Sensors

Q: Should I buy a medium format, full frame, APS-C, or Micro 4/3’s sensored camera?

A: Either a full frame or APS-C sensored camera. A camera system that is larger than full frame will be prohibitively heavy and expensive. Smaller than APS-C is fine for web only use or enlargements up to 12×18 but larger than that and a larger sensor would be preferred.

Q: Should I buy a full frame or APS-C sensored camera?

A: Ideally I’d recommend both, but start out with an APS-C camera.

SensorSizesSmall

APS-C

  1. Significantly less expensive compared to full frame
  2. Smaller bodies
  3. Extends telephotos
  4. Can use an adaptor and use all the full frame lenses though multiply the focal length by 1.6

Cons

  1. Extends wide angles by 1.6x
  2. Fewer lenses and no L lenses. Few fast primes

Myth of the Myth of the upgrade path path from APS-C to full frame.  The reality is a photographer often has more than one system for different purposes. I have both an APS-C system for general use, hiking, traveling, vacations, product, real estate photography. The full frame is for situations that are a relatively close walk to the car and where there is a good probability I will enlarge the images I’m taking to 12×18 or larger.