What is a full frame camera?

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justin1

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Hi all,

Currently I have a Canon 30D (I love it!!!) its my first DSLR and I'm really loving photography!

I've just finished reading a review of the new Canon 5D Mk2 (not that i can afford one!) and I realise that stepping up to this level of camera means that it is a "Full Frame Camera".

So my question is...... What is a full frame camera? Does it mean that what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what is taken? or is it something else?:thinking:

Thanks all.
 
Full frame refers to the size of the sensor. Full frame cameras have larger sensors, equivalent to the size of 35mm film.

Cameras that are not full frame are 'cropped' as the sensor is smaller. Full frame gives better detail, better shots in low light and wider images.

Currently the only full frame bodies by Canon are the 5D and 1Ds. Nikon have the D700 and D3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full-frame_digital_SLR
 
No it doesn't mean that. Most DSLR cameras show more or less what the camera is seeing.
Full frame is about the size of the sensor, your 30d has whats called a "crop" sensor, in other words it's smaller than the 35mm film sensor, a full frame camera like the 5d has a sensor similar_ish to the 35mm sensor and is classed as full frame (as is the Nikon D3-D700 D3x) Wayne

EDIT shutters just beat me to it.
 
A full frame camera (in this sense) is a DSLR with an imaging sensor the same size as a 35mm film frame - 36mm wide x 24mm high. Your 30D is what is called an APS 'C' sensored camera and the imaging sensor is 22.7 x 15.1 mm.

I started typing a long explaination but soon realised that it assumed knowlege you may not have (although, of course, you may have it!) but I reckon http://digital-photography-school.com/crop-factor-explained and http://digital-photography-school.com/full-frame-sensor-vs-crop-sensor-which-is-right-for-you will put it in far better words than mine!

Hope that helps.
 
The bit that often confuses people is the 35mm reference when talking about 'full frame 35mm'.

It has nothing to do with lenses! 35mm is just the full width of the film, including the sprocket holes.

Richard.
 
8utters said:
Currently the only full frame bodies by Canon are the 5D and 1Ds. Nikon have the D700 and D3.
Click to expand...

A more complete list ;)
Canon 5D Mark I+II
Canon 1Ds Mark I,II and III
Nikon D700
Nikon D3
Nikon D3x
Sony A900

Have I missed any out?

Not that I'll ever buy any of them. :(;):lol:
 
The APS "C" sensor gives a crop factor of 1.6 on your 30D.If you are using a classic 18-55 kit lens, which means it will give an equivalent field of view of a 28-85mm lens on a 5D.Your viewfinder allows for the crop effect so that you dont chop out heads and feet etc.
Pete.
 
Wow, Thanks guys!!! Great response, and thanks Nod, I'm just about to start reading, DPS looks like a great website!

So, in people's honest opinion, do you gain much from having a full frame?
 
justin1 said:
So, in people's honest opinion, do you gain much from having a full frame?
Click to expand...

No. I recently reviewed my kit, and was even prepared to jump from Canon crop to Nikon full frame, but it was just not worth it for me, and I respectfully suggest that those non-professionals who do change, do it more because they just want the biggest and best, rather than actually need it (not that there's anyhting wrong with that at all). I do not expect everyone to agree with me, but that is my honest conclusion, so I bought a new car instead :D

The usual argument for full frame is that image quality is even better. In theory, yes, but unless you always print huge, and look at your prints with a magnifying glass, you are never going to realise it. Also, very few lenses can deliver the resoltion that the best new sensors demand so it's often a futile pursuit anyway.

The only thing that made me stop and think was the Nikon D3 and D700 cameras, which do not have more pixels, but they have bigger, better pixels for improved dynamic range and astonishing low light capability. They also have lightning fast AF systems and tremendous high speed burst capability. Some professionals really need that.

But I left them alone, confident that this capability will filter down to crop format cameras in two or three years and meanwhile, I am not prepared to hump all that big, heavy and meg-expensive clobber around.

I hope this might have saved you some money ;)

Richard.
 
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