CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

We are in agreement then on FF set to crop sensor only lessens the pixel count. That is the crop sensor trick.

Using a crop sensor camera with a crop lens...accomplishes nothing additional. Using a full frame lens on a crop sensor camera ...accomplishes nothing additional. In short, if the lens is 100mm it is 100mm regardless.

Some try to argue if you put a 100mm crop on a full frame camera it becomes 150mm. It may in appearance looking through the camera but all you have done is shut down the viewing area and cost half (quick math) your pixel count.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Crop sensor cameras simply use (capture) less of the image circle.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I'd call that the DX mode trick.

And here you're wrong. Using the same lens from the FX camera on a crop sensor camera with a much higher pixel density than the FX camera puts more pixels on the subject and that can make a consequential difference.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Could be but I’m pretty sure most don’t read it that way.

Mainridge Loc: NW Mich, SW Fla

I probably mis-spoke. I shouldn’t have said, always fill the frame. I am thinking about times when I go out with my 500mm lens knowing I will have some longer shots. Before going out the door, I wonder, should I add a 1.4 teleconverter knowing I will lose a stop of light, should I just switch my 45mp camera to apps-c mode if my image is smaller than I want, or should I just crop my shots in post later if they are not sized to my liking? I do in fact subscribe to Backcountry Gallery and it is outstanding but its discussion of this topic still confuses me ( I am easily confused). Based on many comments on this thread, it seems there is not a hard and fast rule. It depends…

dustie Loc: Nose to the grindstone

Is there really any hard and fast rule of photography?.....

.....besides maybe, if you want to take a picture, have a functioning camera with you, and use it to the best of your knowledge?

MJPerini

As others have said shoot with what you have. Cropping 'in-camera' makes little sense because you can always crop later. If you mostly shoot BIF etc some folks add a second crop body with higher pixel density to get more reach from the lenses you have. But then you are carrying two cameras and may have to switch bodies.
That is certainly a valid personal choice, if you often need the reach. You can also buy a longer lens.
Generally, "Make the best pictures you can make with the camera and lenses you have" is solid advice.
Most of my favorite wildlife photos are a balance of wildlife and environment ( but that is just a preference)

The answer has to come from you. If you consistently feel like you don't have enough 'Reach' for the work you do, then make a change, but never make a change because of someone else's opinion, or because of some 'rule'.
No matter what camera & lens you carry, there will ALWAYS be some pictures that call for something else.
Worry about the pictures you CAN get rather than the ones you can't.
Good Luck, Have Fun.

BTW, the Frame is ALWAYS full ;-))

Heaththiel Loc: Wisconsin

Personally, that sounds like idiotic advice, geared to help you either miss or mess up lots of potential shots. I shoot a Z7 and have the same number of MP's as you do. If I was that worried about filling up a frame, I'd get my shot and crop my frame full after the fact.

User ID

Huuuuuuge gigantamous AMEN.

Martys Loc: Lubec, Maine

Filling the frame,...too me,...means,...always cropping all subjects in the viewfinder,....to the desired look in my mind's eye,....to achieve the expected result in the completed image.

As an aside,...on occasion I do not hesitate go from full frame to one of the APS-c crop factors,...from experience my final images in doing so have not been detrimental to my liking and outcome.
I even do this on occasion when using my long lens to further explore closer desired cropping.

Sound basics practices applied,...(tripod, critical focus, cable release, mirror up, low ISO's) and such always,...trump,...poor technique in any work with the camera.
Garbage in,..........garbage out!!!!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I like to leave some space in the frame. For one thing, if you have a subject that could imply some motion, you can crop so that the subject motion will be toward the center of the frame. I think it adds something to the composition. Of course there are no definitive rules to something like this but filling the frame will make such things harder. You'll have to resort to Generative AI, and then you will get all sorts of comments.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ahhh... "... to the "desired look", AKA composition.
Depends on how one wants the primary subject represented with respect to the remainder of the area.
The people who say "fill the frame" obviously like their "subject" as large as possible, and think you should also...

Inherently the frame is filled, with something, nothing is left blank.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

It was gratifying to read all the "it depends" advice. There are plenty of technically excellent photos out there that are boring, with no emotional impact or memorable content. Try to balance your skills with the art.

Best on your journey!

Vladimir200 Loc: Beaumont, Ca.

Great advice; I agree.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

But they said "fill the frame"....

(I don't shoot like they,
I shoot like me.)

You know no matter what one does, someone will have a contrary opinion.