TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

👍👍 Good information. I have found the data in photonstophotos to be very accurate in terms of DR and low light capability. If you intend to shoot indoor sports, you’ll need all the low light performance you can get in addition to fast lenses. I shoot indoor sports with a FF and regularly shoot at ISO 6400 (or higher) and 1/500 with an f2.8 wide open or nearly so. If I were shooting a crop body, i’d be forced to 1/250 at ISO 3200 and motion blur would be a probable issue. If you shoot outdoor sports, then not so much of an issue, but you’ll still appreciate the lower noise of the FF. Remember that you can trade that extra stop for twice the shutter speed, half the ISO, or longer DOF.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

But even if the indoor is only say 25%, the anti-flicker of the 80D may make it worth the cost. Are you having trouble with inconsistent results indoors?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

The full frame advantage is not primarily about the size print you can enlarge to, it’s about the low light high ISO/DR improvement over a crop body. There’s a reason that not all, but the majority of pros shoot FF. A surprisingly large percentage of everyday shots occur in low or moderate light, and that’s where the FF is worth every penny of cost and ounce of weight.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

In addition to the wise words from Linda I want to add that if you already have a collection of lenses to use with your cropped sensor and you need to update another cropped sensor would be the best solution.
High ISO performance used to be better with the so called full frame camera but not with the new generation of cropped sensors. ISO 1600 is a pretty high ISO and yes, beyond that the image suffers BUT is is better to have a noisy image than none at all. I try to keep ISO 1600 as my top high ISO speed.
One camera or the other makes no difference once you learn basic photography.

jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Have you considered the 6DmkII?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

New generation sensors apply to both crop and FF. For equivalent generation, a FF will typically be 1 to 1-1/2 stops better (low light, high ISO / DR) than a crop. A quick check of specs will bear this out. It's certainly more expensive, but when you need the performace, it's indespensible.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

To be very blunt "one camera or the other makes no difference" appears true only if just the very basics are known but the finer points of photography are totally lacking.

The high ISO difference between FF and APS-C is exactly the same today as it was a decade past and it won't change in the next decade either. It's basic physics not basic photography.

Check out the graphs for an "ideal" sensor of any size you want to compare (other sizes are also interesting):

http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm

The only change in the past decade is that each new camera gets a little closer to the ideal dynamic range for that sensor size. The dynamic range difference between a 1.5X larger sensor using the same technology is always going to be 1 stop.

davyboy Loc: Anoka Mn.

Just remember when you step up to full frame your stepping into a whole different arena for lens and cameras are more expensive. Good glass can cost you as much as your camera. Jus something to think about

billgdyoung Loc: Big Bear City, CA

good advice for sure... but jeezus, what a stunning image of the snake...

Bob Boner

I have the 5DIII and like it a lot. I highly recommend it. The 5DIV is an upgrade, so you should be able to find a good price on the 5DIII.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I have *gotten* older (80) and am in the process of shedding myself of my FF Nikon and lenses in favor of the Fuji X-T2, but it has nothing to do with having gotten older, more with having gotten more sensible. If I can curl a 30 lb dumbbell 8X, I'm perfectly capable of carrying around a heavy camera and lens, but I feel much more free and spontaneous not doing so when I'm on one of my trips to foreign climes, Indonesia and Sri Lanka next.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

I personally have a Nikon D3300, a APS-C Camera, so NOT familiar with any Canon Cameras or their equipment.
Although, I have heard many times, these new DSLR Cameras tend to be able to shoot at relatively HIGHER ISO's and still have acceptable images, depending on what you do with them, larger enlargements may be of a concern, although, the 4x6, & 8x10 prints might be acceptable. All depends on each individual Photographer's acceptance level, what one may say OK, another may say NO-WAY.

DVZ Loc: Littleton CO

When I went to full frame for a specific reason of my own, the big question for me was the cost of new lenses as I didn't have very many FF lenses. I bought professional fast glass and they are much more robust than my DX lenses also much heavier, there great optically as well. I still use DX though, smaller lighter system. I wouldn't sacrifice your retirement for FF.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

#1, above all else, is to upgrade your knowledge first. It makes more difference to your photography than any equipment you can buy. I always recommend *Understanding Exposure* by Bryan Petersen, and *Stunning Digital Photography* by Tony Northrup. Tony and his wife have a great YouTube channel, as well. In fact, YouTube is FULL of photography vlogs (video blogs) and channels!

Always remember YOU make the photograph. The camera just transports photons onto the sensor for you. You have to know how to tell it what to do, just like a good cook knows the way around a kitchen. No one ever remarks to a good cook, "Gee, you must have really good pots and pans!" Unfortunately, I've heard, "Gee, you must have a really good camera!" all too often. No, it is knowledge, skill, vision, and experience that make the photographer and the photograph.

That said...

The difference in performance between full frame and APS-C cameras of the same brand is about one full f/stop of low light sensitivity. If an APS-C camera is good at ISO 6400, a full frame camera of similar megapixel count and of similar age and brand will look about the same at ISO 12,800. (Those are approximate practical limits for many NEW dSLRs.)

I would strongly encourage you to consider the Canon EOS 80D, and the EOS 7D Mark II. Both are APS-C cameras with a 1.6x "crop factor" compared to full frame. A 100 mm lens on either will give you a *field of view* similar to what a 160mm lens would provide on a full frame body from the same distance. The EOS 5D III is an excellent used buy for a film camera. It is great for portraits, weddings, and landscapes, but most folks don't consider it a top line sports camera. The 7D II is about to be replaced by the 7D III, so deals will be had on remaining stock of 7D II bodies.

Find camera reviews at http://www.dpreview.com. That site has been around since the 1990s and probably has more in-depth detailed reviews of camera gear than any other. A good site that covers mostly Canon gear is https://www.the-digital-picture.com. There are many others, and many YouTube channels that review cameras.

Good luck!

DebDKusz Loc: PA

Thank you