Photocraig

Or even make the pictures better. Think of it this way. Go Full Frame when you HAVE TO because there's no other way to make the photographs--and prints you DEMAND. It's like moving to a new home. It is expensive, can be a pain to convert from old to new. It is not done on a whim or a mere want. There has to be a strong reason.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Going full frame is a decision only you can make. From your original post it doesn't appear you know a whole lot about what you may already have or cameras in general. I'm guessing you already have a Canon crop sensor body since you asked about the meaning of EF, which means Electronic Focus. All Canon EF lenses are designed for Full Frame use but will work on any EOS body. Some bodies require adapters. EF-S lenses are specifically designed for use on crop sensor bodies only and will not mount on a full frame body, and for good reason. On some EOS Full Frame bodies, the rear end of an EF-S lens may interfere with the mirror.
If you really want to go full frame, look for a clean used EOS 5D mk II. It is an excellent stills camera and a pretty good video camera.
Keep in mind, EF lenses are generally more expensive than EF-S lenses and the top tier EF lenses, L series lenses are very expensive, although you can usually find good used ones at decent prices. For example, I bought a used EF 28-300L lens for $1200 and paid Canon $650 to repair and rebuild it. It is now good as new and essentially I got a $2400 lens for $1850 with the same warranty as a new one. Best of luck on your quest and purchase.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Not sure that I absolutely agree with this position. I suspect that many, if not perhaps most of us, would have elected to start out with full frame cameras if they had been generally available at an acceptable price when we got into digital photography. The majority of us probably had usable full frame lenses available and would not have given it a second thought.

4OX

Thanks everyone. Good info. I have a Cannon EOS 70D. I have a 1.8 50mm lens, a 70&200 2.8, and a couple of kitchen zoom lenses. I am doing studio portrait work, using various types of strobes and soft boxes, beauty dishes etc. Outdoor portraits with portable lighting. And my son's college football games. My lenses are "EF". I don't know what that stands for. I've spent my dollars on lighting etc and understand the pros and cons of my crop camera, vs FF. I eventually will have both. Just needed to know if I'd need all new lenses when I buy FF. Sounds like I won't.

4OX

Excellent info

miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida

I spent 3 years wanting to upgrade to a FF, then I bought a refurb 80D, and I found that the only improvement would be if I was in very dark conditions. So I opted for adding the Mirrorless M50 instead. My photo's are excellent right out of the camera [both] without even having to fix, man of the time. So I am not going to worry.

Radioactive Loc: Bellingham

Bite the bullet. Get a used Nikon D810 or a new D850. Sell your DX glass and get Nikon 24-120 mm f4 lens. You will be set for years and will feel happy.
Bill

Silverman Loc: Michigan

My understanding is, You can use "Full Frame" Camera lens on a "Crop Sensor" body, but " Crop Sensor" lens will not provide properly Exposure images on a "Full Frame" camera. There is much to read on this issue that will explain in more details.

anotherview Loc: California

You seem a Canon shooter.

Lenses classified as EF work on both full-frame and APS-C (cropped sensor) cameras.

Lenses classified as EF-S work only only APS-C cameras.

I hear the latest Canon mirrorless camera will mount both of these lens classifications using an adapter.

Hope this explanation helps.

Happy New Year!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you have a crop camera, keep that and buy a FF. Buy one good all-purpose zoom lens for the FF and use the crop lenses on it when you have to. Gradually accumulate more FF lenses.

On the other hand, you could stay with what you have and always wish you had made the move.

Bison Bud

I think most of us here will agree that a FF system is a better tool overall than a crop sensor model. The difference is in whether that improved tool will indeed improve your photography and is it worth the extra expense, especially with the results being obtained with top of the line crop sensors at this time. If you should go Canon, the EF series lenses will work on an FF body, the EF-S will not. However, there are still differences in the quality of glass in the EF choices and with a FF body your going to want a high quality lens to take full advantage of the FF sensor. This single item can make moving to a FF system quite pricey unless one already has a high quality selection of glass to choose from. Therefore, I'd recommend keeping the crop sensor body and investing in quality full frame glass, which will still be a step up on the crop sensor, until you can make a more sensible move into an FF body. Otherwise, if you can afford to lay out the cash for a new FF body and compatible lenses, then go for it. Good luck and good shooting to all.

BebuLamar

I only use the so called Full Frame camera (I really do hate that term) but since you already use the other size I think it's best to stay with the same size sensor.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

It really depends on the type photography that you do. Simply moving from crop to a full frame camera will not make too much of a difference for most people other than causing them to spend a bunch more money on pro quality lenses. EF-S lenses are designed for the crop cameras, the rear element on these lenses extends further into the camera than EF lenses, to protect the mirrors on Canon EOS full frame bodies Canon uses a mount on the EF-S lenses that will not allow mounting to their full frame cameras, so you can not use your EF-S lenses on a full frame Canon body.

BebuLamar

Also are you considering medium format? Upgrading is expensive in my opinion. I am not one of those who can sell for the same or more than what I bought them for. But whatever you think you would want now instead of doing by steps.

RichJ207 Loc: Sammamish, WA

He says he has EF LENSES!!! His question is whether he will need new lenses when he buys FF. If he stays with a compatible FF Canon camera, the answer is no.