Full Frame V 1.6 Crop

[Edd]

Okay, I hope the title is correct, but my wife asked me why didn't we buy a full frame (35mm as understand it) camera instead of the 1.6 crop that we have with our Canon 40D.

Price was my answer, but what is the difference she asked ????

I don't know ??

So what are the advantages of having the full frame sensor over the 1.6 crop that I have.

Thanks

Ed

[Mitchell]

OK well The when you look though your veiw finder it has black around the edges as where a full frame when you look though you see the the whole picture. And full frime dosent fave a "CROP" so when you put a lens on it what ever the MM of the lens is what you truly get. I Wish i had a fullframe just so i could have a wider lens on it becuase my sigma 28-70 is like a 40somthing,


Did this help?.

[bob_r]

The full frame sensors will normally capture better image resolution than crop cameras because of the bigger sensors. They normally target a different market segment than the cropped sensor cameras. Many portrait and landscape photographers prefer the full frame cameras. The cropped sensor cameras have certain advantages too. They normally capture more frames per second so they work well for sports or wildlife and they also extend the capabilities of telephoto lenses because of their crop factors. This can save you a lot of money. A 400mm lens on a crop camera would give you the same image as a 640mm lens on a 5D. There's a huge price difference in a 400mm lens or one that exceeds 600mm.

[Edd]

Thanks Guys,

At least I have a little knowledge now if that question gets fired at me again.

Ed

[Bonish Photo]

Hey Edd, being one who has both bodies, it all depends what I'm shooting as to which body I grab for.

If I'm doing portrait work, or need the higher/tighter grain the 5D provides, then I grab for that one. Like someone else said, they're more for Portrait/Landscape work.

I always grab for the 30D if I'm shooting anything that is fast or I need more length added to my lens. The 30D will do 5 frames per second, and is slow compared to my older 1D that would shoot 8 frames per second. I carry both bodies when covering concerts or events, and keep a wide angle on the 5D and the 70-200 on the 30D. Last week while covering Toby Keith, I was getting pissed off because where I decided to stand in the photographers pit (right up against the stage) he stodd right in front of me the whole time.

When shooting concerts like this, the band managers only allow you to shoot the first 3 songs of the performance. So you basically shoot non-stop for those first 3 songs and try to get as many images as you can. The 5D isnt made for this type of shooting and would freeze up on me after filling the buffer on the card. I think it only will do 17 raw images at a time before it has to pause to write them to the compact flash card. Murphy's Law dictates that while the camera freezes up writing this images is when the pyrotechnics go off and the performer will do something cool that you just missed because you're sitting there waiting for the camera to catch up.

For the average person, this will normally never be a problem, but its something that is making me think I made a mistake by trying out the 5D instead of going with the 1D Mark IIN, which will go up to 10 frames per second, but isnt full frame. Now I've got myself in a pickle, because once you see your lenses in full frame, you never want to go back to cropped.

Another problem I've run into which was something that I never even thought of, was many of my wide angle lenses, a Sigma 17-35 that I used to like alot, now has major issues if used with the 5D. THe edges are always out of focus with this lens on the full frame sensor? My Canon 28-300mm 'L' lens also has major vignetting around the edges. This is something that sometimes can add to the picture, but many times I dont want it to be there and is one more thing I have to remember to watch out for.

So there is one side of having a full frame camera body. Do I like it? Yes I love it, but I hate the slow speed of the computer inside. I hear the new 5D Mark II has moved up on almost all of these numbers, but again, I cant just upgrade every time a new body comes out. So I'll deal with it and look for another used 30D to solve this problem.

Hope that answers some of you questions

[gldiana]

So I'll deal with it and look for another used 30D to solve this problem.

Get a 50D

[Edd]

Thanks for the explanation Pat !!!!

Its good to talk/write about these things then you learn more, at least I have a little more knowledge now.

Just changing the subject a little, what is an "L" type lense?, and also I have seen you mention "Vignetting" what is this??

Cheers

Ed

[bob_r]

Ed,

Wikipedia gives an explanation and shows samples of vignetting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vignetting

Canon uses "L" to designate their "Luxury" lenses. The "L"s are their top of the line models and offer superior glass and are often weather sealed.

[Bonish Photo]

Just changing the subject a little, what is an "L" type lense?,

Cheers

Ed

Any Canon lens with the coveted 'L' in it's signature means it's a PRO LENS. This is their premier line of lenses and has the best of the best motors, glass and features. But also means it usually adds a few zeros to the end of the price tag.

I'll warn you right now, once you buy one 'L' lens, you'll be ruined for life. So if you're happy with your current line of lenses, DO NOT go playing with the 'L' stuff. All I needed to do while assisting a pro I used to work for in Florida was snap a few images with one of his pro bodies that had an 'L' lens on it and I was changed forever. It was at that point that I set my goals to move up to his level of equipment.

I'll be the first to say that equipment wont make you a better photographer, but if you have a good eye and the camera gear is the limiting factor, then sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

I wasted so many pictures by not having fast cameras and faster focusing lenses that once I had one, I never looked back and my photography changed forever.

At the time, I was really into sports photography and my OLD Rebel wouldnt keep up with frames per second or be able to set an ISO speed fast enough to help me stop the action. I found a used Canon 1D that would do the 8 frames per second and go up to ISO 3200 and suddenly I could get photos in situations where before I would have to just sit and steam to myself I would be so frustrated.

To look at my photography with a 70-300 regular lens compared to the 70-200L f/2.8 USM IS was like looking at two different photographers work. We used to take pictures of events and show the photos on a slide show at our restaurant we owned. When I upgraded and bought the 'L' lens, people started to ask who was doing the photography, where before they wouldnt really comment on the photography at all. It really made that big of a differance.

Sorry for the rambling, but I'm a firm believer that if you're serious, spend the extra money and you'll be forever changed

[bob_r]

I'll be the first to say that equipment wont make you a better photographer, but if you have a good eye and the camera gear is the limiting factor, then sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

Pat,

I think better equipment will make you a better photographer. It may not make you a great photographer or even a good photographer, but it will make you better.

[Bonish Photo]

You say it better than I do Bob That's exactly what I meant but was having trouble saying it

[Edd]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the advice, and wow what a difference the "L" lenses make.

At some point I will be buying more lenses but after having the camera for only a few months I still would feel undecided about what type of lense I would need right now.

Cheers

Ed

[gldiana]

I think better equipment will make you a better photographer.

MY opinion:
I think better equipment gives you better photographs, but doesn't necessary make you a better photographer. If one doesn't how the slightest about framing or exposing, the most expensive L glass won't make you a better photographer... but it will make that underexposed badly framed photo sharper

[Bonish Photo]

Luca that made me laugh!! On another forum that I spend waaaayyyyy too much time, the pro's who frequent it are brutal with their critiques. There are times I'm nervous to post what I think are my best images on there because they pick apart anything and everything....things that I would never notice, but that's what makes me learn.

Some will post a photo and get a reply like this - "Just because you went out and spent a whole lot of money on your professional equipment, it doesnt mean you know what you're doing! How about you learn how to use it and post a picture that is in focus or lit properly!"

Some will tear a picture apart so bad, I'm sure the people never want to post again, but I like it because it's like taking a class that I would normally pay to have someone tear my images apart, and can do it in the comfort and seclusion of my own home/camper.

[gldiana]

Pat,
my comment was in very general terms, to no one in particular. I very much dislike people like those you mentioned because I don't think they make better photographers, they just make potential good photographers run away. Allow me to say it clearly, those are just A**holes with a huge ego who criticize (rather than critiquing) a photo and destroy it so that they can feel better about themselves. One of these people is L.K. on PopPhoto website, she has absolutely no clue about photography but she feels she's qualified to treat everybody like crap because she doesn't feel she likes the photos she herself picks for critiquing.