for more information on this subject.
Maybe this diagram will explain. Also one correcti... (show quote)


and the larger you go, generally so does one's ego.

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Aug 23, 2016 10:23:56   #
SteveR Loc: Michigan
 
joer wrote:
Its no mistake that at present FF sensors are superior to crop sensors.

This implies very little about the camera. If you can't capture the peak moment or get the focus the sensor is irrelevant. Cameras are tools made with specific performance characteristics optimized for specific tasks. The key is to match the camera to the shooting preference.


Don't let what joer says quide you to think that you MUST have a full frame camera. A medium format sensor is superior to full frame sensors, for that matter. A good crop camera is just the thing for someone who doesn't know the difference. My first digital camera was the Nikon D7000 and it amazed me. Although I now have a full frame camera, I will always have a crop camera as well. In many respects I prefer my crop camera.

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Aug 23, 2016 11:03:39   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
Cdouthitt wrote:
and the larger you go, generally so does one's ego.


I notice you have a medium format camera (as do I) 😺

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Aug 23, 2016 11:08:42   #
Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.
 
TriX wrote:
Maybe this diagram will explain. Also one correction: the focal length of a lens doesn't change with sensor size, the angle/field of view does. While a 200mm lens on a 1.6 crop frame camera will have the same angle and field of view as a 320mm lens on a full frame, the focal length of the lens doesn't change. May sound like semantics, but an important distinction. Regarding full frame vs crop image quality, this is currently being debated (for the umpteenth time) on another thread - use the search function at the top of the page for more information on this subject.
Maybe this diagram will explain. Also one correcti... (show quote)


Maybe this is a good place to note that (as far as I know) there is NO "Micro 2/3" format of camera and lenses; I'm sure the earlier poster meant Micro "4/3". In the diagram this is called "Four thirds system" (Note that 4/3 and Micro 4/3 use the same sensor size).
The diagram also shows a 2/3" size - possibly causing confusion due to the earlier post.

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Aug 23, 2016 11:24:32   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
Cdouthitt wrote:
and the larger you go, generally so does one's ego.


Clint you wouldn't happen to have a view camera?

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