Why I Don't Shoot Full Frame

I have been asked quite a number of times why I use Olympus Micro Four Thirds system knowing that full frame cameras that have larger image sensor should give better performance. I have answered these more than I like to count, and now that Olympus is being sold to JIP, the questions come at even higher alarming rate. I decided to make this video to address the question head on - I think Olympus is more than sufficient for my professional and personal photography needs, I appreciate the lower cost of the complete system for what I need to shoot as well as more manageable size and especially weight - something I must consider for my own health in a long run. I am speaking for myself - these are MY reasons why I don't shoot full frame.
0:00 Intro
0:10 Disclaimers
1:20 Why I Am Doing This Video
2:20 Reason 1 - COST
3:43 Reason 2 - DEPTH OF FIELD
5:10 Reason 3 - SUFFICIENCY
7:32 Reason 4 - SIZE & WEIGHT
9:49 Conclusion/END

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[princethethrone]

spot on!!!... i think people get WAY TOO caught up with specs, and most of them dont even know how to shoot .

[jamesmlodynia]

I just photographed my grand daughter's pre K graduation, I have access to full frame, APSC and 4/3 cameras and glass. The event was outside, on a slightly clowedy day, I chose a Olympus OMD EM1 MKIII, for the lens I used the Olympus 40-150 f2.8 and the 17mm f1.2. I wanted to use a compact set up that did not get in the way of the people around me. With the 40-150 I was able to stand behind the seated guests and take photos of all the kids who graduated and at 150mm get isolation photos of our granddaughter, the photos came out great, after I took some family photos with the 17mm f1.2. it was the perfect setup for the photos I took on that day.

[shermanhenzel]

I started with 510, moved to the E3 and then the E5, Thought about switching to FF when Olympus went M43. Glad I didn't. The OMD EM1 cameras are enjoyable to shoot with. For my photography (travel, landscapes, birds, wildlife), I have been more that satisfied with the the IQ. I recently got the OMD EM1 MK iii and the 100-400mm lens. It is an amazing combination for bird and wildlife photography. I hike a local nature/wildlife park near my home daily averaging between 5 to 8 miles per hike. Carrying the Mark iii and 100-400mm lens, shooting hand held, puts no strain on my body and I am 73 years old.

[FuzzWoof]

I've shot M43, APS-C and full frame for work and pleasure - it took me a long time (too long!) to realise that the sensor size really makes zero difference in 95% of situations as long as you have the glass to suit and adjust your shooting style accordingly. Now I just shoot whichever system feels most comfortable to use, has good features, has good weatherproofing and has excellent lenses available, and right now the best combination of those things for me is Olympus. Not saying I don't miss Nikon FF when things get really dark though, ha!

[carlosenriquez]

I use crop and full frame cameras and I love them both.

[Dahrenhorst]

My number one reason for not investing in full frame is your number four, size & weight. I'd like to mention, that with the 50 and 80 MP high resolution mode of some Olympus cameras you can get into high resolution photography with Olympus as well, especially in product photography.

[mikewalker]

Another measured and unbiased video Robin. I am just so pleased I made the switch to Olympus after 35 years using SLR Film and Digital FF Canon cameras. I LIKED my Canon gear, but always thought it lacked features. I LOVE my Olympus gear and having now tried most features the bodies offer, I enjoy my photography so much more. I have become infinitely more creative and do not miss those extra pixels. Weight, glass quality, equipment cost and data storage costs are all factors that have turned me into a fully fledged " Olympus fanboy". Great and listenable content as ever, stay safe.

[gilbertwalker]

Gracias Robin for a very thoughtful and clear video explaining your reasons for not shooting full frame! I appreciate your respectful stance towards those photographers who do choose to use full frame or APSC systems. We are all photographers and there's no need to bash anyone for their choice of systems and gear. We're all in this together! I'm reminded of Pope Francis' new encyclical on social friendship and respecting differences: "Tutti Fratelli" Brothers and Sisters All. Thanks again!

[jean-yvesjegou]

Thanks Robin for this video. The main reason for me is size and weight. I switched to M43 because I once realized that my camera bag was almost always inside the house. Another reason is the fun to use ! I’ve never made so much photos since I moved to M43

[veronikagundersen]

Micro 4/3 results are often amazingly good, and definitely good enough for most uses. Each camera has its limitations and strengths, you can leverage them or work around them.

Depth of field on FF is not always an advantage, in fact it can be a hindrance. Fast glass is so shallow on FF that you can easily miss focus. Plus, nobody really shoots at 1.2 or 1.4 on FF anyway that often.

Also the depth of field difference can actually level the playing field sometimes. Say you’re shooting indoors with a FF camera, shooting wide open at 2.8, and you’re set to ISO 3200, but your depth of field is insufficient. So you need to stop down 2 stops for more depth of field. You can’t decrease the shutter speed anymore because of motion blur, so you increase the ISO 2 stops. So, now you’re shooting at ISO 12800. If you were shooting this on Micro 4/3, with its greater depth of field, you could have kept it at ISO 3200 because the depth of field would have been sufficient. Is full frame that much better at ISO 12800 than Micro 4/3 is at ISO 3200? Not really.

Full frame actually can be better in bright light outdoors if you want that shallow depth of field, though. It may be so bright outside that shooting Micro 4/3, base ISO 200, at 1.2 or 1.4 will cause your shutter speed to go over the max shutter speed of the camera, so you’d need an ND filter. Full frame can go to ISO 100 or 64 natively, so that will lower the shutter speeds as well.

Where full frame sensors shine is their dynamic range... It’s much easier to pull up noise-free shadows in post, recover highlights, things like that. That’s not in question. You pay a really big weight penalty for this, though.. which is the main reason I’m investing more into Micro 4/3.

Plus, Micro 4/3 has a very film-like feel to its images sometimes, which I do like.

[yukonchris]

I agree with pretty much everything you said in this video. I especially agree with your comments about not understanding why some photographers would want a manufacturer to fail. I shoot with both Canon and Olympus, but I enjoy looking at new products from all the brands. When one manufacturer develops a new product, or idea, it just stimulates a push from others to do something similar or better. The result is that all photographers win.

Your cost concerns are also very apropos. I have some excellent Olympus glass. It wasn't cheap and it took some years to acquire it all, but in the end it was doable. Comparative lenses for my Canon full frame camera as so expensive that I don't ever see myself buying them. Instead, I make compromises. The same is true on the size/weight front. When I take the Canon out for long hikes, I wear a backpack and generally limit myself to two lenses. With my E-M1, I can carry lenses covering a much wider focal range with similar, or even less of a weight penalty.

So, Olympus has many excellent features and attributes to recommend it, including the ability to produce superb images. It's a shame that more photographers didn't stop to think about how that could help them, instead of just bashing the system. More choice is almost always a better option.

Thank you for the great video.

[martinh]

Fully agree Robin. And thanks for your very watchable, engaging and informative videos.

[JKWheeler]

Thank you Robin! I’ve been contemplating a switch to full frame myself and couldn’t agree with you more. You did miss one of my top six reasons - raw image file size. Bigger files from full frame mean slower processing times, slower file transfer times, and more storage requirements. All equate to more time and more money. For the type of photography I do, I feel the M4/3 images represent the best compromises in terms of quality and size.

[jackjstrange]

So well-thought-out, so rational, without ever losing the sense that you love your craft! Thank you!

[trevtog]

My body is very happy i switched to Olympus 😊. I don't miss my full frame cameras especially when I am shooting all day long. I also enjoy the shocked look when a photographer asks what I shot a photo with and tell them it was a MFT camera.

[s.m.s.m.]

I love my OMD I Mkii, Oly 25 mm f1.2 + 45 mm f1.2 - both absolutely amazing lenses, stunning rendering and picture quality. 40-150 f2.8 is really good as well. Add a teleconverter to it and you'll get up to 600 full frame equivalent that you can easily use without a tripod. Right now it is the best system for travel. Unfortunately we don't travel so much these days, but even if you do a small local trip you'll appreciate the weight of it.

Every Olympus lens that I've ever used or tried was fun to use and delivered at least good quality pictures as well. There are plenty of really great lenses for the MFT, e.g. from Panasonic (I have Panasonic Leica 8-18 mm f2.8-f4 and I love it).

Pictures are consumed digitally 99% of the time, on a smartphone screen with some fingerprints on it, in less than ideal light conditions. This pictures were heavily compressed as well (instagram, Facebook - you name it). I don't even take photoshop and filters into account. All the talking about quality is more about bragging than about real life.

[VictorReynolds]

I'm with you all the way Robin! I've used my Olympus E-PL6 for over four years and love it. As a fine art and street photographer, the Micro 4/3 is more than enough for my needs. Like others have stated, I too considered FF, however it wouldn't be cost effective.

Plus when I'm traveling, the gear I use is easy on my back! Thanks for sharing another great video!

[speterlewis]

Been a professional Pentax photographer for 35 years. Work now just with APS-C bodies. Clients are always happy.

[evansph]

Great and valid points Robin. I've jumped around different systems and formats over the past 8 yrs and in the last 2 yrs settled on M4/3 specifically Olympus. I've recently come back from Scotland where I could walk around the countryside taking photos of Sea and Golden eagles handheld with an equivalent of 840mm f5.6 (300mm F4 + 1.4TC). All my equipment in an over the shoulder Billingham bag too! No other system has allowed me to do this and the weatherproofing is unrivalled. In essence buy the system that most suits your needs and for me that's Olympus and M4/3

[horatioh]

Hey Robin, absolutly agree with you. I use the OM-D 10 ii and the OM-D 1 iii. Totaly happy! In the coming days i will buy the Leica Q2. Not because of the full frame - just because it‘s a awesome gear to hold in hands😇