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What is a full frame camera? Comparison of full-frame SLR cameras Canon cameras with a full matrix.

For six months now I have been the very happy owner of a Canon EOS 6D and, having shot more than 15,000 frames during this time, I can reliably talk about its pros and cons. But first, a little about your activities and the reason for the purchase.

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

The camera cost me about 86,000 (with a price of about 105,000 in official partner stores, i.e. suppliers of “white” equipment, at that time). No, it was not purchased from famous Indians at VDNH. The discount of almost 20 thousand was obtained due to the already annual cashback from Canon and coupons from the Svyaznoy store, Googled in 10 minutes. Nowadays you can buy a camera even cheaper if you follow the same scheme. Well, or go to stores with gray equipment.

General impressions of the camera: I’m completely satisfied with it, it’s enough for work, new opportunities have opened up. But you need to understand that the camera is NOT DESIGNED 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 camera’s characteristics, why buy a device that has nothing to do with your type of activity, and then blame the mirror?

It’s perfect for leisurely creative photography! At the end of the review, I’ll tell you how not to make a mistake when choosing a camera and what to look for when buying.

What pleased you with the 6D?

1. Good working ISOs

This is the most important plus and an inexhaustible source of joy for me. With my old camera, I couldn’t even dream of shooting at ISO 2000-4000, which means that entire genres were closed to me, and the picture in dimly lit rooms was indigestible. Now everything has changed, I have gained greater freedom, in the twilight of a restaurant I no longer necessarily grab a flash, in simple Soviet apartments there is enough light from the window, you can safely experiment with night photo shoots and even astrophotography. But photos can speak louder than a thousand words:

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

At 100% magnification:

The quality is more than acceptable for use on the web, a personal album, and even for A4 printing.

And here is a photo from a report on the arrival of my regular client’s husband from the army. The train arrived at one in the morning, with only city illumination for illumination:

Same source + flash on the ground behind:

Light from a curtained window:

Suddenly, during the shooting, a severe thunderstorm began, in the blink of an eye it became dark, like late evening, and heavy rain poured:

The only light source is candles:

I think you understood my point. The camera is very friendly with high ISOs! Of course, at 8000 the mess starts, but this range is enough for work. With this camera, for the first time, I was able to see the Milky Way without leaving the city!

2. Full frame and all that it entails

Wide-angle lenses have finally become so, and to use my favorite 135mm from Canon, you no longer need to travel 5 km per shoot. In general, the legs are resting

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

3.GPS and Wi-fi

Filming takes me to the craziest places, and not only hometown, but also throughout Russia, and sometimes beyond its borders, so keeping track of the map of your movements is a kind of little game for me. But unfortunately, GPS noticeably affects the camera’s operating time without recharging, so I don’t always keep it turned on. I often take one or two frames in a new place with GPS turned on, so that I have a mark that “I was here”

GPS is very accurate, determines the location with an accuracy of up to a meter, you can then see what happened during 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’s clear that during the 8 hours of shooting I did a fair amount of running:

4.Other nice little things

The raw file size is noticeably smaller than on my old camera, but the resolution is higher.
Long-lasting battery (can easily withstand an entire wedding or several smaller shoots 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 stuff:

I won’t find fault with the design and placement of the buttons (especially since it clearly wins in comparison with the 5Dm3), since this is a matter of individual preference and a matter of habit. The first time was difficult, changing settings required several seconds of “stupidity” on my part, since the controls were radically different from my previous camera. But this is a matter of practice, now I feel quite comfortable with it.

All of the listed disadvantages do not interfere with working in my genres, so my rating for the camera is 4.75, rounded up to 5.

And now some photos under different lighting conditions.

The perfect golden hour

And now about how to choose a camera and not make a mistake.

The first question you should ask yourself is “who am I and why do I need a camera?”

Everything else will depend on the answer to this question. Here are the possible 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

photograph family, children, get-togethers with friends, parties, in general for social purposes. In this case, you definitely don't need a 6D, even if your friend has one and you like the photos from it. For these purposes, there are more budget-friendly solutions that are no worse and do not weigh more than a kilogram with a lens. Pay attention to the most budget DSLR models, and spend the saved money on a good fast lens and on-camera flash; in your case, much more will depend on them than on the camera. You can take a closer look at used cameras.
take pictures while traveling, hiking, trips, in general for tourist purposes. You don't need a 6D either. Pay attention to mirrorless cameras with interchangeable optics, when packing suitcases, long walks and on mountain trails, size will matter and every gram will count. The motivation to carry 1.5 kg of camera equipment with you disappears quite quickly when you go on 10 km walks in mountainous areas.
shoot for yourself - macro, objects, 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 shooting in low light and your budget allows.

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

shoot reports, sporting events, club parties, etc., in general, everything that is in constant motion. The 6D will absolutely not suit you and its characteristics simply scream about it. Pay attention to the number of frames per second, the shortest shutter speed, the focusing system, and then choose according to your budget; reportage cameras sometimes cost half a million. Don't skimp on memory cards, as they can also affect your burst shooting speed.
shoot portraits in the studio or outdoors, subjects, macro, in general, everything that allows you to shoot thoughtfully and slowly. 6D is perfect for these purposes for professionals of any level. In some circles there has been a somewhat snobbish attitude towards it, saying that it is not the most serious camera for a professional, but in my opinion this is a misconception, and thousands of professionals will support me in this. However, if you are a novice photographer, I would advise you to pay attention to more budget crops, you will always have time to change the camera when you realize that the crop has become cramped for you, but if you immediately invest in a full frame and end up with a photo you are not 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 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.

To summarize, I will say that 6D left a mostly positive impression, allowed me to expand my horizons, and opened up something that was previously inaccessible. And I can definitely recommend this camera. I hope that we have many more years 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.

@talentonatural77

We've selected the 10 best full-frame DSLR cameras for 2018. Studio heavyweights optimal for enthusiasts and two cameras for photojournalists.

Despite the fact that mirrorless cameras are advancing, you shouldn’t write off DSLRs too soon. In this selection we included mid-range and top-end DSLR cameras.

1.Nikon D850

Nikon D850 is the company's flagship and, according to the editors, the best DSLR camera on the market.

The 45.4 MP full-frame sensor delivers stunningly clear images with huge dynamic range and high operating ISO. Fast autofocus is provided by a 153-point system. Video recording available in 4K format with all necessary

Nikon's signature deep-grip, spill-resistant design and rotating touchscreen display provide incredible ease of use.

The 30.4 MP matrix and 61-point autofocus make this camera an excellent option for professionals. With this resolution, you can shoot footage of any genre and not suffer from a clogged disk.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is one of the best DSLR cameras available today. Although it lost the top of the chart to the D850.

3.Nikon D810

Despite the release of the D850, this model is still a very powerful tool.

36.3 megapixel matrix, high detail, no AA filter, wide dynamic range and 1200 frames on one battery. The camera copes with scenes of any complexity thanks to the 51-point autofocus system from the reportage D4S.

It doesn't have a rotating display, Wi-Fi or 4K, but it remains an excellent studio and reportage camera with water resistance and high resolution.

4. Canon EOS 5DS

If you need maximum resolution, then you should choose the Canon 5DS with its 50.6 MP sensor. This is the highest resolution among DSLR cameras today.

Stunning detail low level noise reduction and good dynamic range make this camera ideal for the studio and landscape photographer.

The other side of the coin is slowness, lack of Wi-Fi and 4k video, and, of course, huge files requiring huge memory cards and hard drives.

5.Nikon D750

The first four places were taken by very expensive cameras. In 4th place is the Nikon D750, the main advantage of which is its affordable price.

The camera is equipped with a 24.3-megapixel matrix, 51-point autofocus system and high operating ISO. Camera body with water and dust protection like the D810, tilting display and built-in Wi-Fi.

Nikon D750 is a harmonious and affordable full-frame SLR camera.

6. Sony Alpha A99 II

https://www.instagram.com/digitalrev/

Strictly speaking, the Sony A99 II is a pseudo-DSLR, it is equipped translucent mirror and an electronic viewfinder. But still, half of it is a DSLR and therefore ends up in our selection.

Autofocus when shooting at 12 fps, a 42.2-megapixel matrix with back illumination, a built-in stabilizer and ample shooting capabilities in 4k format.

The flagship and best DSLR for photojournalists. D5 is attached to lenses at the Olympics and various world championships.

Everything in the camera is subordinated to one goal - to take the desired frame. 20.8 megapixel matrix, shooting speed 12 frames per second, unprecedented maximum sensitivity ISO 3,280,000. 173-point autofocus system.

The ability to shoot video in 4k is limited to 3 minutes. But these are minor things.

https://www.instagram.com/digitalrev/

A photojournalist chooses a camera based on the system his news agency uses.

The Canon 1D X Mark II received a 20.2 megapixel sensor, 61 focus points and a shooting speed of 14 frames per second, which is more than the D5.

The camera does not boast a huge maximum ISO, here it is weaker than the D5, but nevertheless, in low light the camera produces high-quality images even at high values.

9. Canon EOS 6D Mark II

https://www.instagram.com/michalbarok/

The specifications of the 6D Mark II are quite simple. 26.2 MP sensor, 45 autofocus points, rotating touch display and excellent autofocus performance in Live View.

The disadvantages are weak dynamic range and autofocus with small frame coverage.

The company has done a lot of work on the 6D Mark II and has made a nice camera for enthusiasts who want to upgrade to a full frame camera.

10. Pentax K-1 mark II

This is a unique and controversial DSLR camera.

The Pentax K-1 mark II is equipped with a time-tested 36-megapixel sensor with good dynamic range, serious weather protection, built-in GPS, the ability to shoot handheld in Pixel Shift mode and a lot of functions not available on other cameras on the market.

However, it also has a lot of weak points. The shooting speed is limited to 4.4 frames per second, there is no 4k video recording, and the autofocus area does not cover the entire frame.

P.S.

All these models have mirrorless cameras breathing in their backs. On at the moment The market for full-frame mirrorless cameras is represented by the Sony A7R III and , which by their third iteration have become close to ideal. Plus the first reportage Sony A9. You won't see it in stadiums yet, but this is partly due to logistics.

Very soon, or more precisely on August 23, they will be joined by the first full-frame mirrorless Nikon Z, followed by the full-frame Canon. The timing of the announcement of the latter is not known, but reports are coming that Canon is trying its best to make it happen as soon as possible.

At the same time, do not forget mirrorless cameras with APS-C matrices. They become serious players. Especially Fujifilm with its X-H1 (read it, it's cool) and the future one, which we expect to see on.

Hello again, dear reader! I’m in touch with you, Timur Mustaev. Do you know what a full-frame matrix is in SLR cameras? How does it differ from reduced matrices? Why are they more expensive? What to do 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 your weather, but here in Dushanbe today it was +36C. In other words, summer has begun in full force. How is the weather with you, what can you brag about? I also congratulate you on Children’s Day, take care, love, appreciate 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 remains some uncertainty associated with full-frame cameras. Today I will tell you about their advantages and disadvantages. After reading the article, you will learn why a full-frame camera is needed, how pictures from full-frame and cropped cameras will differ, and 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 “ full frame" The frame size is usually considered to be the dimensions of the photosensitive element located in the camera body. Physically, they are completely different. “Full” is considered to be standard 35mm elements, since 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 crop matrix appears, 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 producing 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 to purchase and to maintain. 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-size film.

Towards the end of the training, our teacher showed a very interesting camera that was used by the USSR intelligence services in the mid-late last century. They showed us the Vega camera, produced in Kyiv in the 60s. It’s amazing that it was fully functional, even the film was in place. The size of its film frame was 14x10 millimeters, and the drum held only 20 photographs.

We ourselves, of course, were not able to 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 of our exhibit was quite good for this type of camera, especially considering the diminutiveness of its lens. However, this did not prevent the scouts from doing their job efficiently.

Features of a full-size photosensitive element

It is no secret that the image obtained with a crop matrix will be smaller than that obtained with a full-fledged one. This, as you can see, was discussed in the previous article. To a large extent, the story was about cut-down matrices, but now it’s time to talk about full-size sensors. It has both advantages and disadvantages. It seems to me that we should start with the first ones.

So why are they so valued by professionals?

Advantages of full-size cameras

Firstly, detail. Due to the larger matrix size, the resulting raster image can boast better image clarity. Even the smallest details will be depicted better in full frame than on a cropped frame, if you compare the results shot with one lens.

Secondly, larger viewfinder size. No matter what anyone says, covering a small light-sensitive element with a large mirror is inappropriate. Of course, the size is also influenced by the prism, but the latter in such cameras is usually larger than in mass-produced ones. For mirrorless cameras, this is an even more significant advantage, due to the higher resolution of the resulting image.

Thirdly, the size of the pixel itself. If the manufacturer decides not to increase the number of photosensitive units, but to make them a little larger, this will make the sensor more sensitive to light rays. No matter how some photographers explain it, full-frame cameras tend to produce lighter images.

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

“What is depth of field?” you ask. This stands for depth of field of the space used. Why is this necessary? It's simple: for stronger or weaker background blur. The main thing you need to know here is that full-frame matrices allow you to “work magic” with this parameter most effectively.

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

Sixth, even at high ISO settings of 1600–3200, the appearance of digital noise is minimal.

Comparison of full-frame and cropped devices. An incident from life

I would like 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 different people. So, after showing the spy device, the teacher began to tell us the task for the next work: we had to create a full-fledged photo report.

We were partly lucky: in the center additional training There was a driving school next door to us, and that day a driving competition among novice drivers was taking place on the territory of the local race track. I don’t think it’s worth going into details; that’s not what you came here for.

So, the competition began, and my classmates and I went to the race track to take 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 some time we would exchange cameras to better understand the devices themselves and get the largest possible number of pictures.

Upon arrival at the studio, everyone immediately began transferring frames to laptops for processing. Having inserted 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 impressive results, as for a budget amateur SLR camera.

Of course, close-up photographs were taken: it was necessary to photograph the winners, the cars that brought them to this result, and their mentor teachers. The result on Canon was impressive. Nikon also performed well, but in some places it lacked sharpness, in other places the picture seemed a little noisy, and you shouldn’t forget about the zoom effect.

After finishing looking at the photos, I came to the following conclusions: Canon is capable of anything, you just need to choose the right set of lenses, but with Nikon everything is not so simple. Of course, you can get high-quality images, but Nikon makes it quite difficult to get perfect images at short distances due to the crop factor. Nevertheless, it more than justified its cost, just like Canon.

Disadvantages of full-size cameras

First and, perhaps most significantly, the difficulty of photographing at long distances. A larger light range, good image clarity and ease of taking pictures are offset by weaknesses when shooting with a long focal length. Of course, this can be solved by using a specialized lens, which will significantly hit your 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 quite quickly.

Third minus - weight. A large matrix, a large mirror, a large viewfinder... It increasingly requires a spacious housing for placement. Among other things, lenses for large bodies have also never been famous for their lightness. Particularly difficult will be configurations with expensive telephoto lenses, the lenses of which are made of glass with a special coating.

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

So, the time has come to understand whether 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’s definitely worth it. If you are an amateur thinking about upgrading your crop camera, then the purchase will be a very dubious action. No matter what is written here, you should competently evaluate all the pros and cons, and then decide which type of matrix to choose.

If you want to get acquainted with your camera in more detail, understand what it is capable of, understand the basic properties of composition, understand how to create a beautiful blurred background, learn how to control the depth of field and much, much more. Then a really super video course “” or “ My first MIRROR" Believe me, you will get a lot out of it useful information and your photos will turn into masterpieces.

My first MIRROR- for owners of a CANON camera.

Digital SLR for a beginner 2.0- for owners of a NIKON camera.

I hope you found this article interesting and now you know what the phrase “full-frame camera” means. If the information was useful, then be sure to subscribe to my blog, a lot of interesting things await you ahead. You can tell your photographer friends 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.

Full-frame cameras have always been the preserve of professionals, but with increasing competition, more affordable products have appeared on the market. This doesn't mean they are completely cheap. You can buy a previous generation professional full-frame camera or purchase a new device for the same money, sacrificing some functions and characteristics.

To help you make your choice, we have collected 10 Cheapest Full Frame Cameras on the Market.

If you want to switch from crop to more professional devices, then this list will help you make the right choice.

1 Canon EOS 6D

This is an older camera, but it still offers an excellent set of features and high image quality.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 20.2MP
Lens mount: Canon EF
Screen: 3-inch fixed, 1,040,000 dots
Viewfinder: Optic
5fps
1080p
Price: 88 thousand rub/body

The camera has excellent autofocus, which maintains its sensitivity even in low light. The sensor boasts excellent image quality, with few autofocus points. There are only 11 of them, but this is enough for most types of shooting. Also, the camera does not boast a rich set of video recording functions.

At the time of its release, the Canon EOS 6D was the world's lightest DSLR camera with a full-frame sensor. Even though it's over five years old, it's still a tempting spot for landscape photographers and travelers. The EOS 6D's 11-point AF system includes only one cross-type sensor. It is simpler than the Nikon D610's 39-point system. The 20.2MP sensor also suffers from complaints, since in 2017 this resolution is not enough. However, the EOS 6D has a lot of positive qualities and if you don't typically print your images large or do a lot of cropping, the camera will satisfy most requirements. The EOS 6D has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, and also boasts a highly sensitive focusing system

2 Canon EOS 6D Mark II

The newer Canon EOS 6D Mark II has a more sophisticated autofocus system and a touch display.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 26.2MP
Lens mount: Canon EF
Screen: 3-inch vari-angle, 1,040,000 dot touch
Viewfinder: Optic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Price: 125 thousand rub/body

The autofocus system has become more modern. The rotating touchscreen makes it easy to use, but the camera doesn't have modern 4K video resolution. Also, the camera does not boast a high dynamic range.

Coming five years after the original Canon EOS 6D, new version The EOS 6D Mark II has received significant upgrades compared to old model. The sensor resolution has increased significantly. It is now 26.2MP instead of 20.2MP. Canon's DIGIC 7 processor helped with the higher resolution. The rotating touch display will be convenient for video shooting. The camera also offers 5-axis digital stabilization for video shooting, but only at resolutions up to Full HD. There is no 4K in the camera. The autofocus system has also been improved. It now has 45 cross-type dots, 27 of which are sensitive at F/8. The system is sensitive down to -3EV. Also an added bonus is Dual Pixel focusing, which is capable of incredible speeds in Live View and video shooting. It's a great camera, but the EOS 6D Mark II doesn't have the best dynamic range compared to its peers.

3 Nikon D610

An affordable full frame camera with great performance.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 24.3MP
Lens mount: Nikon F
Screen: 2-inch, fixed, 921000 points
Viewfinder: Optic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 6fps
Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Price: 89 thousand rub/body

The dual SD card slot and weather sealing are a definite plus, but the AF points are too close to the center. Also, the camera does not have built-in wireless technology.

Finding differences between Nikon D610 and Nikon D600 will not be easy. Introduced a year after the 600 model, the new D610 is almost identical to its predecessor. The continuous shooting speed has increased from 5.5fps to 6fps. A silent shooting mode at a speed of 3 frames per second has also appeared. The camera is quite attractive due to its excellent price-performance ratio. Inside there is an image sensor with a resolution of 24.3MP, which is closed in a waterproof case. The autofocus system has 39 points. Also attractive are the two SD card slots and optical viewfinder, which has 100% frame coverage.

4 Nikon D750

Don't look at age. The D750 still offers good performance.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 24.3MP
Lens mount: Nikon F
Screen: 2-inch, oblique, 1,228,000 dots
Viewfinder: Optic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Price: 130 thousand rub/body

The camera can offer a wide dynamic range and is easy to use thanks to its tilting touch screen. However, without 4K video, it does not meet the requirements of modern videographers. Live View mode is very slow.

The D750 is sandwiched between the more affordable D610 and the professional D810/D850 in Nikon's range of full-frame cameras. This is a mid-level DSLR. It borrows characteristics from both cheaper and more expensive products. The camera received maximum speed The shutter speed is 1/4000 sec and the image sensor resolution is 24.3MP from younger models, but the 51-point autofocus has been carried over from the D810. The D750's tilting touchscreen display, coupled with FullHD video recording at 60 frames per second, and built-in Wi-Fi make this camera quite attractive.

5 Nikon D810

High resolution is becoming more accessible.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 36.3MP
Lens mount: Nikon F
Screen: 2-inch, fixed, 1,229,000 dots
Viewfinder: Optic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Price: 189 thousand rub/body

The camera's lowest light sensitivity is ISO 64, which greatly reduces noise. However, the camera can hardly be classified as an affordable device, but for its characteristics its price is quite reasonable. Due to the resolution, file sizes are very large.

The more expensive Nikon D850 has already been introduced, but this makes the previous D810 model more affordable, although it will still cost you a pretty penny. The high resolution of 36.3MP in the D810 allows you to create the sharpest and most detailed images thanks to the absence of an anti-aliasing filter.

The EXPEED 4 image processor allows you to shoot at 5 frames per second at full resolution. The maximum video resolution is 1080p, and the base sensitivity of ISO 64 makes it possible to shoot with minimal noise. Files with such high resolution require a powerful computer to process.

6 Nikon Df

A compelling combination of style and substance.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 16.2MP
Lens mount: Nikon F
Screen: 3.2-inch, fixed, 921000 points
Viewfinder: Optic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: No
Price: 165 thousand rub/body

The sensor produces excellent results. The camera has a stylish retro design, but it doesn't offer video recording capabilities, and the 16.2MP resolution is a little behind modern requirements.

Compared to the colossal full-frame Canon 5DS/R resolutions of 50.6MP or 45.7MP in the Nikon D850, the Nikon Df's 16.2MP resolution seems puny. But this camera's sensor has its own story. It was used in the former flagship Nikon D4. Also, the relatively low pixel count means that the camera will be able to produce excellent results in the dark. However, what is most notable is the camera on the outside. It has a retro style design. The layout of the controls will please those who love the process of shooting as much as the end result.

Compared to Nikon's other FX DSLRs, the Df's price remains consistently high, especially considering the specs, but at least you can get some aesthetic pleasure out of the camera.

7 Sony A7

One of the best full-frame mirrorless cameras of its time has become available to a wider range of photographers.

Type: mirrorless camera
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 24.3MP
Lens mount: Sony E
Screen:
Viewfinder: Electronic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Price: 85 thousand rub/body

The camera is convenient in size. It's not too big. The image quality is also impressive. However, like most mirrorless cameras, the Sony A7 has a weak battery. Another disadvantage is the lack of video recording in 4K resolution.

Compared to huge DSLRs, the Sony A7 is very small and light. Obviously, once you attach a telephoto lens to the camera, the size and weight increase significantly, minimizing the A7's advantages. The Sony A7 was the first full-frame compact mirrorless camera on the market, and although it lacks some competitive advantages Such as touchscreen functionality and 4K video, the quality of RAW images captured by the 24.3MP Exmor CMOS sensor continues to amaze. The only real disappointment is the somewhat modest battery life, relatively low price A7 allows you to stock up on spare batteries.

8 Sony A7 II

While the A7 II's hardware is similar to its predecessor, the image processing process has been refined, resulting in better results.

Type: mirrorless camera
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 24.3MP
Lens mount: Sony E
Screen: 3-inch, oblique, 1,228,800 dots
Viewfinder: Electronic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Price: 105 thousand rub/body

The advantage was 5-axis image stabilization based on image sensor shift. The image processing process has also been improved. Otherwise, the camera remains similar to the previous A7 model. Large optics still negate almost all the benefits of a small camera body.

9 Sony A7S

4K video heavyweight. The Sony A7S is a mirrorless camera for those who know what it can do and can take advantage of it.

Type: mirrorless camera
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 12.2MP
Lens mount: Sony E
Screen: 3-inch, oblique, 921600 dots
Viewfinder: Electronic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: 4K
Price: 120 thousand rub/body

Incredible low-light performance and the ability to shoot uncompressed 4K video with an external recorder are very good features. However, the camera has a very low resolution and cannot independently record 4K to a memory card.

The 12.2MP resolution may seem like a throwback, but the full-frame sensor inside the Sony A7S practically glows in the dark. The "S" stands for "sensitivity" and for good reason. The A7S has a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-102400, and keeping resolution low allows each pixel to be larger for improved light-gathering properties. This minimizes noise and produces exceptionally high-quality images. Progressive video recording settings offer the option of using a flat S-log2 color profile. There is an HDMI connector on the case, which can output video in 4K resolution to an external device. Only the A7S II camera has the ability to save 4K video to a memory card. If shooting photos and videos in low light is your priority, then the A7S is a good option. Otherwise, the A7 II, with its higher resolution and stabilization, wins.

10 Pentax K-1

Want to stand out from the crowd? The Pentax full-frame DSLR allows you to gain a new working experience.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Permission: 36.4MP
Lens mount: Pentax K
Screen: 2-inch, oblique, 1,037,000 dots
Viewfinder: Optic
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps
Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Price: 135 thousand rub/body

The camera has built-in sensor-shift image stabilization. At the same time, the sluggish autofocus system and the lack of 4K video are disappointing.

Ricoh doesn't offer a wide selection of full-frame cameras, but the company knows how to make quality devices. The K-1 is a camera that stands out from the crowd with its 5-axis stabilization technology with 5 stops of shake compensation. There is also Pixel Shift, which will increase the resolution of photos by shooting multiple frames with a sensor shift of 1 pixel. Also very interesting is the Astrotracer system, which uses GPS data to move the sensor following the movement of stars in the sky when shooting with long exposures to obtain the best sharpness. At 36.4MP resolution, the K-1 camera is similar to the Nikon D810. It also does not have an anti-aliasing filter. The Pentax K-1 offers great value for money, so if you want high full-frame sensor resolution, stabilization and excellent image quality, and are less concerned about autofocus speed, then the K-1 should be a great value proposition for you.

Today we have an extremely 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 “full frame”, how does it differ from “crop”, and which is better for you? These are the topics I propose to talk about.

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 dimensions that today are used as a starting point when defining such a concept as “Crop factor”. The crop factor today is the ratio of the diagonal of 35mm film to the diagonal of the matrix of the camera in question. It is worth noting that 35mm itself is the width of the film; its diagonal is 43.3 mm.

Cameras with a crop factor of 1 are called full frame. Modern examples such cameras – 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 (amateur Canon DSLRs have a crop factor of 1.6). Examples of such cameras: Nikon D7000, Canon 100D, Pentax K3 and so on. Compact cameras today they can have a crop factor like that of decent SLR cameras (Fujifilm X100T has a crop factor of 1.5), or they can have tiny 1/2.3″ matrices (crop factor 5.62).

Nikon D800 camera “cutaway”. What glows green is the matrix

As should already be clear, the smaller the crop factor, the larger the matrix and the more expensive the camera. The size of the matrix affects the final price of the camera like nothing else. For those who are especially curious, I’ll also note this: interesting fact: There are digital cameras that have a crop factor of less than one (for example, 0.71). Such cameras are called “medium format”. But this is a very specific technique that we won’t talk about anymore today. Those who need such cameras already know enough about them.

Returning to pricing policy, let's see what we have here with camera prices. 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 DSLRs today Canon cameras and Nikon), then their price is around 40-45 thousand rubles. At the same time, the Nikon D7100 differs from the Nikon D600, essentially 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 photo appears. Everyone has seen pictures from point-and-shoot cameras in which small objects have no details - this is precisely the drawback of a small matrix.
Less noise in photos taken at high ISOs. Indeed, the size of the matrix greatly affects the amount of noise in photographs.
Halftones are better developed, transitions from one color to another are smoother than on small matrices.
Less depth of field, which bokeh lovers will certainly appreciate.
Focal lengths are more common. The equivalent and actual focal lengths for the full 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 matrix, the more expensive the camera. On the other hand, the more details in the pictures, the less noise, the more beautiful the “bokeh”. Now let's think about whether you need this?

If you are buying your first DSLR or mirrorless camera, then buying a full-frame camera does not make sense. The difference in image quality between a crop DSLR and a point-and-shoot camera is very large. But the difference in technical image 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 can’t see the difference...

Beautiful background blur is easier to achieve with a full-frame camera

But there is a difference, only experienced amateur 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 equipment today is unreasonably high. 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 comparison between full-frame and crop sensors.

Comparison of FF and APS-C: noise

First of all, let's compare the crop camera and FF for noise. The crop role is a camera with a Canon 100D APS-C 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 photo was taken on Nikon D610 at ISO 3200

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

This is the so-called “crop” of the first frame - a cut out section of the image

And this is a cropped section of the second image taken on a full frame camera

Second frame crop from Canon 100D

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

The frames above show the difference between full-format and APS-C matrices much better. The noise in photos from the Canon 100D is more pronounced than in those taken from the Nikon D610.

Comparison of FF and APS-C: dynamic range

Dynamic range is one of the key characteristics photomatrices. We will not talk about it in detail - this is a topic for a separate article. But the key thing that interests us is the possibility of post-processing the resulting images in situations, for example, when the frame is too dark, and we have to change its exposure in a graphics editor. Below you can see two such frames that we will try to “pull out”. The first was shot on a Canon 100D, the second on a Nikon D610. Please 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 take a look at the crops of these frames to see how the images handled shadow extraction.

Shot from Canon 100D after shadow extraction

Shot from Nikon D610 after extracting shadows. This part of the frame on the FF camera is already moving into the blur zone. Ignore it - look at the noise

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

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