Why is a full-frame camera so prized among professionals? Full Frame Cameras - Pros and Cons Full Frame DSLR

As a rule, people come to a full frame consciously, after many years of practice and passion for photography. They choose Nikon or Canon and remain faithful to the system, overgrown with optics and additional accessories. And if earlier full-frame was the territory of the pros, for whom the presence of a camera with a full-frame sensor was critical for work, today such cameras are more widespread. They have simply become cheaper and more compact.

Generally speaking, a full-frame sensor has one advantage over smaller sensors - higher image quality. Naturally, this parameter consists of several components, first of all, higher detail and wide dynamic range, and they directly depend on the physical dimensions of the sensor.

The skeleton of a typical full-frame DSLR

In addition, the larger sensor performs better in low light shooting. And here it is not only a wide dynamic range, but also a low noise level. The top lines of the DxO Mark rating have long been occupied by full-frame cameras, and among them, devices based on Sony matrices predominate.

Fullframe is necessary for high-quality night shooting and, in particular, for recording nighttime TimeLapse videos. Have you seen the videos with the Milky Way, with the northern lights? All of this was captured with full frame cameras.

How about beautiful bokeh? It is also easier to get when shooting with a camera with a full-frame sensor. Although in this case, the role of optics should not be underestimated.

Comparison of sizes of all existing matrix formats

For a long time, full-frame cameras were too large and a stereotype was established in the minds of the consumer, they say, a full frame is too cumbersome and difficult. Although this could have been denied even before Sony introduced the Cyber-shot RX1 and full-frame E-mount cameras to the world, digital Lakes were quite compact. They remain one of the most compact fullframes today. However, Leica is a very special matter. What, apart from Leica, is the current market for full-frame cameras rich in?

Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D became one of the first full frames available, along with Nikon D600. The camera was presented in the fall of 2012 and there are no rumors about its replacement yet. This is a full-frame DSLR in the classic sense of the word, just below the Canon 5D Mark III in terms of its capabilities. Some of the characteristics are artificially lowered for better positioning. This is especially true for the burst frequency, the available shutter speed range and the autofocus system.

It is based on a 20-megapixel full-frame sensor and a dual DIGIC 5+ processor, which was also used in higher-level flagships. All the filling is enclosed in a weather-resistant magnesium alloy case. The pentaprism viewfinder provides 97% frame coverage and 0.71x magnification. The burst frequency is a modest 4.5 frames per second, the shutter operates up to 1/4000 s, there is no built-in flash, but an even more significant drawback is the weak autofocus. Phase detection autofocus operates on 11 points in the central part of the frame, of which only one central is cross-shaped. The camera is capable of processing RAW files, as well as correcting vignetting and chromatic aberration of compatible optics. Video shooting is available in Full HD resolution at a frequency of 30, 25 or 24 full frames per second, and to record high-quality sound, you will have to purchase an external stereo microphone.

The key difference between the Canon EOS 6D and the competition is the built-in GPS and Wi-Fi modules. The first allows you to add information about the coordinates of the survey point to the images and even record the route traveled. The EOS Remote mobile app supports photo copying, remote camera control and remote shooting, and social media uploads as standard wireless features. The rechargeable battery is rated for 1000 shots, and the optional battery grip will help extend the battery life.

Canon EOS-1D C and Canon EOS-1D X

The Canon EOS-1D X is a top-end professional-grade DSLR, while its later version, the Canon EOS-1D C, is focused on professional 4K video shooting and costs almost three times as much. At the heart of the original Canon EOS-1D X is an 18-megapixel, gapless CMOS sensor and a dual DIGIC 5+ processor. The limit of light sensitivity is here at the ultra-high ISO 204 800. The camera's magnesium body is protected from moisture and dust.

The EOS-1DX was the first dual-joystick camera for landscape and portrait orientation, and the first DSLR with Ethernet connectivity. The camera also boasts an advanced 61-point phase focusing system and 14fps burst capability, which will appeal to professional reporters. The main focus here is on ergonomics and speed. In addition, the camera is equipped with two CF card slots. Video recording is available in 1920x1080 resolution at 30, 25 and 24 frames per second, and the full 60 fps is recorded only at 1280x720. The Canon EOS-1D X is compatible with accessories such as an external Wi-Fi module, a stereo microphone, or a remote release.

Canon EOS-1D C is a much more specific and more expensive product. People who are looking for a device of this class are unlikely to read our review now. Nevertheless, a few words should be said about him. Its technical equipment is practically the same as that of the EOS-1D X, except for the sensor optimized for 4K video recording. The video modes are much more diverse here. For example, Full HD video is recorded at a maximum rate of 60 full frames per second. You can use the Log Gamma function for video recording, and the uncompressed video stream can be streamed through the HDMI port to an external receiver. However, 4K mode is more of a marketing gimmick here, since the frame rate for such a video is only 24 frames per second, and the stream is compressed using the Motion JPEG codec.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III has become a long-awaited gift for professional photographers, even more in demand than the above-described EOS-1D X. Recall that at one time the EOS 5D Mark II was the first full-frame camera with support for Full HD video. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is housed in a dust and water resistant magnesium alloy body, and the shell design can be called conservatively established.

The camera supports two types of memory cards at once - CF and SD, which can be paired. The "Five" is equipped with a 22-megapixel full-frame sensor and a DIGIC 5+ processor, as well as a 61-point phase-detection autofocus system with 41 cross-type sensors with object tracking function. The camera, however, has only a mono mixer, no autofocus lamp and built-in flash - you have to put up with that.

Automation allows you to shoot series in full resolution at a frequency of 6 frames per second, set any shutter speeds up to 1/8000 s, shoot with multiple exposure, merge HDR images and record time lapse videos. It also provides tools for in-camera RAW processing, shooting full-size photos in the process of video recording, and a lot of fine settings for professionals. Video recording, however, does not fit into modern requirements and standards. Frame rate is 30 when shooting in Full HD with ALL-I or IPB compression. The lack of full-fledged continuous autofocus and the ability to output an uncompressed video stream via HDMI is also disappointing. The direct competitor, the Nikon D800, looks more maneuverable in this regard.

Well, there is no need to talk about an affordable collection of full-frame optics and accessories - the choice is huge. The camera is compatible with battery grip and external Wi-Fi transmitter, triggers and external flashes, as well as underwater boxes. The stock battery is rated for 900 shutter clicks.

Nikon Df

The Nikon Df stands out from its peers primarily for its vintage design. Without exaggeration, this is the most beautiful full-frame DSLR to date. Designed for fans of "analog" sensations, the camera at the same time offers some serious technical stuffing. It is enclosed in a magnesium alloy body with plastic inserts and is the most compact DSLR camera with a full frame sensor, and also weather resistant.

Among the ergonomic features, it is worth highlighting a very small handle, a four-position mode selector, a tiny auxiliary monochrome display, one memory card slot and no built-in flash.

The main pride of the Nikon Df is the 16-megapixel sensor inherited from the Nikon D4, as well as the EXPEED 3 processor. The camera is compatible with both full-frame optics and lenses with one-and-a-half crop in DX mode.

Nikon positions the camera as a tool for the professional photographer of the old school and artificially restricts the camera to only taking photos. No plot programs and other tips for beginners are provided here. But there are multiple exposure, and time-lapse photography, HDR and Active D-Lighting. Phase focusing system operates on 39 points, and the frequency of continuous shooting is 5.5 frames per second. The camera does not have built-in Wi-Fi. But this problem is solved by purchasing an external transmitter WU-1a.

Nikon D610

Strictly speaking, the Nikon D600 was the first relatively affordable full-frame DSLR. However, very soon, due to a problem with the shutter and sensor, it had to be replaced in the form of the D610. The Nikon D610 is in the same class as the Canon EOS 6D. The mirror is protected from moisture and dust, enclosed in a magnesium alloy body with a polycarbonate front panel. The camera has a number of advantages over its closest competitor: 39-point phase detection autofocus, built-in flash, and even two SD card slots.

The fullframe is equipped with a 24-megapixel Sony-made sensor and can work in one-and-a-half crop (DX) mode when paired with appropriate optics. The camera mount has a special aperture control mechanism on older Nikon manual lenses. A new shutter has been specially developed for the Nikon D610, eliminating the annoying problem of oil splashing. The shutter operates from 1/4000 s to 30 s, and the burst rate is 6 frames per second with active autofocus. The video modes are the same as those of the nearest competitor. The maximum video resolution is 1920 x 1080, and the frame rate is selected from the range of 30p, 25p or 24p. The lack of built-in Wi-Fi and sync contact, as well as a monaural microphone can be considered the disadvantages of this model. At the same time, Nikon D610 can be “pumped” with a battery grip, an external stereo microphone, Wi-Fi and GPS modules, and, of course, an external flash.

Nikon D800 and Nikon D800E

Nikon D800 and its more expensive modification with a sensor without AA filter have become a kind of counterbalance to the competitor Canon EOS 5D Mark III, but the emphasis here is shifted to landscape-studio shooting. The cameras received full-frame sensors with an impressive resolution of 36 megapixels, and the main stake was made on picture detail and advanced video shooting. Like most Nikon DSLRs, the camera can also shoot in 1/2-Crop mode, which is indispensable when using DX optics. In this case, the resolution drops to 15 megapixels. The frequency of continuous shooting at such a high resolution of the matrix was 4 frames per second, and video recording is possible at a frequency of 30, 25 and 24 frames per second in Full HD.

The Multi-CAM 3500FX focusing system is directly copied from the flagship Nikon D4 and has 51 points of phase detection autofocus. Unlike the EOS 5D Mark III, Nikon offers an AF-assist lamp and an uncompressed HDMI video output function. The shutter operates at speeds up to 1/8000 s, and flash sync is possible at shutter speeds up to 1/250 s. The minimum shutter life is 200,000 clicks. It is also worth noting support for the USB 3.0 standard, built-in flash, a headphone jack and the presence of two slots for memory cards - CF and SD. Both cameras come with 1,900mAh rechargeable batteries, which will last for about 750 shots, but there is also the option of docking the battery grip.

Nikon D4 and Nikon D4s

In early 2012, the Nikon D4 replaced the Nikon D3 as the flagship, although usually Japanese manufacturers avoid the “four” in the names. The professional Nikon D4 features a 16.2-megapixel full frame CMOS sensor, offering a middle ground between high-resolution images and their quality at higher ISO values. Subsequently, the same successful sensor was used to create the Nikon Df.

The "brain" of the camera was the EXPEED 3 processor, which was later also used in the development of Nikon 1 mirrorless models. A special 51-point sensor is dedicated for focusing, and the burst rate is 10 frames per second with active autofocus. Nikon D4 became the second camera after Canon EOS 1D X, which got an Ethernet controller and a corresponding connector. It is also the first and still the only camera to support the new XQD memory card format. The camera is equipped with two slots at once - for XQD and CF cards.

For half a year now I have been quite a happy owner of Canon EOS 6D and, having shot over 15,000 frames during this time, I can reliably tell about its pros and cons. But first, a little about their activities and the reason for the purchase.

I am a professional photographer in a small town. I specialize in family, children, studio, wedding, fashion photography and related fields of photography. At the beginning of summer 2016, my old Canon 500D broke down, which served me faithfully for 8 (!) Years, there was no point in repairing such an old camera, savings did not allow me to swing at 5Dm3, and I really wanted to switch to ff - under these conditions, the choice was obvious and only one.

The camera cost me about 86,000 (at a price of about 105,000 in the stores of official partners, that is, from suppliers of "white" equipment, at that time). No, it was not bought from famous Indians at VDNKh. A discount of almost 20 thousand was due to the already-become annual cashback from Canon and coupons from the Svyaznoy store, which were googled in 10 minutes. Now the camera can be purchased even cheaper if you follow the same scheme. Well, or go to stores with gray appliances.

General impressions of the camera: I am completely satisfied with it, there is enough for work, new opportunities have opened up. But you need to understand that the camera is NOT INTENDED for dynamic reporting. I was slightly shocked by some reviews in which people complain about focusing or rate of fire - my dears, this is all indicated in the characteristics of the camera, why buy a device that has nothing to do with your occupation, and then blame the mirror?

For unhurried creative shooting, it suits perfectly! At the end of the review, I will tell you how not to make a mistake when choosing a camera and what to look for when buying.

What makes the 6D happy?

1. Good working ISOs

This is the main plus and an inexhaustible source of joy for me. With my old camera, I could not even dream of shooting at ISO 2000-4000, which means that whole genres were closed to me, and the picture in semi-dark rooms was indigestible. Now everything has changed, I got more freedom, in the twilight of the restaurant I no longer have to grab the flash, in ordinary Soviet apartments there is enough light from the window, you can safely experiment with night photo shoots and even astrophotography. But pictures can speak better than a thousand words:

Photographed in a closed church on a cloudy day, the only light source is a medium-sized window:

At 100% magnification:

The quality for web use, personal scrapbook and even A4 print is more than acceptable.

And this is a photo from a report from the arrival of the husband of my regular client from the army. The train arrived at one o'clock in the morning, from the illumination only city illumination:

Same source + ground flash from behind:

Curtain Window Light:

Suddenly, during the shooting, a severe thunderstorm began, in the blink of an eye it became dark, as late in the evening, a heavy rain was pouring:

The only source of light is candles:

I think you get my idea. With high ISO, the camera is very friendly! Of course, porridge starts at 8000, but this range is enough for work. With this camera, for the first time, it was possible to see the Milky Way without leaving the city!

2. Full frame and all the consequences

Wide-angle lenses have finally become such, and to use my favorite 135mm from canon, now you don't have to screw 5km per shot. In general, the legs are resting

I almost never part with this lens, so this is important to me. Now sometimes it is even possible to fit with him in a cramped studio. A few examples of photos with my pet and 6D:

3.GPS and Wi-fi

Filming throws me into the craziest places, not only in my hometown, but throughout Russia, and sometimes beyond its borders, so keeping an eye on the map of my movements is a kind of little game for me. But unfortunately, GPS noticeably affects the camera's battery life, so I don't always keep it turned on. Often I take one or two shots at a new location with the GPS turned on, so that I have a mark that "I was here"

GPS is very accurate, it determines the location with an accuracy of a meter, you can then see what happened on the shooting using the map tab in lightroom or a program from canon.

Here is a map from one of my photo days at one stable, it can be seen that for 8 hours of shooting I ran pretty well:

4.Other nice little things

The raw files are noticeably smaller than on my old camera, while the resolution is higher.
Long-lasting battery (easily withstands an entire wedding or several smaller shots without recharging)
Uses SD cards (for me this is a plus, since there are a lot of SD cards left from the 500D and I didn't have to buy cards of a different format)
3 different resolutions for raw (very useful when you know for sure that large photos are not boring)

And now about the unpleasant:

I will not find fault with the design and arrangement of the buttons (especially since it clearly wins in comparison with the 5Dm3), since this is a matter of individual preferences and a matter of habit. The first time was difficult, changing the settings required a few seconds of "stupidity" on my part, since the control was radically different from my previous camera. But this is a matter of practice, now I already feel quite comfortable with him.

All of the above disadvantages do not interfere with my work in my genres, so my rating for the camera is 4.75, round up to 5.

And now some photos under different lighting conditions.

Perfect "golden hour"

And now about how to choose a camera and not be mistaken.

The first question you should ask yourself is "who am I and what do I need a camera for?"

Everything else will depend on the answer to this question. Here are the answers that come to my mind:

1) You are an amateur photographer, you know little about the technical side of photography, you need a camera to

to shoot family, children, gatherings with friends, parties, in general for social purposes. In this case, you definitely do not need 6D, even if your girlfriend has it and you like the photos from it. For these purposes, there are more budget solutions that are no worse and do not weigh more than a kilogram with a lens. Pay attention to the most budgetary DSLR models, and spend the saved money on a good high-aperture lens and on-camera flash, much more will depend on them in your case than on the camera. You can take a closer look at used cameras.
take pictures on travel, hikes, trips, in general for tourist purposes. You don't need 6D either. Pay attention to interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras, when packing bags, long walks and mountain trails, size matters and every gram counts. The motivation to carry around 1.5kg of photographic equipment quickly fades away when you hike 10km in mountainous terrain.
shoot for yourself - macro, subject, portraits, in general for creative purposes. For you, I have the same advice as for the first point - a budget DSLR + a good lens. The 6D is only worth buying if the lion's share of your creativity is in low-light photography and on a budget.

2) You are a professional or are going to become one in the near future, you need a camera to

to shoot a reportage, sports events, club parties, etc., in general, everything that is in constant motion. The 6D will absolutely not suit you and its specifications just scream it. Pay attention to the number of frames per second, the fastest shutter speed, the focusing system, and then choose according to the budget, reportage cameras sometimes cost half a million. Don't skimp on memory cards, as they can also affect your burst speed.
shoot portraits in the studio or in nature, subject, macro, in general, everything that allows you to shoot thoughtfully and slowly. The 6D is perfect for this purpose for professionals of all skill levels. In some circles, a somewhat snobbish attitude has developed towards him, they say, not the most serious camera for a professional, but in my opinion this is a delusion, and thousands of professionals will support me in this. However, if you are a beginner photographer, I would advise you to pay attention to more budgetary crops, you will always have time to change the camera when you realize that you feel cramped on the crop, but if you immediately invest in a full frame and, as a result, you don’t have a photo. will fold, it will be a shame, and the camera will not be suitable for home purposes. Invest in lenses and lighting equipment - they play a much larger role in the final picture than the camera itself, and a full frame is not a magic wand and will not automatically make your photos better, just keep practicing and learning, and you will always have time to switch to expensive equipment.

Summing up, I will say that 6D left a mostly positive impression, allowed me to expand my horizons, opened up what was previously inaccessible. And I can definitely recommend this camera. I hope that we have more than one year of adventures ahead of us.

If you still have any questions after reading my review, write in the comments and I will definitely answer them.

Today we have a very popular and interesting topic for many. The matrix is one of the most important components of any digital camera. Today we will talk about its physical size. Why do many people chase the "full frame", how does it differ from the "crop", and which is better for you? I propose to talk about these topics.

FullFrame vs. Crop

Once upon a time, when dinosaurs walked the earth and photographers used film technology, 35mm film was considered a classic of the genre. It is its size that is used today as a starting point when defining such a thing as "Crop factor". The crop factor today is the ratio of the diagonal of 35mm film to the diagonal of the sensor of the camera in question. It should be noted that 35mm itself is the width of the film, its diagonal is 43.3mm.

Cameras with a crop factor of 1 are called full-frame cameras. Modern examples of such cameras are Nikon D610, Nikon D810, Canon 5D Mark III, Sony A7r and others. Most DSLR and mirrorless cameras have a crop factor of about 1.5 (for amateur Canon DSLRs - 1.6). Examples of such cameras: Nikon D7000, Canon 100D, Pentax K3 and so on. Compact cameras today can have a crop factor like a decent SLR camera (Fujifilm X100T has a crop factor of 1.5), or they can have tiny 1 / 2.3 ″ sensors (crop factor 5.62).

Nikon D800 "cutaway" camera. What glows green is the matrix

As it should already become clear - the lower the crop factor, the larger the matrix and the more expensive the camera. The size of the matrix, like nothing else, affects the final price of the camera. For those who are especially curious, I will also note an interesting fact: there are digital cameras that have a crop factor of less than one (for example, 0.71). These cameras are called "medium format" cameras. But this is an extremely specific technique that we will not talk about anymore today. Who needs such cameras, they already know enough about them.

Returning to the pricing policy, let's see what we have with the prices of cameras. The cheapest options for cameras with a full-frame matrix are Nikon D600, Canon 6D, Sony A7. But even they cost from 70 thousand rubles. If you look at cameras with a smaller sensor, for example, Nikon D7100 / D7200 and Canon 70D (the best amateur SLR cameras Canon and Nikon today), then their price is in the region of 40-45 thousand rubles. At the same time, the same Nikon D7100 differs from Nikon D600, in fact, only in the size of the matrix. And now, looking at this huge difference in price, many amateur photographers reasonably ask: do they need it at all?

So, the larger the matrix, the:

The more detail in the photos, the sharper and clearer the picture appears. Everyone has seen pictures from "soap boxes", in which small objects have no details - this is just a drawback of a small matrix.
Less noise in photos taken at high ISO settings. Indeed, the size of the matrix greatly affects the amount of noise in photographs.
Halftones are better worked out, transitions from one color to another are smoother than on small matrices.
Less depth of field, which will certainly be appreciated by bokeh lovers.
Focal lengths are more familiar. The values of the equivalent and real focal lengths for the whole frame are the same. We have already talked a lot about focal lengths in the article “What to choose? 35mm vs. 50mm vs. 85mm ".

That is, this is the dilemma. On the one hand, the larger the sensor, the more expensive the camera is. On the other hand, the more details in the pictures, less noise, and more beautiful "bokeh". Now let's think, do you need this?

If you are buying your first DSLR or mirrorless camera, then taking a full frame camera does not make sense. The difference in image quality between a crop DSLR and a soap dish is very large. But the difference in technical picture quality between an entry-level amateur DSLR and a full-frame camera is unlikely to be noticeable to a beginner. And, as they say, if you don't see the difference ...

Beautiful background blur is easier with a full-frame camera

But there is a difference, only experienced photographers can feel it. Whether a large matrix is worth such colossal overpayments (first for the camera, and then for the lenses) is up to you to decide. My personal opinion is that the price of full-frame technology is unreasonably high today. At the same time, cameras of the Nikon D7100 level allow you to get simply fantastic pictures, with the proper skill and good optics, of course.

Now let's give some examples of comparing full frame to crop sensors.

Comparison of FF and APS-C: noise

First of all, let's compare a crop camera and FF for noise. Crop is a camera with APS-C Canon 100D sensor. Full frame camera - Nikon D610. All photos in the post have EXIF, you can check the shooting settings yourself.

This photo was taken with a Canon 100D at ISO 3200.

And this picture was taken on a Nikon D610 at ISO 3200

The difference between the images is not visible (in terms of noise) when evaluating images in web quality. However, if you dig a little deeper and enlarge the images, the difference becomes more obvious.

This is the so-called "crop" of the first frame - a cropped area of the image

And this is a cropped section of the second image captured with a full-frame camera.

Second crop of a frame with Canon 100D

And this is another crop of a frame shot with an FF camera.

In the frames above, the difference between the full-format and APS-C matrices is much better visible. Noise is more pronounced in Canon 100D photos than in Nikon D610.

Comparison of FF and APS-C: dynamic range

Dynamic range is one of the key characteristics of an image sensor. We will not talk about it in detail - this is a topic for a separate article. But the key thing that we are interested in is the possibility of post-processing of the resulting images in situations, for example, when the frame is too dark, and we have to change its exposure already in the graphics editor. Below you can see two such frames, which we will try to "stretch". The first one was shot with Canon 100D, the second one - with Nikon D610. Note that there are areas in the image where details are almost indistinguishable (lower right corner).

After "lightening" the frames, we get the following results.

From the point of view of exhibiting photos on the Internet, again, there is practically no difference. But let's see how the images coped with pulling shadows on the cropped frames of these frames.

Frame from Canon 100D after pulling shadows

Shot from Nikon D610 after pulling out shadows. This part of the frame on the FF camera already goes into the blur zone. Pay no attention to it - watch the noises

Obviously, the full-frame camera did a much better job. Initially, photographs were taken with the same settings, including ISO - 800 units are set there in both frames. There is practically no noise in the second frame. Ultimately, this means that it is easier to save frames with exposure errors taken with a full-frame camera than with a camera with a smaller sensor.

What I would like to say in the end. As you already understood, the larger the matrix, the better. As for the choice between a sensor with a crop factor of 1.5 and a full-frame sensor, the advantages of the latter will be obvious only to experienced amateur and professional photographers. It makes little sense for beginners to buy such a technique. Perhaps that's all. Make the right choice!

Hello again, dear reader! We are in touch with you, Timur Mustaev. Do you know what a full-frame sensor is in SLR cameras? How does it differ from cut-down matrices? Why are they more expensive? What if you don't have a full frame sensor?

Before answering these and other questions that interest you, let me congratulate you on the first day of summer. I don’t know how things are with you with the weather, but in Dushanbe today it was + 36C. In other words, summer has begun in full. And how is the weather with you, what can you boast about? I also congratulate you on the day of protecting children, take care, love, value both your own and other people's children. Children, this is a ray of light in our hearts!

In one of the previous articles, the topic of the camera was touched upon. Surely after reading it, there was some confusion associated with full-frame cameras. Today I will tell you about their advantages and disadvantages. After reading the article, you will find out what a full-frame camera is for, how pictures from full-frame and crop cameras will differ, what are the advantages and disadvantages of such solutions.

Full-frame sensor.

So, to understand what a full-frame camera is, you need to understand the concept of a "full frame". The size of the frame is considered to be the dimensions of the photosensitive element located in the body of the camera. Physically, they are completely different. "Full" is considered to be standard 35 mm elements, as this size has been the standard for many years.

The width and height parameters of such matrices are 36 and 24 millimeters, respectively. This is where the concept of a crop matrix emerges, which was touched upon in one of the previous articles. The reason for the creation of "cropped" matrices was and still is the high cost of manufacturing full-fledged sensors for digital cameras. Of course, now the technical process has become less expensive, however, the production of elements of standard sizes is still not the cheapest pleasure.

Of course, there used to be compact cameras. They tried to make them as inexpensive as possible, both for purchase and maintenance. This necessitated the creation of "crop films", so to speak, but they were very rare: even now it is difficult to find a well-preserved camera with reduced film size.

Closer to the end of training, our teacher showed a very interesting camera, which was used by the intelligence services of the USSR in the middle and end of the last century. We showed us the Vega camera, produced in Kiev in the 60s. Surprisingly, it was fully functional, even the film was in place. The size of his film frame was 14 × 10 millimeters, and the drum contained only 20 pictures.

We ourselves, of course, could not work with him, since we were forbidden to take him with us to photographic practice, but we nevertheless examined several frames captured by Vega. The quality for this kind of cameras was good enough for our exhibit, especially considering the diminutiveness of its lens. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the intelligence officers from performing their work with high quality.

Features of full-size photosensitive element

It is no secret that the image obtained by the crop matrix will be smaller than that obtained on a full-fledged one. This, as you can see, was discussed in the last article. To a greater extent, the story was about stripped-down matrices, but now it's time to talk about full-size sensors. It has both advantages and disadvantages. It seems to me that it is worth starting with the first.

So why are they so appreciated by professionals?

The advantages of full-size cameras

At first, detailing. Due to the larger matrix size, the resulting raster image boasts better image clarity. Even the smallest details in full frame will show up better than cropped when comparing the results captured with the same lens.

Secondly, larger viewfinder size. Whoever says anything, it is inappropriate to cover a small photosensitive element with a large mirror. Of course, the size is also influenced by the prism, but the latter in such cameras, as a rule, is larger than in mass cameras. For mirrorless devices, this is an even more significant plus, due to the higher resolution of the resulting image.

Thirdly, the size of the pixel itself. If the manufacturer decided not to increase the number of light-sensitive units, but to make them slightly larger, then this will make the sensor more sensitive to light rays. As much as some photographers say, full-frame cameras tend to produce lighter images.

Fourthly, good depth of field. Due to the better ISO sensitivity provided by the large pixel size, it will be much easier to achieve a good depth of field on such a device.

“What is DOF?” You ask. It stands for the depth of field used by the space. Why is this needed? It's simple: to blur the background more or less. The main thing to know here is that full-frame matrices allow you to "conjure" with this parameter most effectively.

Fifth, no zoom effect. It was also mentioned in the article about the crop factor. Perhaps this is one of the main differences from smaller matrices, which allows you to save more images per frame. This can play both a positive role in the frame and a negative one. For example, at a great distance from the subject, this can play a negative role, but when working in the “portrait” genre, everything will be exactly the opposite.

At sixth, even at high values of ISO 1600-3200, the appearance of digital noise is minimal.

Comparison of full-frame and cropped cameras. Case of life

I want to say right away that the comparison turned out to be very subjective, since the cameras were of different levels, they used different optics, they were controlled by different people. So, after showing the spy apparatus, the teacher began to voice us the task for the next job: it was necessary to create a full-fledged photo report.

We were partly lucky: we had a driving school next door to us in the additional training center, and on that day, driving competitions among novice drivers were held on the territory of the local autodrome. I don't think it's worth going into the essence of the details, that's not why you came here.

So, the competition began, and my classmates and I went to the circuit to make the cherished shots. I didn't have the best Nikon D3100 in my hands, so I decided to immediately agree with the guys working with the Canon 5D Mark II to take turns shooting. Both devices, by the way, were used with whale lenses. We agreed that after a while we will exchange cameras for a better understanding of the devices themselves and getting the largest possible number of images.

Upon arrival at the studio, everyone immediately began to transfer frames to laptops for processing. After inserting the memory card, I did the same, after which I began to examine the resulting result. Looking through the photo for the second time, I caught myself thinking that at long distances (about 50-100 meters) Canon took pictures of more or less acceptable quality, but the D3100 showed an impressive result, as for a budget amateur SLR camera.

Of course, close-up pictures were taken: it was necessary to photograph the winners, the cars that brought them to such a result, the teachers-mentors. The result at Canon was impressive. Nikon also performed well, but somewhere he lacked sharpness, in other places the picture seemed a little noisy, and you shouldn't forget about the zoom effect.

At the end of viewing the photos, I came to the following conclusions: Canon is capable of anything, you just need to choose the right set of lenses, and with Nikon, everything is not so simple. Of course, you can get high-quality shots, but Nikon's getting perfect shots at a short distance is quite difficult due to the crop factor. Nevertheless, it more than justified its cost, however, like Canon.

Disadvantages of full-size cameras

First and perhaps the most significant one is the difficulty in photographing at long distances. The wider light range, good picture clarity and ease of taking pictures are overridden by weaknesses when shooting with long focal lengths. Of course, this is solved at the expense of a specialized lens, which will significantly hit the pocket.

Second but no less significant is the cost. In addition to expensive "glasses" (as the lens is called in slang), you will have to pay a round sum for the carcass itself. Of course, professionals will not stop even at a six-figure price tag, since such an acquisition will pay off quickly enough.

Third minus - weight. Large matrix, large mirror, large viewfinder ... More and more demands a roomy body for placement. Among other things, lenses for large bodies have never been famous for their lightness either. Configurations with expensive telephoto lenses, lenses in which are made of glass with a special coating, will be especially difficult.

Fourth the disadvantage is the narrow specialization of full-frame matrices. While a crop ratio of 1.5-1.6 can be called standard and universal. Full-frame sensors are mainly focused on close-up photography. Of course, you can use a full-frame camera for long-distance photography, but this will be much more difficult and expensive. In addition, even close to a beginner it will be difficult to implement a device with a standard-size matrix.

So now is the moment to figure out if we need a full-frame camera or not? If you are one of the top photographers in the city and photography is your main income, then it is definitely worth it. If you are an amateur thinking about updating your crop camera, then the acquisition will be a very dubious action. Whatever is written here, you should correctly evaluate all the pros and cons, and then decide which type of matrix to choose.

If you want to get to know your camera in more detail, understand what it is capable of, understand the basic properties of building compositions, understand how to make a beautiful blurred background, learn to control the depth of field, and much, much more. Then help you, a really superb video course "" or " My first MIRROR". Trust me, you will draw a lot of useful information from it and your pictures will turn into masterpieces.

My first MIRROR- for owners of the CANON camera.

DSLR for Beginner 2.0- for the owners of the NIKON camera.

I hope you were interested in this article and now you know what the phrase "full frame camera" means. If the information turned out to be useful, then be sure to subscribe to my blog, there are a lot of interesting things ahead of you. You can tell your friends-photographers about the blog, let them also get involved in high-quality photography. All the best, dear reader, see you soon!

All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.

In the modern world, cameras are gaining more and more popularity. Photography is a new art that everyone can do. With the help of pictures, we convey emotions, feelings, record the history of our life, as well as the world around us. Most people take pictures for themselves, just capturing something important. But there are also real professionals in the creation of pictures, they live their photographs, and in order to convey the mood as much as possible, they wait for hours for the right moment, go on special trips, chasing a sensual and emotional photo. Millions of websites are created with photography as their main theme. People convey their experiences in this way.

Due to its simplicity, this art form is deeply rooted in the hearts of many. And progress does not stand still, but people come up with new things, improve cameras, making the picture better, more natural. Nowadays, full-frame cameras are gaining popularity, which provide good detail, show excellent quality and gamut of colors.

Briefly about devices

The name of the cameras comes from the phrase "full frame". Full frame is the size of the image sensor, which is responsible for the image quality. The larger the matrix, the better the picture quality, the less noise there will be when there is a lack of light. For cameras, the half-format size is most often used, that is, the 23x15 mm APS-C matrix. APS-C is a common designation for crop-factor (truncated) dies. For full-frame cameras, it is the same size as a 35mm film camera (35x24mm). Pictures taken with a full-frame camera are 1.5 times larger than with a camera with a full-frame sensor.

What is the popularity?

Film cameras date back to the 19th century, but why are full-frame cameras only gaining popularity now? The fact is that when the active production of digital cameras began, they most often used smaller sensors due to the too high cost of full-frame sensors. Now such matrices have become more affordable, so the demand for them is growing.

Are such cameras really needed?

Although full-frame photographic equipment has become quite affordable and cheap compared to the past decades, many large companies still prefer cameras with a stripped-down sensor, simply improving and improving them. This begs the question: "Since it is more popular, does it make sense to buy full-frame equipment?"

First you need to figure out why you need a camera at all. Most often, people buy cameras in order to leave a memory of any significant event in their life, for example, a holiday or a pleasant trip. It is clear that in the family archive or social networks, no one will look at the dimensions of the camera matrix on which the photo was taken. If you use the camera only for yourself, then you should not spend money, the main thing is to remember that in photography, not only the quality is valued, but also the composition, and the meaning inherent in it.

What about those who make a living from photography? This is the same profession where you need to improve your skills and improve, work on the quality of work, color depth. In fact, many manufacturers have managed to create non-full-frame models with a resolution of more than 16 megapixels, while the quality remains at a height even at ISO 1600.

Narrow depth of field (depth of field) has always been a hallmark of full-frame bokeh, but now you can achieve the same image with 1.2 ultra-fast lenses.

However, full-frame cameras are much more expensive than partial-frame cameras, and they are also heavier and take up more space.

A non-professional person will not notice the difference between cameras with a crop factor and full-frame cameras, therefore, it is up to you to decide whether to buy full-frame cameras, after weighing all the pros and cons. Retro lovers appreciated this undertaking, as the film technique fell into the soul of many.

Pros and cons of full-frame cameras

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, modern semi-format cameras can well compete with full-frame ones in image quality, size and price. What are the positive aspects of full-frame photography?

The size and light sensitivity of the sensor help to create images of very high quality and with good detail.
Work with low noise, which is good for photographers who, for example, are photographing rare animals.
The presence of burst shooting, it allows you to catch natural movement.
Fast autofocus can quickly switch from subject to subject without blurring your photo.

Of course, full-frame cameras also have disadvantages:

Dimensions of cameras. The weight and dimensions do not always allow you to easily carry the equipment, and without a tripod, your hands get tired quickly enough.
Slow shooting speed. Despite the fast autofocus and burst shooting, you won't be able to capture the moment instantly.
The cost of cameras and additional equipment.
A careful approach to technology and the selection of optics. Many full-frame cameras do not accept other brands of lenses.

As we can see, the number of pluses and minuses of the full-frame technique is the same. This means that everyone is free to choose for themselves, based on their tastes and preferences.

Nikon company

The history of the company began in 1917 in the Japanese city of Tokyo. Since then, Nikon has been one of the leaders in the production of optics and various photographic equipment.

This manufacturer makes cameras for different tastes: there are budget, amateur and professional cameras. Since Nikon is responsible for the quality of its products, even the cheapest cameras under two thousand rubles have good content for their money. As for the very expensive equipment, the price of professional cameras, for example, varies from 200 to 400 thousand rubles. Interestingly, Nikon produces not only equipment for photography and video filming, but also microscopes and other devices required in medicine.

The main competitor of Nikon has always been and will be Canon, they often share the first place in the ratings of the best cameras. Both firms are located in Japan and have a similar look and feel.

What are the features of Nikon? This manufacturer pays great attention to the quality of low-light photography. Another advantage is the large sensor size, making high quality photos with a small number of pixels. The company also adds small details that make the work much easier. Even the most basic and cheap models have Nikon good autofocus, many modes, HDR effect (which is not available on all cameras, even Canon).

Everyone chooses a camera to their liking, and Nikon is one of those companies with millions of fans all over the world. Among its products, you can choose a good camera that is comfortable and easy to use.

Features of full-frame Nikon cameras

Nikon was one of the first companies to start producing full-frame cameras. And many users of photographic equipment prefer this particular manufacturer. How does the full-frame Nikon differ from its counterparts from other brands? Let's try to figure it out.

Firstly, since the company already has experience in creating such equipment, the quality of the Nikon full-frame camera is highly valued on the market. Such a device will delight you with long-term operation. Not many manufacturers can compete in performance with Nikon. Their full-frame cameras feature high resolution of more than 35 megapixels, striking in their detail. And this is very important for amateur photographers.

Secondly, the full-frame "Nikon" has a lower price compared to "Sony" and "Canon", which cost at least 150 thousand rubles. As for Nikon cameras, professional devices can be found up to 90 thousand.

After all, the company's cameras are very affordable. Full-frame "Nikon" can be found in many popular stores, you don't have to constantly look for cameras on various sites, re-buying already used products.

List

When choosing a Nikon camera, you should remember that this company has its own designations. How to determine which Nikon is full-frame? Let us illustrate with an example. The FX is a full-frame Nikon, while the DX has a matrix size of 23.6x15.7 mm.

So, below is a list of Nikon full-frame cameras in terms of price and quality.