Effect of a sensor size to image quality?

4 months 3 days ago #760093 by Flying Pig
A friend and I are having a bit of a disagreement today regarding image quality and sensor size.  I'm going to ask this question as vague as I can, if you can give your two cents on this, that would help us see who was correct about this.  

So back onto the topic, does sensor size impact image quality?  


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4 months 3 days ago #760095 by Esseff
Instagram and facebook: no

Printing and pro work: yes.


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4 months 3 days ago - 4 months 2 days ago #760112 by TCav
'Full Frame' image sensors only have a single stop to a stop and a half advantage, in terms of both image noise and dynamic range, over APS-C sensors.

What's more, 'Full Frame' sensors require 'Full Frame' lenses, which are more prone to vignetting, distortion, chromatic aberration and field curvature, than 'APS-C Only' lenses. So while 'Full Frame' cameras are capable of higher image quality, 'Full Frame' lenses are less likely to deliver it.

In addition, APS-C cameras have a wider selection of lenses than 'Full Frame' cameras do, and get better results from 'Full Frame' lenses to boot.

And, to top it all off, an APS-C system is smaller, lighter and cheaper that a 'Full Frame' system.

If you absolutely, positively need the best possible image quality, go with a larger sensor, but why stop at 'Full Frame' when a 'Medium Format' camera will do even better.

Every argument for 'Full Frame' over APS-C is also an argument for 'Medium Format' over 'Full Frame', and every argument for 'Full Frame' over 'Medium Format' is also an argument for APS-C over 'Full Frame'.


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4 months 2 days ago #760128 by Shadowfixer1
As I am a micro 4/3 shooter I can answer that yes it does, but it depends on how you use the image. I've printed 24" x 36" prints with no issue. An image made in good light will be difficult to tell a difference between m43, aps-c or full frame when printed at a standard size. If you want to zoom into pixel level size, then yes you can see a slight difference. I've seen master printers try to pick out full frame images from m43 and they couldn't do it. Now in low light conditions, the bigger the sensor the better the image. There is also the issue of DOF. If you want super shallow DOF, then bigger is better. These are general rules and can highly depend on pixel density, age of the sensor and processors in the camera. A newer version of a small sensor camera may very well out perform an older full frame model, so the real answer is maybe.    
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4 months 2 days ago #760134 by GodsCreation
:agree:

Couldn't put it better.


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4 months 2 days ago #760135 by GodsCreation
Oops, meant to quote ShadowFixer1, it didn't quite work :silly:


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