Do you need a full-frame sensor?

[Sonny]

Do you need a full-frame sensor? : Complete Digital Photography

[brad]

Honestly, looking at the 5D Classic vs even the recent 7D, I'd have to say the answer is still "yes, you need a full frame sensor." Or least I do.

If I were shooting more sports, I'd probably opt for the 7D... but comparing 7D and 5D2 side by side, there is no question that if I had to replace my camera tomorrow, I'd do everything in my power to make that camera be a 5D2 and not a 7D.

[Tom]

Like Brad alluded to, it totally depends what you are shooting.

If I am shooting portraits and weddings, the 5D classic is impossible to beat by any camera at a price point below $2000.

For sports, I'd stick with my 7D.

[srwatters]

What constitutes 'full' frame? 24x36mm? I personally prefer my 49.1 x 36.8mm size beast!

I will say though that when I switched from the 1.5x crop D200 to the full 24x36mm D3, another world seemed to open up. Therefore I would say yes.

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by srwatters

What constitutes 'full' frame? 24x36mm? I personally prefer my 49.1 x 36.8mm size beast!

I will say though that when I switched from the 1.5x crop D200 to the full 24x36mm D3, another world seemed to open up. Therefore I would say yes.

Scott, in your case, the "beast" is still cropped from the original 56x42mm of the original system. There is indeed a crop factor when compared to the frame size of the film system. So that 80mm Normal lens is going to actually be a slight bit telephoto on your Hassy digital.

Granted, when speaking of the medium format systems it becomes almost purely academic and it is the results that have always mattered.

With the smaller formats like the 35mm based systems, there is a small but more noticable difference that is sometimes even hard to put your finger on when looking at the differences between a aps-c and full 24x36 framed image.

[srwatters]

Ahh yes. The P45 is a 'crop' sensor from the standard 645 format. But a 1.1x crop ratio is a very small delta when compared to 1.5x (Nikon) or 1.6x (Canon).

I guess I need to pony up and buy a P65+

[johnastovall]

Yes or larger...

[billbunton]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Ahh yes. The P45 is a 'crop' sensor from the standard 645 format. But a 1.1x crop ratio is a very small delta when compared to 1.5x (Nikon) or 1.6x (Canon).

I guess I need to pony up and buy a P65+

I know what you mean, the P40+ is a 1.2x crop :-)

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by srwatters

I guess I need to pony up and buy a P65+

Yes you do. What are you waiting on? ;)

- Wil

[iCe]

I think so... I also think crop sensors have their place (like in sports shooting where 10fps is kind of handy)

[toverman]

Every camera crops the world in some way. :-)

I've got a classic 5D (35 mm "full frame"), a 1D Mark IIn (1.3x crop) and use a pair of 7Ds (1.6x crop) at work. All have things they do better than any of the others. I'd say that my good lenses work well on all, but they just seem to "sing" on the 5D as the fields of view matches the focal lengths. Don't like the autofocus system of the 5D in comparison, but there's always manual focus.

[venchka]

In today's world, full frame, a.k.a. the largest available, is 20 INCHES x 24 INCHES. Anything smaller is a crop of 20x24.

Go wide = all the sensor you can get.
Go long = smaller requires less cropping after the fact.
10fps doesn't HAVE to be limited to smaller sensors.

[reader0428]

I am having this internal debate right now. Hoping to upgrade my camera body in the next few months and wondering whether to go with the 7D or 5DMk II for portrait shooting. Price is a big factor so that tips the scale in favor of the 7D, but I don't want to buy the 7D just to realize I really need the 5DMkII a few months later. Thanks for posting the link.

[Tom]

If you are buying a camera for portraits get the 5d classic over the 7d every day of the week. For sports, I don't think there is a better value than the 7d.

[janetg]

i dont' think i could ever go back to a crop sensor.. i bought my first 5dm2 in 08 and bought another one in 09 as quickly as i could. and i've used mine for sports - works fine. it's all about timing.