Full Frame Question

[jwmrks]

I was wondering if those of you with full frame cameras wish you took the plunge sooner.

I'm thinking about getting some landscaping done and am planning on setting up my backyard kind of like an outdoor studio. That got me thinking that if I cut back a bit on what I was planning on doing (or doing more of it myself) I could probably swing a full frame body and maybe one good lens. (Budget of $2k-$3k so I'm not sure I could go new, but hope I could find a decent deal on used equipment.) Right now I have a T1i and I know I'm not making full use of it. I know the theory behind everything so complicated doesn't scare me, that's part of the reason I went DSLR in the first place. I'm just wondering if I'll regret spending that much cash on a high-end full frame camera that may not get me more in the way of quality as I'm the weak link, or if I'd be happy I took the plunge now while I have a bit of extra cash I could re-allocate.

RIght now I am just an amateur and have no real plans to do paid work so know I don't need the best equipment, but do appreciate having top notch quality when I can.

Thoughts?

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by jwmrks

Right now I have a T1i and I know I'm not making full use of it.

This stuck out to me...learn your T1i inside out and backwards. Once you've outgrown it, then think about upgrading to FF. A better camera won't give you better images unless you know how to use it.

My .02, anyway. Let us know what you decide to do.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by susanh1970

a better camera won't give you better images unless you know how to use it.

+1000000000

[NicoleScraps]

Yep, what they said. I have a t1i and I know for a fact that the camera is capable of producing some really good stuff, if you know how to use it. I'll upgrade ONLY when I feel like my current camera is holding me back....or when it dies.

[jwmrks]

Thanks for the replies. I was kind of thinking along those lines myself (of doing more with what I have for now), however, I recall how glad I was when I opted to stretch my budget when I got the T1i. I didn't really have complaints against my old Olympia P&S, but after seeing the difference I was sorry I didn't chunk out the money sooner. It seems that some folks do think full frame is a huge step up so I was curious about how many felt that way when moving to it. I'm just not sure of the next time I'll have this kind of cash handy so didn't know if I should take advantage of it. Thanks again.

[SusanH1970]

Why don't you just put the money into an account where you won't be tempted to withdraw it, and save it for when you think you're ready for FF?

[Tzetsin]

Ok, i have a full frame and a crop and I'll tell you my experience with them.

buying a full frame camera is definetly NOT worth the price premium. That said, DONT EVER PICK UP OR USE A FULL FRAME CAMERA. you'll forever find your current camera inadequate. Its not worth the money... but damn is it nice.

Full frame isnt the be all end of of the camera world either though, it really depends more on the feature set you want. Full frame doesnt even mean a "professional" camera either as the 1dmk4 is a crop sensor and its very much so a professional camera.

lets take for example, you want to shoot your kids running around in the park. the full frame 5dmk2 sucks donkey butt for this because the autofocus system is ancient, but the cheaper 7D would rock your world because the autofocus system is state of the art..

lets say you wanted to take video of your kids, the 60D would be much better to use than either the 5dmk2 or the 7D. Both can take video, but the 60D has an articulating screen that allows you much better high/low angle access.

Now lets say that you wanted to take pictures of a car race, speed is the key here, the ff 5dmk2 has a really crappy frame rate of 3.5 fps, the 7D is much much faster, couple that with the 5d's ancient autofocus system and you have a recipe for disaster in this situation. the 7D would blow the much more expensive and full frame 5dmk2 out of the water in a very big and very noticable way.

Now lets say that you wanted to take some hi quality pictures in a very low light location. Any camera under the 5Dmk2 is going to suck donkey nuts at high ISO. Also, with full frame, your bokeh is going to be much nicer. Lets say you want to do some tight interior arcitecture work, Full frame all the way, good luck getting less than 24mm on a crop sensor, same goes for sprawling landscapes.

Notice that you are very likely to want to shoot in EVERY one of those situations yourself. This is the problem, there is no magic camera that can do it all yet (at least not one thats even remotely affordable), your just going to have to find the one that does the most for you.

[jwmrks]

Oops. Typo there. I had an Olympus, not Olympia. I do know more about camera's than that. If I'm talking about an Olympia camera I'm afraid I'm giving off the impression I'll be the guy walking around with a 5DmkII, a $50 plastic lens and the thing in auto mode. Really, I do know what I'm doing (mostly). I do fine with the semi-automated modes, but don't always get things quite right when I flip to full manual. I think it because I try too hard to avoid the flash and think I can 'fix' that by going to manual. Controlled lighting is my weak point. That's part of the reason I want to try to setup a studio like area to play around in.

[sk66]

In many ways I wish I had not gone to full frame.
I do a lot of wildlife/birds/sports and the crop factor really helps there...
I just wish they made a crop sensor D3.

[Tzetsin]

Originally Posted by sk66

In many ways I wish I had not gone to full frame.
I do a lot of wildlife/birds/sports and the crop factor really helps there...
I just wish they made a crop sensor D3.

Rest easy my friend, the crop sensor doesnt "actually" zoom any better or worse than the full frame sensor. if you have a FF and a crop, and put your tripod in one spot, zoom as far out as you can, take the pic, switch bodies from a FF to a crop, take the same picture in the same spot, put both pictures on the computer, zoom to 100% and both pictures will be exactly the same zoom. you gain nothing with a crop sensor, but you will most definately LOSE at the wide end.