Guide to Buying Cameras, Part 2
Crop sensors, full-frame, and mirrorless cameras are the three types available to the photographer. There are lots of camera brands and models to choose from and whatever you decide to shoot with is great. Fall in love with your gear just like the way a teacher falls in love with the subject she teaches. Cameras are more than just tools. View the camera as the eye, your eye. Whatever your eye sees enters your soul. Whatever the camera captures enters its soul (its storage).
Crop and Full-Frame Sensors
A camera is its sensor. Without a sensor, a camera cannot record images. A digital camera uses an array of millions of tiny light cavities to record an image. Light enters your camera through the aperture (which I will discuss later) and then reaches the sensor and this is where images are recorded/produced. The sensor determines the image size, resolution, low light performance, dynamic range, and lenses.
Crop sensors are the most common in entry-level cameras. Examples are Nikon D3300, D7100, Canon 60D, Canon T6…
A crop sensor trims or crops the edges of the frame. Most photographers, after spending some time in photography, like to go for full-frame cameras. Each camera manufacturer has different crop factors. Canon has a crop sensor with a crop factor of 1.6X and Nikon’s crop factor; of 1.5X. There are some advantages associated with having a crop sensor gear. They allow you to get closer to your subjects (more zoom) and because you easily get closer to your subjects, crop sensor frames are great for macro photography but to achieve better results you’ll need to get yourself a macro lens.
Full-Frames
Every photographer adores them. I’m hoping to get myself one soon. Most photographers cannot help but save enough money to get one for themselves. The biggest advantage of using the full-frame is the quality it produces. They also create a shallower depth of field as compared to crop sensors. They are beautiful. Full frames are typically found in high- 22 end DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflex) and increasingly in mirrorless cameras.
Nikon and Canon brands have produced new cameras and are mirrorless with full frames sensors. I guess the future is mirrorless. Nikon released the Z series, Canon released the R series. Newer models; both full-frame DSLR and mirrorless cameras are quite expensive but older ones are sold for less.
Full frames cannot use lenses designed for crop sensors or at least can’t use them to their full potential. The truth is, not everyone needs a full-frame camera to create beautiful images. A crop sensor is many times larger than what we have in our smartphones.
The better light, high resolution, dynamic range, and blurrier backgrounds make full frames a favorite among pros. But no artist needs to focus on equipment, you need to focus on creation. The great camera you think you need is the one you already own. You can create magic with it and surprise the rat racers chasing equipment. Examples of full frames include; Nikon D750, Canon 5D Mark IV, Sony AR7II.
Now that you have read up to this point, tap on this link to have access to my book, which will guide you if you want to purchase a camera.
