Full Frame Good

Since the Canon 5D and Nikon’s D700, we have a growing number of full frame cameras coming on the scene.

Until recently if you wanted small and a mirrorless option then there was only the Leica M9 and the recent M.

Now we have Sony with their A7 and A7R, true full frame mirrorless options. Before that Sony even released a full frame compact the RX1.

It would seem everyone wants full frame now and it does have a number of advantages.

First it’s traditional and the original small format invented my Leica. When we say a 35mm lens with that field of view we all know what we mean. Even now when you use a 24mm on a DX camera they are often marked as 35mm as it has the same field of view on a DX camera.

It allows one to separate foreground from the background by using narrow depth of field.

Lastly there are image quality advantages to 35mm full frame. The large sensors allow for larger sensor pits allowing more photons to be collected improving sensor signal to noise ratios, as demonstrated by the stunning Nikon D3 when it was released.

So Full Frame Good and DX, MicroFourThirds, CX Bad?

One Reply to “Full Frame Good”

  1. Full Frame Good and DX, MicroFourThirds, CX Bad? – visions of George Orwell’s Animal Farm not withstanding is a minefield when it comes to opinions never mind the facts.

    The simple thing is that for most people (and the majority of photographers) it doesn’t really matter any more and if you never used a 35mm (or larger) film camera probably never experienced “full-frame” anyway.

    Chris

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