dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Is there any benefit from having a claw hammer over a ball-peen hammer?
They are two different tools that fill different needs.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Bigger sensels (sensor elements — the light sensitive, monochrome light detectors on the sensor that are covered with colored filters) convert more photons into electrons. That increases "signal to noise ratio." S/N is what defines dynamic range. The wider the dynamic range between full saturation of the sensels and the tiniest signal that can be considered evidence of light, the more detail that can be recorded from a high dynamic range daylight scene.

The difference between a full frame sensor's low light performance and APS-C/DX is about one full f/stop, give or take 1/3 stop. The difference between a full frame sensor's low light performance and Micro 4/3 is about two full f/stops, give or take 1/3 stop. So a low light scene will have roughly the same noise when a full frame camera image is made at ISO 12800, an APS-C/DX image is made at ISO 6400, and a Micro 4/3 image is made at ISO 3200.

That basically means that full frame cameras ARE good in low light, but they also are great for landscape scenes photographed in daylight, because they can record more highlight and shadow details.

The difference in background blur (bokeh) is generally due to the use of different focal lengths to record the same scene from the same distance. For instance, here is a comparison of three "20MP class" cameras of roughly the same sensor vintage:

A 25mm lens at f/4 at 10' on Micro 4/3 (Panasonic Lumix DC-G9) has a depth of field of 6.1 feet.

A 35mm lens at f/5.6 at 10' on APS-C/DX (Nikon D500) has a depth of field of 6.04 feet.

A 50mm lens at f/8 at 10' on full frame (Nikon D5) has a depth of field of 6.4 feet.

Yet, all three of these normal lenses (normal for their sensor sizes) yield roughly the same field of view. FOCAL LENGTH controls magnification. The higher the magnification, the smaller the aperture needed to maintain the same depth of field. It's directly proportional to the area of the sensor, and how wide the circles of confusion get as you use a longer lens.

So why doesn't everyone use a full frame camera?

Full frame cameras are expensive and heavy.

Full frame lenses are expensive, big, and heavy.

APS-C dedicated lenses used for the same field of view (such as Nikon DX or Canon EF-S) are less expensive, smaller, and lighter. When made to pro specs, they may perform better on APS-C than do full frame lenses.

Micro 4/3 native lenses used for the same field of view are half the cost, 1/3 to 1/4 the size, and 1/2 to 1/4 the weight of full frame lenses. Because they are designed specifically for that format, they are optimized for sharpness, contrast, bokeh...

Sometimes, traveling light is more important in the general scheme of things.

Sometimes you need MORE depth of field at a given aperture.

Life and photography are full of little trade-offs. There is no perfect camera! There is just the right camera for right now, the one that fulfills your needs, wants, hopes, dreams, desires, budget, and circumstances.

It's sort of like this: My daily driver is a Prius. But every now and then, when I need a van or a truck, I'll borrow or rent one. It's a lot less hassle and cost than owning one. The guy down the street is a contractor. He needs his F150 supercab pickup every day. But his wife drives a hybrid Highlander, the "mommymobile."

karno Loc: Chico ,California

This will not help you but I will say it anyway,
If your a serious amateur you will want all formats 😁
Like they say go big or go home

karno Loc: Chico ,California

This will not help you but I will say it anyway,
If your a serious amateur you will want all formats 😁
Like they say go big or go home

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

burkphoto: thank you once again for a very helpful post.

wetreed

That guy is very knowledgeable

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

And helpful!

gessman Loc: Colorado

...and matter of fact and congenial and apparently doesn't rely on fortune cookies.

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

[quote=Harry0]If you're not going to get too crazy, that camera should be good to you for another 10 years.
I got the D3200 when it came out- and I'm still happy with it. Most of the 5xxx and 7xxx u[grades are more menu granularity and a few extras- most people won't be able to tell the difference from your D3xxx.
You made an excellent choice.[/quote]

That’s how I saw it HarryO. Same 24mp sensor and Expeed 4 processor. Just not the bells and whistles but in the past 2 years I have been very satisfied with the camera and it’s performance. Uses all my lenses as long as they are motorized for AF.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

... or sarcasm

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

And then some.

papaluv4gd Loc: durham,ct

why is CHG canon so fixated on the "RIGHT" camera. What the h... is the right cmera anyway?
Seems to me that in his world, if it's not a canon, it's not a camera. Are my 4 yr. old olympuses NOT cameras? They seem to be doing a darn good job of recording my little corner of the world.
I posted a couple of shots here on UHH, and received some very favorable feedback from other hoggers. Even a cheapy, plasticy, chinese camera can render some memorable shots if the user has an eye for all of the details that make up a good photograph. There is no "right" camera. As has been said many times before, the best camrea is the one you have with you.

BebuLamar

Because it's his name!

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Bad Day?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Geez, thanks, guys!

I had a long career in the yearbook/school portrait business. Sharing some of what I can is a way to give back.