markjay

Hi everyone. Have been following the daily posts and questions. It is a very informative site.
I was last into photography 25 years ago when I still used film ! Have now decided I am no longer happy with my iPhone photos and decided to jump back in.
My main question is this ... I will likely choose a Canon dslr and not sure if it is better to go with a basic full frame like a 6d at 20 mb, or an aps-c like an 80d , but which has I beieve 24 mb ? It is not clear to me what the advantage would be of the full frame with lower resolution image chip - other than the lenses that can be used with each choice.
Many thanks for your help on what I am sure is a very basic question.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Ask yourself the basic 5-W's or a part of them at least with the Who being you. Those answers should help you and others answer your question.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

Google full frame vs crop and you will get millions of links. I prefer the FF DSLR, but that's just me.

https://www.google.com/search?q=full+frame+vs+crop&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS710US710&oq=full+frame+vs+crop&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3999j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

dsimmonds53

Like you I was away from Photography for a few years. In 2004, a vacation to the Grand Canyon convinced me to jump back in with both feet. I bought my first Canon DSLR the day I returned. That was 2004. I've had five Canons since then. By far the best of them all is my current 6D. The image quality far surpasses the APS-C i've had in the past. The larger sensor provides a better starting point of my pics. If you can afford it, go with the 6D and "L" series lens. I currently use a 6D, EOS M3, a Canon G12, and on occasion an Olympus E-PL .Good luck with your choice , whatever it is. Go to the Canon website and compare a few camertas. You'll be glad you did.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Resolution is not the significant difference between those two cameras that would make a choice for purchase. The 80D is higher resolution than the 6D even though the 6D has a larger sensor. Resolution is measured in line pairs per mm, and if we look at those two cameras the vertical resolution of the 6D is 76.3 line pairs per mm, while the 80D has a resolution of 133.3 lp/mm. If what you want to photograph is fine detail, the 80D is a better camera if all other things are equal. But you will need to always shoot in very good light to see that resolution advantage.

Of course there are other aspects. And lets throw another monkey wrench into the machinery and add Nikon cameras into some comparisons. Probably the most important criteria is the Dynamic Range. You want to know what the Dynamic Range is at low ISO values, where the DN will be the highest. And you want to know the ISO value that will produce some predefined minimum useful Dynamic Range. A DN value of 6.5 f/stops is useful because technically if you have nailed exposure an image with that much DN can be printed with no visible noise. The higher the ISO a camera can use to produce a 6.5 f/stop DN, the better the camera. Lets look at some values...

Here is a link to graphs produced by Bill Claff (bclaff here on UHH). Other information is also available with a little digging on the same page,

Photographic Dynamic Range Charts

Interesting comparisons,

There are some obvious conclusions... The Canon 80D is not well suited to high ISO photography in low light. The Canon 6D does much better, but it is extremely limited in maximum Dynamic Range at low ISO values, which is isn't bad if there were other good reasons (high frame rate for sports would be a good example, but it doesn't have that).

The real problems with the 6D and the 80D are that for the same money you can get much better cameras from Nikon. If high resolution is the ultimate goal, the D7200 is a higher value. If more pixels and low light capability are the primary needs, the Nikon D610 is the best buy.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the endless discussion of whether Canon or Nikon are better.
For starters, MB is an abbreviation for Megabytes not Megapixel. Memory cards are measured in Megabytes and image sensors in megapixel.
I own both the Nikon D7200 and the Canon 80D, and 6D, along with several other DSLR'S and digital cameras. The D7200 is an excellent camera. The Canon 80D is an excellent camera also. I will not tell you what to spend your money on unless you ask me to but I will give you my honest opinion.
The D7200 for all intents and purposes is no better than the 80D or vice versa. They are both capable of producing excellent images.The D7200's images may have better detail in darker shadowy areas of a photograph but in my opinion, and most Nikon owners, of which I am one (a Nikon owner), will disagree, the Canon 80D has a better focusing system, in better built, has better ergonomics, is easier to learn and operate and makes better video.
The Full Frame 6D excels in low light conditions but it does not do action photography well at all. It's better suited for photographing things that aren't moving or aren't moving very fast or iratically.
If I were to choose between the 6D and the 80D, I'd go with the 80D. It uses much newer technology than the 6D, is way more versatile than the 6D, costs less than the 6D and for general photography, from birds in flight to sports and wildlife and just about anything in between, the 80D will do a better job than the 6D. If I were looking for a camera to use just for portraiture and landscape and posed photography, the 6D would be my choice of the two.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Markjay, while everyone is talking about resolution and sensor size, I take a more pragmatic approach. How much gear do I want to lug around and how will I really display the final shots. I suspect that if you are just getting started in digital photography, you will have greater concerns than file size. You will be more concerned with getting good exposures and pictures in focus. All these cameras when used properly will produce good results. However, you will need time to figure all that out. As for size, you might appreciate the smaller size of a crop sensor model if you plan on carrying the camera around a lot.

Unless you plan to display prints larger than 11x14 or so, then you will not need a full-frame body. And unless you plan to do a lot of night shooting, the low noise level of the Canon 80D should be fine. For general shooting over a wide range of conditions, I would recommend the Canon 80D. I would buy the body only and then get the Sigma 18-300. That will be a good starting point for you and should last you a few years until you have a better idea of what you are doing. Even though, you may stay with the 80D which is an amazing camera. The other manufacturers offer comparable models that are also outstanding and you can get pretty confused deciding among them. The same is true for lenses. Sigma and Tamron test as well as Canon and Nikon and are noticeably cheaper with docks to tweak your lenses.

Good luck and welcome back to photography.

Rob Almeda Loc: Gaithersburg, Maryland

My suggestion is go to a Full Frame camera if your budget allows for it. That way, when your photography hobby turns out you like it much, you will save money by not upgrading to a FF camera. Also, get a good glass.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Last year I came back to photography after a 23 year lull. I went the APS-C route, initially with Canon, but after a few months discovered my system was too heavy to lugg about for up to seven hours a day. I changed over to Olympus M43, far lighter and great IQ, though I have complimented my M43 with a Nikon D500 + 300mm f4 PF (both very lightweight). I suggest you consider the type of photography you favour, how long you intend to be carrying your camera system for and how fit you are. Also worth considering is how you intend to display the images you take. I use a 55" 4K UHD TV and find that M43 and APS-C provide all the IQ I require. If, like me, you are a wildlife photographer then APS-C/M43 are good choices. If you are a landscape photographer you may require the extra detail provided by FF and the benefit of no crop factor when using FF lenses.

markjay

Many thanks to everyone here for all of your replies ! The information was very useful, although varied in suggestions. But nonetheless, it is helpful in my thinking of what to do.
It seems the choices now in digital are far more complicated than when everything was film. I am struggling through it and hope to make a decision in a couple of weeks.
Many thanks again for the really useful information !

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Markjay: you said, "It is not clear to me what the advantage would be of the full frame with lower resolution image chip." Just doing a Google search for comparing these 2 cameras resulted in the conclusion that, if image quality is all you're concerned with, then the 6D is the one to choose. Other than that, just about everyone who reviewed and rated these cameras concluded that the 80D was a better choice OVERALL.

http://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-6D-vs-Canon-EOS-80D
http://www.imaging-resource.com/cameras/canon/6d/vs/canon/80d/
http://thenewcamera.com/canon-80d-vs-canon-6d/

markjay

Thanks ! I appreciate the web links and will read and research !
Mark

Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Mark
Had the same dilemma as you after 20 yrs being away went with an entry level Canon sl1
after 2 years went to full frame 6D and never looked back i am not 100% sure about Mega pixels
the 6D takes fantastic photos what ever camera please share your photos with us
thanks
chuck

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

If you decide to go FF you NUST take a good look at the Pentax K-1. It's a pro level at a very attractive price. ($1800). Reviews put it just a touch behind the Nikon 810 and ahead of the Canon 5D4. At 1/2 the price. I am currently shooting the canon7d. The K-1 will be my next camera.