pecohen Loc: Central Maine

The visual is very good, but I think it misses some important points:

1. Full-frame cameras require big, heavy and relatively expensive lenses compared to a crop-frame camera.

2. Full-frame cameras are big, heavy and relatively expensive compared to a crop-frame camera.

3. Crop-frame cameras tend to have a higher pixel density.

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

You have received several good explations of the differences and advantages and disadvantages of both. If you are considering a second body for your upcoming trip you will need full frame lenses for a full frame body to take advantage of FF. I would suggest acquiring a new or refurbished D5300 and really learning how it works and where the various controls are. You will need to quickly set up to take your wild life photos.

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

Today's crop sensor cameras are much better than older full frame cameras. The biggest two advantages of full frame cameras are small depth of field at a specific lens focal length and lower noise at high ISOs. The biggest advantages of crop sensor cameras are lower weight, lower cost, and the crop factor. A 400mm lens on a crop sensor camera has the same equivalent field of view as a 600mm lens on a full frame camera. 300mm-->450mm; 150-600mm-->225-900mm. Crop sensor cameras are usually preferred over full frame cameras with teleconverters for sports and wildlife because teleconverters reduce light on the sensor and diminish image quality. Since you are going to Kenya, your D5300 is a very good option, and if you need another camera body, I suggest you take another crop sensor camera. A 150-600mm telephoto zoom lens is a good option for wildlife that is far away. If you don't want to buy such a lens, you can rent one. If you do take another camera body, consider mounting a 150-600mm lens on one body and something like an 18-140mm, 18-200mm, or 18-300mm on the other. That way you won't have to change lenses in what is often a dusty environment, and you will have complete coverage of 18-600mm (or 27-900mm full frame equivalent field of view).

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

Sensor size has nothing to do with file size! And full frame sensors are not twice as large as crop sensor sensors! Also, the Nikon D5 full frame camera has the same autofocus (AF) system as the crop sensor D500 crop. And the AF system on crop sensor D500 is better than the AF system on the full frame Nikon D810 and D750.

Image file size depends on the number of pixels on the sensor. A 24MP full frame camera will have exactly the same resolution and file size as a 24MP crop sensor camera.

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

That makes no sense! A crop sensor 24MP camera has the same number of pixels as a 24MP full frame camera.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

If at this point you are just getting into digital photography I would stick with a crop camera. I started with a D7000, a Nikon 28-300mm and Tamron 10-24mm lenses. It was a great setup and all I really needed. I bought the full frame D800 when it came out because it was supposed to be the end all and be all. Along with the $3000 camera I've purchased over $4000 in lenses to go with the full frame camera (a Nikon 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8). Now, the perfectionists on this site will tell you that you've gotta have the really exotic lenses, etc. My advice....unless you're heavily into photography as a really avid amateur or professional.....the crop camera gear will provide excellent results for you.

I must admit that I do have the bug and am considering the new 80-400mm lens for sports photography (my grandson) and perhaps upgrading my D7000 to the D500 primarily for the advanced focus system and its low-light capabilities. It, too, is a crop camera. I continue to use my D7000 when shooting sports. However....I AM holding off to see what the new camera might be in the 800 series this year. So....you see how it is. GAS. Gear Acquisition Syndrome!!!!

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Welcome to the Hog, photogpg.
Don't overlook the search button at the top.
Marion

photogpg Loc: San Pedro, CA

Thank, jethro-- that's a big help!

photogpg Loc: San Pedro, CA

Thanks, M--I grew up in central Kansas!

photogpg Loc: San Pedro, CA

Very good points - weightand expense are issues. The organizer suggests taking two camera bodies, one full-frame, using the same lenses. Could just be marketing...

photogpg Loc: San Pedro, CA

Thanks-- didnt realize that the lenses also needed to be full frame! I currently have a D5300 and do like it. I have 4 lenses that I kept from my D200 that I traded for the 5300: AF-S NIKKOR- 56-300 1:4.5-5.6; Nikk 18-200; Nikk18-56; & a Nikk Micro 60.

Nikon ishaving a dealnight with tax rebate tonight. I'm thinking if I get an extender for my 300 I could avoid buying a longer lense.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Yes, but they are denser due to the smaller size sensor. But yes, 24MP is 24MP, however the pixels will be larger in size on the full frame sensor.

To go along with that, it's important to remember that, (per the sensor size visual on the previous page) while a smaller sensor, i.e., a crop sensor will show a smaller portion of the overall scene, compared to what the full frame "sees," that is what the same lens would see in any camera. So it is that a crop sensor camera with, say, a 50mm lens will "see" the equivalent of a 75mm lens on a full frame camera. That being said, it's also important to remember that any smaller sensor will see the same area of a scene that a full frame camera will see, given the appropriate size lens on the smaller sensor camera. So to see about what the FF camera sees with a 50mm lens, a crop frame camera will need a lens of about 35mm to see the same thing. So, to that end, it really doesn't matter what the sensor size is. You just need the right size lenses to see the same thing as a full frame camera.

photogpg Loc: San Pedro, CA

Thanks-- those really helpful insights! I appreciate the help!

Selene03

I really prefer Full Frame cameras--most of the time. Some of the best photos I've seen from a safari, however, were from someone shooting with a crop sensor camera (in this case the Canon 7D Mk II). He did, however, use the best L glass with the camera and the 7D Mk II is an amazing camera. I did some wildlife with a crop sensor camera and was pretty happy with it, but generally like the full frame field of view. If you do want to get a second camera, I second the recommendation on the D750. I would also looking into getting the best lenses you can find for your camera.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Here we go again. "Ooooh, it's a DSLR! Gotta buy it! Oops, I wanted FULL FRAME ONLY! Has to be BIG!!!"