A common misconception among some photographers is that full frame cameras are light years better than crop sensor cameras.
Now, I won't deny that full frame cameras offer some benefits that make them a desirable purchase.
But are they a necessary expense?
In the video above, the folks from Mango Street put this very question to the test.
Shooting with entry-level Canon EOS Rebel T3i cameras, they demonstrate that crop sensor cameras with basic lenses are more than capable of taking nice photos, as long as the person holding the camera has the right photography skills.
To make it interesting, Mango Street brought in their friend Justin, who is not a photographer, and gave him a top-of-the-line full frame Canon 5D Mark IV with a 30mm f/1.4 lens.
The T3i setups can be found for about $329 used. Comparatively, the 5D Mark IV body by itself will run you about $3,300.
Let's see the results, and explore why the pros with the entry-level cameras got better shots in this full frame vs crop sensor battle.
Editor's Tip: Not sure what lens to buy to go with your camera? Read this guide before you spend a dime.
The Pros Gave the Model Lots of Direction
As you watch the video, one of the things that's immediately apparent is that Justin, the non-photographer, doesn't give the model as much direction as the pros do.
Even when working with a professional model, they still can't read your mind. That means that you need to communicate with them exactly what it is you want them to do so you can fulfill your creative vision.
Though the image above by the non-pro photographer isn't bad from a compositional standpoint, it isn't perfectly in focus. That's a big no-no!
Then, in looking at the image above by a pro photographer, you can see a huge difference in how the image feels.
In this shot, the model is posed much more dramatically and with more detail. As a result, the photo feels more intimate than in the previous shot. Plus, it's in focus!
Learn More:
- What You Need to Know About Full Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras
- Camera Gear Recommendations for Budget-Minded Buyers
The Pros Paid Attention to the Background
Again, we have a pretty good shot above by the non-professional photographer.
But if you look closely at the right side of the frame, you can see that he framed the shot in a way that shows the edge of the white backdrop.
This isn't a huge deal since the photo can be cropped in a way to take care of this problem.
But if you don't pay attention the background when you take your photos, you'll eventually run into a case in which cropping it out isn't an option.
At that point, it makes no difference how expensive your camera is - you have to understand how to compose and frame a photo first.
In this example, you can see how the pros not only paid attention to the background, but framed the shot in a way that made use of other features to make the image more interesting.
By bringing the model next to the window, the pros were able to make better use of the natural light.
Not only that, the grid of the window pane adds a little structure and texture to the shot, while giving the model something to touch and reach out for, again, making the shot more interesting to view.
Editor's Tip: Your photos deserve to be seen hanging on a wall. See what your images would look like as fine art prints.
The Pros Found More Interesting Vantage Points
No matter if you're taking a portrait, shooting a landscape, photographing buildings, or something in between, something that sets the work of a pro photographer apart from a novice is the way that perspective is used.
In the example image above, the non-photographer in this experiment found an interesting way to photograph this model from above.
It's a decent shot, although the framing is a little on the tight side.
But again, looking at the work of the pro photographers, you can immediately see a difference in how perspective is used.
The addition of the mirror to capture the model's face gives this photo character, whimsy, and uniqueness that the previous photo cannot match.
Finding unique and interesting ways to photograph your subject is a skill that takes some time, but can make a ton of difference in the quality of your photos.
Learn More:
Full Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras
As we've seen in these sample images, crop sensor cameras have all the tools you need to take fantastic photos, assuming that you understand how to use the camera in the first place.
Sure, a full frame camera typically has better low-light performance, a higher-resolution sensor, and better autofocus capabilities (among many other things) than a crop sensor camera.
But all those bells and whistles won't do you any good if you don't have the fundamentals of photography down pat.
So, if you think that the difference between full frame and crop sensor cameras will make you a better photographer, think again.
Instead, use the crop sensor camera you already have to learn how to compose a quality shot, to figure out how to meter for light, and to master the art of shooting in manual mode.
You can use your crop sensor camera to learn about white balance, framing, manual focus, and a host of other must-have skills as well, too.
In other words, invest in educating yourself about photography and the essential skills required to take a solid photo.
And then, once you've got those skills down pat and you've grown beyond the capabilities of your crop sensor camera, try investing in a full frame.