Digital Mirrorless Cameras
Having used different cameras and different sensor sizes, I studied many images. I learned that placing too much focus on sensor size, does not improve my own ability to take better image. I do believe sensor size plays a role in finding the best camera. That said, this short article will demonstrate why the camera lens and photography style are more important than sensor size. Consider sensor size like you would consider a lens. Example, portrait photographers typically prefer to work with a 85mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, landscape photographers will prefer wide angle lenses. It would be incorrect for anybody to go ahead and say, you will need a 85mm lens or a standard zoom lens without first understanding your unique photography needs. Example: After several years using my Olympus EM1, I know it backwards. For somebody to come and claim a full frame camera will improve my results would be inaccurate. My personal introductory experience with a FF camera proofed just that. Reason is, I simply did not have the same experience or know-how with the full frame camera as I had with my Olympus EM1.
So each time I tried the full frame camera I battled finding or using everyday functions. I then automatically reached for my Olympus. Based on this experience, if I go claim the full frame camera is a bad camera, it will also be inaccurate? Olympus OMD EM1 MKII with 30mm Sigma lens. In your search for the best camera you will learn several theories explaining why full frame cameras are better than crop sensor cameras. Sales people will claim that full frame cameras have larger sensors and therefore collect more light. Some will refer to the so called "full frame" look, others will explain that large sensors will result in less image noise. These "selling points" are all complex sales arguments and requires experienced photographers to explain. If you simply go and apply a "linear thinking" process, you will eventually be surprised to learn a mobile phone can take pictures. See my separate article that provides more information to these more complex discussions.
When you study camera trends you will see manufacturers are moving away from general type cameras and towards application specific cameras. Examples are, sports photography, young vloggers, bird photography, underwater photography, video specific cameras, drone cameras and many more. GoPro is probably one of the best examples demonstrating this trend. Camera manufacturers use different sensor sizes to design and manufacture these application specific cameras. I believe there is a good reason for that. Manufacturers know it's not the sensor but the sum of parts that builds a great camera. The answer often is, NOTHING! We mentioned trends and various reasons why sensor size should not be your main consideration. In the following paragraphs we will look at a few practical aspects. My aim is to help you expand your thinking when evaluating cameras. Preparing for an image, things like framing are totally disconnected from sensor size, one would typically take a few steps forward or backward or sideways to get the best image framing.
One sensor format will require two or three steps forward or backward whereas another format will require one step or half a step. The same is true for depth of field (DOF) or focus range. Whatever sensor size you use, you will first select the right lens or focal length and then the aperture setting. When taking landscape images with a micro four thirds camera you will typically use aperture values ranging from f8.0 to f11.0. The equivalent full frame apertures will then be F16 to f22. As an example, see the two product photos in this article, one taken with the Sony A7 and the other with the Olympus EM1. Using the same aperture settings for both cameras, you can see the Olympus image is sharp from front to back while the Sony image does not have the full product in focus. To have more of the Sony image in focus, the photographer will select a smaller aperture.
Increasing the aperture will negatively impact lens performance. To cope with that camera manufacturers use more expensive manufacturing techniques and higher quality optical elements. Full frame cameras are known for its ability to create background blur. The full frame photographer will use an aperture value of f2.0 to create good subject isolation and background blur. To achieve an "equivalent" background blur the micro four thirds camera needs to go down to f1.2. This will require a pro level micro four thirds lens. We have seen this far that sensor size does have an impact on your photography style. We also saw that specific image requirements like, a tight DOF, subject isolation, landscapes or product photography, will all force you to plan for your next camera / lens purchase. All these points should be on your priority list when shopping for a camera. Example:- Full frame camera/lens combinations are generally bigger and heavier than crop sensor cameras.
