Originally posted by eigelb ..
-Higher DR
..
While I don't want to buy into the FF wars, this is actually a mis-conception. Most FF camera's in fact don't have a superior dynamic range to most APS-C cameras.
For example the K-x (just as an example) has a dynamic range of 12.5 EV, but on FF the Nikon D700 has a DR of 12.2 EV and the Canon 5D2 has a DR of 11.9EV, according to DXO. So measured at for example 200 ISO, the K-x's DR exceeds that of the D700 and 5D2. Ditto perhaps for 800 ISO.
What FF boxes - eg like the D700 or 5D2 - do have, however, is a superior ability to
hold onto a usable range of DR as you move up the ISO scale. So while they may not have a higher DR at base ISO, they can hold onto their DR better.
As you go past 800 ISO (811 to be exact, according to DXO), the K-x's ability to hold onto a decent level of DR (9 EV is what DXO uses to define decent DR) starts to decline. However the FF 5D2 it can still hold onto 9EV of DR up until 1815 ISO, and then the decline sets in. The D700 can hold onto 9EV up until about 2300 ISO, then it starts to lose DR.
So this can give the impression that FF gives you a higher dynamic range than APS-C or other sensor sizes, but that is not the case. FF may
expand the ISO range at which you have access to your full DR, but it doesn't expand your DR per se. Landscape shooters may want to take note of this.