I wanted to ask your opinion about "full frame" vs "apsc" issue.... To narrow down this broad topic I want to share with you my subjective experience with Canon 5D mk 1 I have been using for about 4 months now. My previous digital SLRs were Olympus Е510 and Canon 550D - both APCS cameras...
Here are the advantages I found in Canon 5d over my other cameras:
1) Good colors and skin tones out of the box (I shout only RAW). Strangely enough the output is very different from a younger Canon 550D.
2) Better dynamic range (this is a personal feeling I did not do a side by side comparison)
3) Bigger and brighter viewfinder (this is a huge bonus)
4) The camera feels better in my hands (this is also a subjective quality of course)
5) Native translation to the focus distance numbers on the lenses
6) A very large market of lenses, especially used lenses; I believe that the full frame cameras have a significantly larger number of good quality lenses designed specifically for this format. This situation is changing but in case of Canon - not fast enough. For instance the image below was made with a very old and quite cheap fixed 28 mm f/2.8 lens.... There is currently no suitable alternative in APSC Canon park that I am aware of.
7) Minimum ISO is 50.
8) Better layout of the controls (subjective)
9) A different prospective.... The world just looks differently through a viewfinder of a full frame camera.
Cons:
1) my camera is old. It has been refurbished a while ago, so it may still go for a long time but many of its features are outdated
2) Tiny and not very good LCD
3) No shooting using LCD is available
4) No automatic sensor cleaning
5) No video (not a concern for me though)
6) Resolution is lower than it was in Canon 550D (12.8 mp vs 16 mp)
7) Maximum ISO is 3200.
8) No in body stabilization (Olympus had one)
9) Self timer allows only 10 seconds interval
10) Weight and size (not my problem either but some people may find a full frame camera too heavy)
This is my personal take on these cameras comparison. I really like how the bigger pixels allow absorbing more light (more details!) and hate the LCD .... Of course, other people may find other features more important then I do - it depends on how the camera is used. For instance I almost never use the built in flash but admit that there were situations when I would like to have some supplemental lighting.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments?
Regards,
MM
I think what you state here, is mostly applicable to any brand of camera, that has more than one size sensor. Neither is perfect, and each offers uniqueness. One should choose which features, mean the most before deciding.
ReplyDeleteOne thing though that may give more difference than you suspect, is simply the age of the camera.
Camera manufacturers are always improving all of their cameras. What was fantastic ten years ago, is not at all exciting now. So, to really make an evaluation between formats, you really should do so from the same few years, of production of both cameras.
Otherwise, the older will always have less superior features.
Also, if someone is still, or at least occasionally is shooting Film, that can become a major influence. :-)
Oshi Shikigami that's true but not entirely. First of all, a brand new full frame camera would cost an arm and a leg... So, many photography enthusiasts don't even get to try these while an older "professional" camera designed to last may be significantly less expensive. I purchased my 5d for 300 CAD, wich is about 240 USD. Second: camera manufactures may upgrade features that are not important to a specific photographer while leaving the crucial ones the same. For instance, if WIFI connectivity and GPS are not important to you, why should you pay for these features? it happened more than once before when an older model camera produced pictures superior to several models after it.... I have got to admit that it happens more to the enthusiasts sector of the market where manufacturers are frequently driven by factors different from professional photography equipment.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link thijs gerhardus... This opinion sort of reiterates my own - I think. The camera is totally usable up to this day with some the "shortcomings" that may or may not bother a specific photographer. I find the controls very intuitive and their layout good and the colors are fantastic. My camera's sensor was very dirty and I
ReplyDeletehad to clone out lots of artifacts during my first months with the camera. Then I bought a manual clean kit and cleaned the sensor and it improved the results quite a bit.