rshemsworth

I currently have a Nikon D7200, with which I am very pleased. However, I am considering upgrading to a full frame camera. I understand that the larger sensor gives better low light performance, but what are the other advantages of full frame? It seems that the lenses are bigger and heavier, which is a disadvantage.
Ron

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

I feel that the ability to crop and then enlarge without loosing detail is very nice nice.
I have a Sony a99II and haven't had any desire to buy new as yet.

KankRat Loc: SW Chicago Suburbs

If you are shooting wide scenes there is no crop factor.

If you were trying to blur the background on a subject, given the same lens you would have to move closer in order fill the frame. that would decrease DOF.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

It's interesting that there are more images taken with cell phones world-wide each day than with any other type of cameras combined. The sensor of the camera in the cell phone is ever, ever so small yet there is no perceived need to manufacture a cell phone with a full size sensor.

Also, there are far fewer printed images than in the 'film days' and many of those that are printed are now done on home quality printers. Few people have calibrated monitors paired with calibrated desktop printers. And lastly, many people tweak their images in post processing with software so that too affects the final image quality of what a senor may have captured (of course there is RAW compared to JPEG also).

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I am currently in the same position as you. I believe I need a full frame camera for the low light advantages. I have a d500 after having a d7200. I do love the 500 because of the control differences. But the 7200 takes as good or better pics as the 500. I know Im off topic. There is no GREAT advantage. Just a lot of small ones.

rshemsworth

Thank you for that info.

Sensei

I am using the same glass since the film days so I don't see the problem. Today's lens are comparatively lighter than my old ones. I have gone from film to aps c and now full frame. In some cases I have used a Canon lens on a Sony full frame by means of an adapter. My present go to lens is a 18 400 which was made for Canon and mounted on a Sony full frame camera. Most of my glass is from old Sony/Minolta film cameras. Since my full frame is actually lighter then my older cameras I don't notice the weight . If you are using a neck strap you might want to consider a harness to put the weight on your shoulders rather than your neck. If weight is an issue, don't make the mistake of buying a camera without knowing how it feels in your hands.

KankRat Loc: SW Chicago Suburbs

I have a D7200 also. I've never done a side by side comparison but it seems like am battling noise more than I did with my D7000. 24mp vs 16.

As I understand it, noise is not related to sensor size, but to pixel density. Larger pixels=less noise. So given the same size sensor size, same number of pixels the full frame pixels would be larger.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Higher resolution = more fine detail in the photos.
You've noted the low light advantage.
DOF difference may or may not be an advantage depending on what you photograph. Taking the same photo with a FF versus a DX camera the FF will render a little less DOF and a slightly blurrier OOF background.

For what it's worth I have both FF and APS-C cameras as well as a small 1" sensor compact that I can fit in a pocket. My most used camera is the 1" sensor compact because where I go it goes. My next most used camera is the APS-C because it's smaller and lighter than the FF.

I'm going for a walk this afternoon and will definitely take a camera. It'll probably be the compact but maybe the APS-C. It won't be the FF.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

That is incorrect. Noise is related to both pixel density and sensor size with sensor size having the bigger influence. There are other factors as well because there are multiple sources of noise and so the sensor tech also plays a role. But if you have same generation sensor tech you'll get better low-light performance from the larger sensor camera because the sensor is larger.

BebuLamar

Biggest advantage that being called FF it has the crop factor of 1. All other formats have crop factor that is not 1 including medium format.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

A home run is worth more than two doubles. So is a full frame camera.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I believe you would be a couple of steps ahead if you considered the 'differences' offered by full frame, not the 'advantages.' I bought my first full frame camera about three years ago, in preparation for a night sky workshop. I needed more low light capability and more wide angle capability than my D300 could provide. I bought a D810, and later a D850 as a second body and have been well pleased with them. But sometimes all of the resolution is just overkill. The D300 is a fine camera, but lacks a lot of the capability and features of the newer cameras, so I added a D500. It gets used a lot for situations that do not call for wide angle or huge resolution.

These words pretty much mirror my response when folks ask about an extreme wide angle lens. Lots of people have bought lenses like the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 because they thought that they "needed" it. Until they learned that they really didn't. So there are tons of hardly used ones for sale on numerous markets.

Your D7200 is a nice camera that has been around for a while. Any newer camera is going to provide you with some advantages and new capabilities. Any higher level model is going to provide you with significant improvements in functionality and usability. I would suggest that you think and try to see if any of those make a difference to you.

bleirer

There are pros and cons. This article gives a nice overview. https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/digital-camera-sensor-size.htm

mrpentaxk5ii

I would say it depends on what you photograph subject wise as to weather you should go full frame and are you willing to pay for better glass, if your using cheap glass, it wont matter what camera you use, also do you print your photos or just view them on a computer. So there are questions to answer before thinking on going to full frame because you better have deep pockets.