FULL FRAME vs. CROP SENSOR - The LIE we BELIEVE

Ever wonder the difference between Crop Sensors and Full Frame Sensors in photography and which one is right for you? In this video, I break down the differences by putting them head to head through a set of challenges to see which one comes out on top.

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⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Meet the Players
0:21 The Lie we've been sold
0:49 The Difference between Full Frame and Crop Sensors
1:35 Challenge 1 - PORTABILITY
2:13 Challenge 2 - FEATURES
3:40 Challenge 3 - LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE
5:06 Challenge 4 - POV
8:50 Challenge 5 - AFFORDABILITY
9:42 The "REAL" Winner
10:12 Best Advise for Choosing

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DISCLAIMER: Some links in the video description are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support! All opinions are my own. Thanks for watching!

#beginnerphotography #photography #learnphotography

Music : Sakura Girl - Garden

[TaylorWillard]

What sized sensor are you currently shooting with and why?

[sherv.h]

The personality, the quality of the video and the information provided are extremely underrated. This was a great learning opportunity . Well done!

[GamingInfested]

use camera that isnpires you no matter what sensor, how many af points, fps etc

[jamesnathanhansen]

This is a great channel. Engaging, funny and creative.

Just start photography and its crazy how big the field is. I hope you keep the channel going.

I especially like how you don't only explain the concept and theory, but actually show it in real-time in a clear and cool way. Keep doing that.

[barfy]

I just watched your "ULTIMATE one light" video a day or two ago and thought it was so good I was disappointed to see you only had 3 videos and hadn't uploaded in months. You're back! Woo!

[tmyndy]

Just found your channel today and i can only complement you on the quality of your videos. Easy Sub. :)

[JETallacksen]

I was just asking myself, "What is the difference between full frame and crop sensor cameras" the other day! Thanks for the answer!

[Joseph-owvq]

Very creative and informative, thanks for the content.

[scrptwic]

I do a lot of wildlife photography as well as landscapes from hiking my cameras are ASP-C I have learned how to photograph within the cameras parameters and I don't miss full frame as I have not shot with a full frame camera since I sold my film cameras when i bought my first digital camera

[stormfalconstudios]

APS-C is also a film term. It was the Classic aspect ratio (2:3) on an Advanced Photo System (APS) camera.

[filipruzicka]

Very creative way how to teach someone. It is very original. I like it!

[halimrahman]

I am not sure if the maths is correct, full frame to aps-c. 50mm on full frame is equivalent to 75mm on aps-c. It should be multiplication instead of division. Not only it applies to the focal length, it has similar effect on the aperture.

The aperture effect is not too apparent on aps-c. But when you used smaller sensor for example 1 inch sensor in ZV-1 then f/4 is almost f/12 (i don't remember thr exact number but i guess it is around 2.8).

[ericlilly]

Very entertaining video ;) I have a couple full frame Nikons which I love for the reasons specified in this video, including an older D700 which takes gorgeous photos with a 12 mega pixel sensor. But for speed of use and getting the most out of my zoom lenses I enjoy the Z-50 crop sensor along with the ability to utilize all my old and vintage f mount lenses. The mirrorless sensor makes it even easier to shoot by seeing the final product before taking the shot. My other camera needs to be a crop sensor as my panoramic setup requires the use of an 8mm crop sensor lens. this allows me to balance the Canon 70d on it's pano head and shoot just 4 sets (90 degrees) of bracketed shots in a very efficient manner. So all in all, I would suggest getting the latest tech in a mirrorless APC and finding and older full frame to still save money over buying just the newest full frame offering.

[JasonZachFonseca]

This video is too good. Its sad that its got such low views on Youtube 🙄😐

[fredericeeckman]

Seeing that I'm cheap as hell, i started photography as a kinda "hobby, to see if I'll like it"... Started with a lumix G7 (still perfect for what I do), i also have an old Canon eos 550D (Rebel T2i in US I think, I love the crisp of the pictures. I also use an Olympus om-d e-m1 that i absolutely love to bits despite its age (its an mk1) and the flaws of the micro4/3. Although I'm more and more checking for an old full frame ! I also love to use vintage lenses, my favourite so far is a Sony sam 50mm, just lovely render 😍

[corykphotography]

I shoot a Nikon Z5 full frame camera AND an Olympus E-M1X Microfourthirds crop camera. Both are weather sealed, both have dual SD card slots, but as far as features go the Crop sensor MFT camera has a HUGE amount more. Honestly, though they are so different, these 2 cameras(Nikon and Olympus) pair beautifully. Also the E-M1X is extremely professional.

[outtathyme]

Low light performance becomes less of an issue if you put a shorter focal length on the crop (to equalize the field of view). Wider lenses need less light

[nathkanthi]

Film came in other formats apart from full frame 110, disc by kodak, 120 film, etc

[andrewelder]

Just found your channel, your videos are VERY well made, and lots of fun (tho maybe it would have been even funnier to have the BIG guy be the crop-sensor? :D)

I'm torn on this video. I'm a firm believer that crop-sensor is a GREAT place to start, and you can absolutely be a working professional with one (I did it for 6 years!). But it's not a "LIE" to acknowledge that full-frame is better technology across the board, and is necessary to go to the next level as a pro, in ANY field. (If you tried to tell the pro shooters on the sidelines at NFL or NBA games that crop-sensor was "better" for sports as you do at the end, you'd get laughed off the field, and for good reason.) Also, low price and small size are NOT 'features', they're natural aspectrs of lower-quality equipment, in any area. You could compare a Honda Fit to a Ferrari, and point out the Honda is less expensive and fits more easily in your garage, but those aren't reasons it's BETTER than or even remotely comparable to a Ferrari; they're just the consolation prize benefits of having a cheaper, lower-quality car.

The comparison that matters most is the "POV" section. It's NOT a tie, and you point out all the reasons why yourself, but still leave in the misconceptions like 'longer reach' and 'magnification', which are the real lies crop-sensor enthusiasts tell themselves. Crop-sensors as you pointed out literally CROP IN on the lens' actual field of view. You're not getting some magical zoom effect. First, you can get the same result on full-frame just by turning on the 1.6x crop factor (theoretically a lower-quality image since a crop-sensor camera uses the full MP of the sensor, but it's negligible) or just applying a crop in post. But you are NOT getting any of the benefits of a longer lens by using a crop-sensor camera. Example: if you're shooting with a 50mm lens on crop-sensor, while you get the equivalent VIEW of an 80mm full-frame lens, it's still with the same LOOK (compression and bokeh) as that original 50mm. Full-frame gives you the TRUE focal length, with all of the benefits of longer lenses, without having to do any math to figure out what you're REALLY getting. So there is no application where crop-sensor is better, you're always going to get lower quality and compromised images. It's just that it's EASIER to get a tighter field of view with cheaper (shorter) lenses on a crop-sensor body. And that's okay, but it's all making the point that this is STARTER level gear.

All this is why a lot of pros get hung on this topic. There's a ceiling of quality when using a crop-sensor that isn't deniable. Just like there's a ceiling driving in a Honda Fit. Using a crop-sensor with an 85mm prime is a great way to shoot sports or wildlife, as a hobby or for local, non-discerning clients But the result will simply NOT be as good as with a full-frame and a 135mm prime, even tho they have the same effective field of view. It's why real sports pros spend $9, 000 or more on 300mm or 600mm lenses, instead of just slapping a 70-200 on a crop-sensor. Yes, most clients won't notice, but if you're trying to get into the upper reaches of photography opportunities they WILL, and you'll be competing with those who've made that investment. So start with crop-sensor, save some money up front, learn the fundamentals, and start your business. But full-frame is always the end goal if you really want to join the race!

[hup]

Portability: Today it is the same lie that FF cameras are bigger than APSC cameras, as it is that FF sensors are always better than APSC. For example, the Z5 is smaller (and lighter) than many APSC cameras on the market. While it is true that FF lenses are heavier on average, this is not always the case. There are a lot of lightweight FF lenses out there. If you want to travel light, APSC vs. FF does not make a real difference in dimensions and weight, you would have to go at least 4/3 or smaller for a noticable difference or even just use your smartphone, which has amazing image quality for the small sensors it uses.
So - for a true comparison, the only thing that really stands is, that the FoV of a FF camera is by definition wider than that of a cropped APSC sensor, hence the name crop (but that does not mean that APSC has "more focal length", which is a silly myth in itself - you actually show this FoV crop effect, but then still state that the crop gives you more reach/magnification, which is simply not true - it is just a crop, nothing else - less picture that FF, not more reach, how ever you spin it. Take the FF picture, crop it in post by 1:1.5, and you will have the same "magnification").

And there is another problem with your recommendation to start with APSC: It makes much more sense to use FF lenses on APSC cameras than the other way around. So if you start a big and expensive collection of APSC lenses, then they will not be of much use to you if you switch to FF - you can not take advantage of your FF Sensor with them, often it is worse than just using them on an APSC camera. You will have to spend all that money again, to rebuild your lens collection for FF. The other way around it is not a real problem - you can use any FF lens on an APSC body (of a compatible brand / mount) without any quality loss (you will even crop out any vignette the lens shows on FF). So, even as a newbe - be aware if you want to stick with APSC forever (and you might change your mind later...). Even starting with an APSC camera I would recommend you to get FF lenses for the ones you really deem essential to your photography. Of course you can always sell used APSC lenses - but they lose heavy in value (more than a classic / quality FF lense will).

So as much as you want to spread the truth in this vlog, you are really spreading and repeating also a lot of outdated misinformation - this video is a very mixed bag of infos, not all wrong, but also not all true or really helpful for new photographers.