Crop sensor or Full frame camera for wildlife and nature?

9 years 3 months ago #420914 by Jackson Rieger
Have you heard one being better than the other? I'm being vague here because I just read a bloggers post that strongly suggested one was better than the other.  Well I'll just say, they said crop was better because you get the extra distance.  I have a D300 and was shopping for a full frame.  I really enjoy shooting wildlife and nature.   Now couldn't you just use a teleconverter with the full frame? 


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9 years 3 months ago #420945 by effron
Yes, and you get no better "distance" with a crop body. Its a CROP. The lens renders the same size image onto the sensor.  Most of the paid pros use a full frame for wildlife, so there goes that crop advantage.....I have both and shoot the D7100 for wildlife if I have enough light and don't feel like lugging my D800 gear a long way. Its also not as rugged and weather resistant.  Both are fine systems in capable hands, and that's what I wish for next.....;)

Why so serious?
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9 years 3 months ago #420976 by garyrhook
:agree:

A crop sensor is (all else being equal) going to pack more pixels in a small area. You may benefit from this with respect to detail.

Now do the math with an older drop sensor and a new full size sensor: (Using a D5100 and a D750 for this illustration)

If you have an APS-C sensor with 16M pixels, and a full frame with 24M pixels, but a crop factor of 1.6, you get:

24 / 1.6 = 15M pixels in a comparable space.

The full frame is slightly less dense than the older crop. But for me, it's a nit.

Buy the full frame and stop worrying about it.


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9 years 3 months ago #421000 by ThatNikonGuy
Negligible difference IMO, I would get what you want to get


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9 years 3 months ago #421013 by Hassner
I love to crop "in camera" and not while processing.
Get my composition perfect before I expose.
Only for that reason I would prefer the crop sensor.


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9 years 3 months ago #421025 by garyrhook
It's also important to note that the Nikon fullframe bodies have a "crop" mode, wherein you can choose to use a smaller area of the sensor. Silly, if you are going to use PP, but it's there.


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9 years 3 months ago #421066 by Justin

garyrhook wrote: It's also important to note that the Nikon fullframe bodies have a "crop" mode, wherein you can choose to use a smaller area of the sensor. Silly, if you are going to use PP, but it's there.



Just to clarify, PP= post processing?  

Very nice to meet you!
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9 years 3 months ago #421071 by garyrhook
[quote="Justin" post=421066Just to clarify, PP= post processing?  [/quote]

Precisely.


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9 years 3 months ago #421087 by effron

garyrhook wrote: It's also important to note that the Nikon fullframe bodies have a "crop" mode, wherein you can choose to use a smaller area of the sensor. Silly, if you are going to use PP, but it's there.


That's a handy feature if you want to use a DX lens on the full frame body.......;)

Why so serious?
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9 years 3 months ago #421101 by Anthony-Clay
Well.....Thanks Mr. Gary Hook for pointing me in this Direction.
 I have been pondering this same question, as I am suddenly thrusted into the market for new gear! I have been reading that one is better than the other. I am an ENTHUSIAST I do not get paid for my shots! 
 


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