Crop Sensor vs. Full Frame - Part 1: Differences | Bergen County Photographer

When it comes to digital cameras, there are two main categories: the ones with crop sensor and the ones with full frame sensor. Each sensor size has its pros and cons and once you figure out what your photography goals are, you will be able to make an informed decision in which piece of equipment is necessary to get the job done.

A camera sensor is a piece of hardware that captures the light that comes through the lens and transforms it into an image. Generally speaking, the larger the sensor, the more light and detail your camera is able to capture and the higher the image quality.

A full frame camera has a sensor the size of a 35mm film camera, while a crop sensor camera has a smaller sensor, usually an APS-C or micro 4/3. since the crop sensor is smaller than the standard 35 mm, it introduces a crop factor to the photos taken with this camera, meaning the edges of the photograph with be cropped to tighter field of view. As an example, if you use a 50mm focal lens on a crop sensor camera, it has an effective focal length of 75mm when the sensor has a multiplying factor of 1.5x

Different cameras have different crop factors. If you would like to find the equivalent angle of view of your camera, you have to multiply the magnification amount by the focal length of the lens. The APS-C sensor has a 1.6x crop sensor while the micro 4/3 has a 1.5x crop sensor.

As I always say, photography equipment is a means to an end. Understanding how these tools work will help you make an informed decision when it comes to using your equipment. Now that we talked about the differences between crop sensor and full frame, next week I will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of full frame.

Full Frame vs. APS-C