burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Not necessarily... It depends...

APS-C and Micro 4/3 are viable alternatives, depending on what sort of subject matter you will photograph.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

You don't need a full frame camera to get excellent vacation shots; but if you anticipate advancing in this hobby to more than snapshots on a vacation, you should skip the crop, and go the whole hog.
Clearly, finances are always a consideration.

anotherview Loc: California

No. For example, the Canon T7i takes great pictures even though it has a cropped sensor.

As a beginner, you will first want to learn composition and exposure along with the importance of subject.

You can do so with almost any camera.

Once you become experienced, then you can intelligently pick the gear you need to meet your intention for doing photography.

From this statement, it follows that you should avoid buying photography gear because you feel it will improve your photography.
Skill, experience, and discipline together improve your photographic output.

If I may make a recommendation, then I'd urge you to buy one camera and one lens to learn photography. Your experience will tell you when you need to branch out.

In fact, you could do most all your photography in the beginning with the Canon T7i with the Canon 17-85mm zoom lens mounted to it. You could buy both items used or refurbished, to spend less to start out.

Good luck.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

The answer is, get both, a full frame and a crop sensor. I go to a lot of places where I want a wide perspective, like for landscape photos, city views, big ships, etc.. You want as wide a view as possible. Yes, I know, you can do panorama shots, or buy ultra wide angle lenses, or go with long focal length zooms, 300 mm or above for things like birds, at ball games where you want to focus on one player. But if you do a lot of birding, or animals far away as bears, moose, deer, or others, it is hard to use a full frame sensor and crop in without running the risk of pixelation. So, I would love to have both in my bag, but like many others, only have one, a full frame sensor. Great for landscapes, also great for pictures of grandkids, or things relatively close. I do have a 70-300 lens when helps. I do wish I had a crop sensor camera too, but maybe I would be disappointed and find that I can do what I want with one.

ggab Loc: ?

How much money do you have to spend?
If the answer is less than 2,000.00, go crop sensor.
If the answer is 2,000.00 to 3,000.00 you could go either way.
If the answer is more than 3,000.00 go full frame.
This budget needs to include lenses, camera bag, flash etc.

jwn Loc: SOUTHEAST GEORGIA USA

think about the pics you will be taking, if you need reach consider the cropped, if taking landscapes, buildings the public squares then full frame. why settle for a cropped image when you get get the "full " frame.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

A so called "full frame" camera used to have advantages in the past but modern APS cameras are of excellent quality. Noise used to be the big thing about full frame. New APS cameras are excellent also in that respect.
Lenses for APS or cropped cameras are usually less expensive than for full frame and there is such a great assortment in the new and used market.
Nothing wrong using one of those cameras.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

"think about the pics you will be taking, if you need reach consider the cropped, if taking landscapes, buildings the public squares then full frame. why settle for a cropped image when you get get the "full " frame."

Cropped cameras are also full frame....if using a DX lens.

gwilliams6

Sony makes great APS-C cameras also.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I’ll add that if you only post images to web galleries and make prints smaller than 8x10, format makes little difference unless you are in really dim light.

jcboy3

I wouldn't even recommend an interchangeable lens camera. Get a good quality all-in-one camera and enjoy your vacation.

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

You only really NEED a FF camera if:

You are a pro and make your living with clients demanding the absolute best IQ (some will demand medium format - commercial ad or fashion photography!)
You are a wedding photographer and need to shoot the lowest possible noise level inside churches, for example, or other indoor shooting applications.
You are a landscape or portrait photographer (although APSC does a great job there too).
You shoot a lot of superwide angle subjects, real estate interiors for example.

FF will give you about 1.5-2 stops extra margin for acceptable noise levels. If you shoot at ISO 6400+ that will come in handy.

Everything else is a want...but we all experience GAS at some time or another. Keep in mind FF will demand great quality FF lenses, which are larger and heavier generally at the same focal ranges and f number. If you are a casual daylight shooter - like me - APSC is fine. I have the D7200 and it takes great photos with good noise control under ISO 10,000, especially in daylight, and sometimes up to ISO 18000. I use mostly FF lenses, anticipating my upgrade to a D850 or other FF body....I will still keep the 7200 for applications where a DX comes in handy, but the D850 also has a not too shabby DX mode 19.4 MP.

Naptown Gaijin

I had a Lumix FZ-200: very capable for vacations, great zoom f2.8 lens, but small sensor.
Looked at and used a Nikon D750 for 4 days, with 24-70 and 70-200 lenses. VERY BIG, VERY HEAVY, VERY NOT FUN TO CARRY.
I bought a Lumix GX-9 and 12-35 (24-70 in 35mm equivalent) f2.8 lens. I am now happy with my M43 crop lens camera. It is much lighter and has awesome features/capabilities. The manual ypu have to print out yourself, and it is over 300 pages.