Full Frame is it worth the switch???

[Lee Sacrey]

I just finished reading the April issue of Popular Photography. They make it seem that it may not be worth it. What does everyone think, switch or not?

[candleman]

what does full frame give you that you aren't getting right now?
~ what did the mag say that made you think it was worth it..

[RustySterling]

Tell that to my pro photog friends who have gone full frame. They love it. And while they still use their APS-C cameras they don't go anywhere without their full-frame. I look forward to the day I can get a full-frame digital.

[Lee Sacrey]

They didn't see a real big advantage and in some cases they even made it sound as if it would be better to stick with the APS-C DSLR. They also talked about the fact that APS-C may max out at 14 - 15 megapixels. I may need a Sony a700 after all.

[kencaleno]

Ok if the money you are going to make with it pays for it's existence, otherwise it's pointless,(expensive jewellery). regards, Ken

[Jim Bryant]

It depends on if you want to spend the extra money. You could always shoot a tag looser and crop. MY preference, I have a full frame EOS 1D MKII Ds, which in my opinion was worth the extra money. I only use this camera for commercial and landscape shoots.

[bearly]

so basically if you are going to use it commercially to make a profit, then yes. go for it. if it just for personal use, then its not worth it, unless you have a stack of extra cash lying around.

at least thats what i've gotten from everyone's replies

[LoveDSLR]

To some, FF is not an upgrade but that's what they really want in a DSLR (35mm flows in their blood). To others, they see the FF technical advantage.

If you have to ask this question, then FF is not in your mind set. Either you haven't outgrown the APS-C format or don't need one at all (money, ROI, personal reason etc.).

Similarly, many 35 mm SLR users never moved to medium or large format.

[Lee Sacrey]

Pop Photo did say at the end that FF DSLR is becoming like Medium Format was to 35mm users years ago. Thats a good point. I think some of the things they said where interesting like taking a shot with the Nikon D3 at 200 mm and crop to what would be 300 mm your picture would be about 5MP if you took that lens and mounted it to the D300 you would get a 300 mm equivalent picture at 12.3MP. That is what got me thinking. On the Sony a900 that same comparo would result in 10.5MP after crop to 12.24 on the Sony a700. I guess you would have to know exactly what to shoot as you wouldn't be able to crop with the same res on the APS-C cameras. So I would have to have a better eye for my shots.

[Usuqa]

full frame lets you use cheaper glass, but in doing so you also lose the main advantage full frame gives (shallower DoF, better light gathering ability).

Do you need full frame? not really.. unless you need a stop or two more in speed for low light shooting.. but do you even get that? i meen.. the DoF could even be to shallow and ud have to drop the aperture anyway.

I guess it all depends on what your shooting, both have there advantages and disadvantages.

If you need wide-angle... FF is the way to go (but mirror-less micro mounts could make really wide small lens for crop bodys). If you need really shallow DoF then again FF is the way to go..

For the crop bodys, you could have something like a K20D (14.6mp, captures amazing amount of detail) with a DA* 50-135 f2.8.
This combo gives you a focal length and DoF similar to a 70-200mm f4 (say L glass on canon) lens on full frame, will be MUCH cheaper combo and lighter to the image quality will also be of a similar standard and in some case's i read was actually better in studio situations (than even a 70-200 f2.8 L glass FF combo).

Ofc there are newer sensors out there now for FF, but the same also happens with Crop sensors to.. while 15mp will probably be the limit (i hope so, id rather better dynamic range/high iso) for crop body's so if you need more rez then FF would be the way to go.. but how big are you printing?? I guess you could use it to crop..

Anyway.. id like a FF.. hell id like a MF! but really... crop body's are pretty darn good and unless you really need FF for its advantages it not really an upgrade.. your more or less carrying bigger/heaver stuff to do what a crop body can do just as well.