Full Frame: Difference between revisions

From Antalya
Jump to: navigation, search
No edit summary
 
(4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
<div class="jumbotron">
<div class="jumbotron">
==The full 35mm photo sensor==
==The full 35mm photo sensor==
This is a large photosensor that is (more or less) the same size of the traditional 35mm.
This is a large photosensor that is (more or less) the same size of the traditional 35mm film.  
</div>
</div>


Line 12: Line 12:
<div class="col-xs-12 col-md-8 col-lg-8">
<div class="col-xs-12 col-md-8 col-lg-8">
<div class="panel panel-default">
<div class="panel panel-default">
<div class="panel-heading">'''My first Nikon DSLR'''</div>
<div class="panel-heading">'''A lucky coincidence'''</div>
<div class="panel-body">
<div class="panel-body">
'''12 [[Megapixel]] [[APS-C]]'''<br>
[[Digital]] [[cameras]] rely on image sensors instead of photographic film to capture images. For [[analog]] photography, the 35mm film had established it over many years. The size of the film also determined the parameters of the [[lenses]] as they needed to be designed in a way to illuminate the full size of the film. Once [[digital]] cameras started appearing, the film was replaced by an image sensor that could convert the light intensity to an electrical signal.  
It was a complete coincidence that I ended up buying this camera. I was using smaller compact cameras and wanted to try my hand in something better. It came with a kit [[Nikon 18-105]] lens. I still use this camera, in fact a good portion of my pictures on the [https://twitter.com/pulp_platform PULP Platform twitter page] are made with it. The shutter count is over 60'000 (in more than 10 years), so that gives you some idea on how many pictures you end up making as an extremely trigger happy [[Amateur photography|amateur photographer]].


I loved this camera so much that I bought a second one [[New or used|used]] as part of preparing these pages. This second D90 is in great shape.
At this point it was actually a coincidence that it was still possible to manufacture image sensors the size of 35mm film, roughly 36mm by 24mm. The beauty of this was that, new digital cameras could continue to use all the [[lenses]] developed for 35mm film directly.
</div>
</div>
</div><!-- End of pan -->
</div><!-- End of pan -->
<div class="panel panel-danger">
<div class="panel-heading">'''Why are full frame cameras better/more expensive?'''</div>
<div class="panel-body">
Basically the image sensor is larger. This could be used to have:
* more [[Megapixels|pixels]] in total, which increases the resolution
* larger [[Megapixels|pixels]] which increases the sensitivity to light (i.e. [[ISO]])
These are both good things. Still a full frame sensor is a bit more than 2x the size of a [[APS-C]] sensor, so the increase is limited to this number.
In electronics, the size of the chip (in this case the sensor) determines the cost, so a 2x larger sensor costs 2x more as well. But there is more, since larger chips have a higher chance of having some defects, you get a lower percentage of fully functional sensors when you manufacture larger sensors which increases the cost (for 1000 functioning sensors, you have to manufacture comparatively more as you have more defective sensors). This is why the full frame sensor is actually  more than 2x more costly.
While the resolution is what it is, over time, electronics industry manages to improve the electrical properties of sensors, so newer sensors can be made more sensitive even if they have the same size. This is true both for [[APS-C]] and full frame sensors.
</div>
</div><!-- End of pan -->
</div><!-- end of col-->
</div><!-- end of col-->
</div><!-- end of row-->
</div><!-- end of row-->




[[Category:APS-C]]
=== Further Reading ===
* [[Combine APS-C and full frame cameras]]
* [[Most equipment is more than good enough]]
 
=== Full frame equipment on this wiki===
====[[Cameras]]====
<DynamicPageList>
category = Cameras
category = Full
suppresserrors=true
mode=inline
</DynamicPageList>
 
====[[Lenses]]====
<DynamicPageList>
category = Lenses
category = Full
suppresserrors=true
mode=inline
</DynamicPageList>
[[Category:Cameras]]
[[Category:Cameras]]
{{Photodisclaimer}}
{{Photodisclaimer}}

Latest revision as of 20:38, 12 March 2022


The full 35mm photo sensor

This is a large photosensor that is (more or less) the same size of the traditional 35mm film.

Fullframe.jpg

A lucky coincidence

Digital cameras rely on image sensors instead of photographic film to capture images. For analog photography, the 35mm film had established it over many years. The size of the film also determined the parameters of the lenses as they needed to be designed in a way to illuminate the full size of the film. Once digital cameras started appearing, the film was replaced by an image sensor that could convert the light intensity to an electrical signal.

At this point it was actually a coincidence that it was still possible to manufacture image sensors the size of 35mm film, roughly 36mm by 24mm. The beauty of this was that, new digital cameras could continue to use all the lenses developed for 35mm film directly.

Why are full frame cameras better/more expensive?

Basically the image sensor is larger. This could be used to have:

  • more pixels in total, which increases the resolution
  • larger pixels which increases the sensitivity to light (i.e. ISO)

These are both good things. Still a full frame sensor is a bit more than 2x the size of a APS-C sensor, so the increase is limited to this number.

In electronics, the size of the chip (in this case the sensor) determines the cost, so a 2x larger sensor costs 2x more as well. But there is more, since larger chips have a higher chance of having some defects, you get a lower percentage of fully functional sensors when you manufacture larger sensors which increases the cost (for 1000 functioning sensors, you have to manufacture comparatively more as you have more defective sensors). This is why the full frame sensor is actually more than 2x more costly.

While the resolution is what it is, over time, electronics industry manages to improve the electrical properties of sensors, so newer sensors can be made more sensitive even if they have the same size. This is true both for APS-C and full frame sensors.



Further Reading

Full frame equipment on this wiki

Cameras

Canon EOS RP, Nikon D850, Nikon D750, Nikon D610, Nikon D700


Lenses



These pages are for Amateur Photographers and not really for seasoned photographers and professionals. I have no affiliation or commercial interest with any brand/make. I write from my own experience. I ended up using mainly Nikon, so I am more familiar with this brand than others. See price for notes on pricing as well as photography related links.