[DavidSKAF3]

So, in a nutshell, or in as an exact manner as possible, what are the true pros (and cons?) of using a DSLR with a Full Frame sensor?

And, can too many pixels be packed even into a Full Frame sensor, marring its performance?

Thanks.

[grispie]

maybe silly, but one of the advantages that came to my mind with a FF with crop mode is, when having two prime lenses, actually means four focals..

[max_pyne]

Pro:
- using the lenses for what they have been designed for.. no more multiplying with the crop factor.... unless as grispie already mentioned for a very good reason...:-)
- higher resolution
- even better high ISO
- more to crop the files in post
- shallower depth of field

Cons:
- heavier & bulkier lenses
- bigger SD cards required
- bigger files to work with

[LaHo]

Pro:
- using the lenses for what they have been designed for.. no more multiplying with the crop factor.... unless as grispie already mentioned for a very good reason...:-)
- higher resolution
- even better high ISO
- more to crop the files in post
- shallower depth of field

Cons:
- heavier & bulkier lenses
- bigger SD cards required
- bigger files to work with

True - and another big "Con":
- more expensive camera body and in many cases more expensive lenses

[hoopsontoast]

You get to use the FA43 as originally intended.

Just picked one up to use on an MZ-S and the FOV is actually, perfect.

[kiwi_jono]

Pro:
- using the lenses for what they have been designed for.. no more multiplying with the crop factor.... unless as grispie already mentioned for a very good reason...:-)
- higher resolution
- even better high ISO
- more to crop the files in post
- shallower depth of field

Cons:
- heavier & bulkier lenses
- bigger SD cards required
- bigger files to work with

Mostly there. Obviously the better high ISO and higher resolution are a trade off between each other - depends on the resolution of the sensor they go for. Personally I would prefer not too high a resolution but better higher ISO but it depends entirely on what sort of shooting you do.

The biggest CON though is More Expensive.

[bossa]

True - and another big "Con":
- more expensive camera body and in many cases more expensive lenses

Do you you think trains and busses are a con because you own a car?

[marosari00]

This article sums it up...
Mark David | APS-C vs full frame

[aurele]

You can add :

Pros :

- Size of the View Finder (one of the most important thing for me)

---------- Post added 12th Feb 2015 at 11:46 AM ----------

Cons:
- heavier & bulkier lenses

So far, the APS-C equivalent to most FF lens are around the same size.

[kiwi_jono]

You can add :
Pros :
- Size of the View Finder (one of the most important thing for me)
---------- Post added 12th Feb 2015 at 11:46 AM ----------

So far, the APS-C equivalent to most FF lens are around the same size.

Very good point - I would love to have a bigger view finder. Love the one on my ME Super.

[Rondec]

I think the biggest things that people like about full frame are:

(1) less depth of field at similar aperture/angle of view compared to APS-C
(2) bigger viewfinder
(3) ability to print/view on larger media sizes.
(4) often have higher specifications compared to APS-C cameras (this isn't always true -- a 7D Mk II has better specs than a 6D).
(5) have better high iso (this assumes you can live with less depth of field -- shooting at same depth of field as crop camera will give you equivalent high iso performance)

The cons are probably pretty obvious:

(1) more expensive gear.
(2) larger image files require more processing power and storage available.
(3) these cameras often have slower frame rates and buffers fill quicker than with APS-C due to the larger image files.
(4) extreme telephoto is more expensive on full frame.

The whole high iso thing is a bit of a red herring. It does assume that you will shoot with a faster lens on full frame than is available on crop camera. If you need a certain depth of field for your image and have to stop down to get it on full frame compared to APS-C the high iso benefit will go away.

I don't really get the whole "shooting my focal lengths the way God intended them to be shot." I'm pretty used to crop cameras and how the focal lengths function there. I've shot my FA limiteds and DA *55 on film and it isn't revelatory though. They're OK. Borders are a little weaker wide open. A little more vignetting. But it isn't like I'm shooting two different lenses. Anyway, a lot of folks own DA lenses. If you have have a DA 35 limited or a DA 15/21 limited there is no benefit to shooting it on full frame. You just get an APS-C or H crop based on the image circle the lens produces.

In the end, I think the biggest pro for full frame is simple: want. I want it just to try to try it and shoot with it and I'm sure I'll like it. The biggest pro for APS-C is: good enough. That is to say, for most folks, APS-C cameras are good enough for the purposes for which they are being applied and there isn't a true need for a larger sensored camera. A K30 or K50 give a very high level of performance for a very sweet price. If someone is just a hobbyist and doesn't have a bunch of money burning a hole in their pocket, then APS-C is probably the way to go.

[LaHo]

Do you you think trains and busses are a con because you own a car?

Absolutely. When I own a car, I don't need trains or busses

[Sandy Hancock]

Pros:
My wide angle lenses will be wider.
My fast normals will allow shallower DoF if desired.
135mm will be a portrait lens again.
A huge, bright viewfinder has to be better.
A bigger body will suit my blokey mitts better.
There will always be APS-C for telephoto and macro.

Cons? None for me. I expect to pay more for the body. I already have the lenses I want; they are compact and won't cost me anything to get a new angle of view from each of them.

[Adam]

So, in a nutshell, or in as an exact manner as possible, what are the true pros (and cons?) of using a DSLR with a Full Frame sensor?

And, can too many pixels be packed even into a Full Frame sensor, marring its performance?

Thanks.

The single biggest advantage is image quality, which is what larger formats are all about. Disadvantages include larger lenses and higher pricing.

[blende8]

Pro:
- higher resolution

No.
So far we have lower resolution.
Even the A7r with 36 MP has a lower resolution than the K3.