When it comes to learning how to shoot video, one of the big questions we get asked a lot is, “Should I buy a full-frame or a cropped-frame camera”?
The answer is actually quite simple.
A full-frame camera gives better quality than any other type of camera because of the full-frame sensor that captures a broad dynamic range and its ability to produce excellent results in low light conditions. It’s what you need if you’re making professional-grade content.
However, it’s bulky and expensive and not suitable for everyone, so in this article, we’ll talk about when cropped-frame cameras are the right choice for your project! Read on!
What Is A Full-Frame Camera?
A full-frame camera is a camera that is either mirrorless or an SLR featuring a full-frame sensor allowing the photographer and videographer to take sharp pictures and videos in low-light settings.
Besides, no photo has a well-detailed crop feature. What is a crop factor? It is a feature that cuts images due to a small sensor that can’t make a complete picture. The megapixels may have similar megapixels as a small sensor camera.
The pixels are well-distributed on a large surface, capturing more light and making the sensor light sensitive. Therefore, a videographer can take sharp and clear videos with a full-frame camera despite the light situations.
Is It Worth It To Get A Full-Frame Camera For Video?
Videographers who want to invest in a camera always question the camera type and reasons why the product suits best? In this case, we examine full-frame cameras’ functionality and if they are worthy of your money. Unfortunately, there is no direct response to the question since it depends on several reasons, including:
- The lens that you own
If the lens you own has a cropped format, you are looking for an upgrade for your lens and, how good is the lens you own? A full-frame sensor demands a good quality lens since transiting from crop to full-frame will give you a highlight of flaws that are absent in crop sensors. Lastly, the angle you use to take videos and pictures? If your field is a telephoto shooter, a full-frame is a terrible option.
- What shooting style do you use?
Photographers tend to have their preferred shooting style, and if you are dominant in wide-angle shooting, going full-frame is the best option you can do for your career. A full-frame camera will give you an advantage over wide-angle lenses.
For a photographer into shallow DOF, full-frame cameras are necessary since their sensors offer you a shallow depth. Finally, there is a question of light whether you work in a low light setting or not?
If yes, full-frame cameras are necessary since they take sharp and clear images and videos in low-light photography.
- Are you into landscape or product photographer?
If yes, investing in a full-frame camera gives an excellent resolution and outstanding IQ resulting in high-quality videos and images.
If your need matches a reason, mainly the three above, then buy a full-frame camera by all means. But are full-frame cameras better for videos? You can comfortably answer this question basing on the time you take your videos, type of videos, and your shooting style.
However, going full-frame comes with its flaws, including high cost, fast computers, high media storage, and large equipment. If going full-frame is the best for your career and you can learn to leave with the flaws since nothing is perfect, then invest in the product for a new venture.
Full-Frame VS APS-C For Video
When dealing with videography cameras, you often find many questions regarding professionals’ best option, especially the full-frame VS the APS-C (Advanced Photo System type-C ) comparison.
Why is that? The two cameras are popular in videography, making them the focus of most professionals. This piece explains the basics of the two types of cameras and considerations before settling for any option. Check it out!
- Design
In the lens feature, when the APS-C matches a full-frame, and the significant difference between the two products is how they display images. The APS-C sensors zoom your pictures while the full-frame gives you a wider field of view. The zoomed-in feature makes your videos and photos look more apparent, especially when dealing with images with a telescoping viewing.
APS-C has a smaller sensor than a full-frame camera, which is an advantage in cases when you don’t need big images like that projected by a full-frame camera.
- Cost
There is an issue of when you should invest in a full-frame camera and are full-frame cameras better for videos? Unfortunately, there is no exact response to when to buy a full-frame camera since they are issues with preferences and full-frame camera features. When you invest in a new product for experienced videographers, it depends on you. It is a question of what you need in your professional experience. You can try out both cameras and conclude which type to buy depending on how your videos look.
There are details of where you draw the line as a professional considering cost features, size, what you are shooting, and the budget. Different professional photographers and videographers work in other companies and have different budgets depending on what you are shooting and the person receiving the shoots?
As a startup with a tight budget, it is essential to consider what type of camera you will buy. Full-frame cameras are more expensive and more prominent in size, putting off professionals with lower budgets. It’s not worth buying a camera that you can’t afford at the time because you may be able to shift to full-frame cameras in the future.
Can You Compensate A Zoomed Sensor With A Wider Lens?
Yes, you can compensate. The main difference between APS-C and full-frame cameras is how they display images from an APS-C camera look zoomed in and a bit compressed while the full-frame looks less sharp and the background setting looks more relaxed. You can deal with this difference by investing in a wider lens for the zoomed-in sensor, and you are good to go.
Since Full-Frame Is More Expensive, Does That Make Them Better?
Full-frame are more costly since they feature a more comprehensive lens; hence more expensive, glasses are more extensive, and all the other features are also more prominent than the APS-C camera. However, the videographer’s best option depends on your situation and your work environment.
- Light Setting
The APS-C cameras struggle with the light sensor feature’s low light setting, while full-frame cameras can take amazing videos with a soft light background. These details take us back to where you shoot videos and the time you take the videos.
Before investing in APS-C or full-frame, you must understand your situation as a photographer; only through that can you make a great choice of the camera to use in your job. In conclusion, if you work in a low-light setting, then buy the full-frame camera, but otherwise, the APS-C will do the job.
The full-frame and APS-C cameras both have their flaws and advantages making it impossible to state which option is better since it mainly depends on your situation. However, if you have the resources and often venture into different types of videos, you can choose to invest in the two products.
If you are into blogging, then the APS-C camera is the best option, but for cinematic videos like wedding videos, the full-frame is the better choice. From the information above, we believe that you can comfortably choose what to buy between the two at any time.
- Full-frame VS crop sensor for video
Many people often question full-frame sensors to crop sensors, wondering if full cameras are better for videos. Full sensors have lower noise, megapixels, and capture more light.
Unfortunately, cameras are missing both the 4k and 1080p resolution, and that is where the real issue begins with sensors featuring higher MP than what the videos need.
A videographer can choose to use the full sensor size but with specific pixels to achieve the necessary resolution. In contrast, others would crop into a sensor and achieve 1:1 pixels essential for the video.
The first option reaches a full sensor size but loses the clarity and sharpness feature, while the second option gives you the sharpest images at the loss of the full sensor feature.
Why Is Full-Frame Uncommon among the Old Videographers?
Suppose you are a professional videographer and have been working for years. Are you confident about why a full-frame was not a typical camera, and do you know why earlier professionals preferred other cameras?
Other popular cameras include a deeper depth feature which is a desirable feature in videos. Simultaneously, the full-frame has a shallow depth setting explaining why this article advises you to go full-frame about some parts.
- Heat and power
Initially, the Full-frame cameras were more significant and expensive to buy. Not to mention, full-frame cameras released more heat and used more power. However, other than the cost feature, the different components are better since the full-frame cameras no longer dissipate excess heat or use more power energy in models such as the A7Rii.
The full-frame is becoming a great option in videography and cinema, but they must lend a hand to the story.
- Lenses
Professional videographers and photographers often offer the same kind of advice to beginners that investing in powerful lenses is the key to achieving the best pictures and images; of course, skills also matter.
Suppose you have used the two camera sensors. In that case, you must know that it is almost impossible to tell the difference between images from each camera and for clients. They will never notice the difference unless with a photographic background.
However, you will quickly know which image or video is better regardless of the camera the professional uses when it comes to the lenses.
Lenses pose the question of details, sharpness, and other effects. Therefore, if you are a newbie and the budget is tight, use the extra cash to get a great lens to kick off your career as a professional videographer.
- Quality vs. Experience
Startups have this issue, insecurity about the equipment they have since society depicts that good videos and cameras are all about equipment giving skills a 10% ratio with equipment getting 90% or more.
However, this information is untrue and a misconception that people keep passing on to the new generation. The truth is the percentage is vice versa which is evident with the good old professionals keeping their first cameras since it still does wonders in the business.
The type of videos and images professionals take depends on their eye focus, skills, and, in some cases, experience. Whether you are an avid videographer or beginner, crafts will sell you out and place you either in the top rank or lower rank.
As mentioned above, the question of investing in a full-frame camera depends on several features? It is the question of are full-frame cameras better for videos that you are taking?
It means that you only get a full-frame if necessary depending on the lighting feature, full-length images, and the shooting depth, since why invest in a product that doesn’t make your work easier and better.
What Feature A Professional Videographer Must Consider?
It is no secret that all professional videographers and photographers want to take amazing videos and images to make them stand out in the market, which is expected considering all professionals to be the best in what they do. Besides the type of camera, one of the requirements includes getting high-quality lenses.
You can always upgrade the body feature explaining why professionals often advise newbies to get the best lenses. If you are a startup, then go out there and get the best lens for high-quality videos and pictures and sell yourself out to the world.
Is Becoming The Best Mainly About The Equipment?
As a beginner, there is always an issue with insecurities of what equipment you have as you start taking pictures and videos. Generally, people think that a piece of great equipment means becoming a better videographer and vice versa.
But is this information factual? It is not since the type of videos and photos a professional takes depends on their focus skills. I am not saying good equipment is terrible, but you don’t have to feel insecure about your career just because your camera isn’t that great since you can always work hard to get a better option.
Many people and families have this issue of having an old professional photographer or studio that they have been receiving services for years, explaining why newbies are scared of starting off and not getting the chance to prove themselves.
But many people in the photographer and videographer business know good things have a way of attracting customers, which should help startups feel confident about their work as long as they are good at it.
Are Full-Frame Cameras Better For Videos Than Other Cameras?
Since the first full-frame camera release, there have been many opinions on its functionality features, especially when taking videos. Many quickly concluded that full-frame cameras are the best options for high prices than other cameras. Many of these people invested in these cameras. Still, the photographers’ level of satisfaction varied, raising the concerns of full-frame cameras and the areas of use in the videography world.
Full-frame cameras have more prominent features than other cameras where the size is more extensive, wider lens, giant glasses, and others, explaining why these products are more expensive. Whether these features suit you as a videographer depends on the shooting style, lighting settings of where you work, and the shooting depth.
If your shooting requires a wide-angle, low-light environment and shallow shooting depth, you must have a fantastic experience with the camera. However, if the shooting conditions were high lighting, deeper depth shooting, and a narrow-angle, then all you had were complaints about the products.
The two situations above tell us that whether you get full-frame cameras and better than other cameras depends on you. It depends on your case as a videographer and not on the camera. As a result, professional videographers should understand their shooting standard before blindly buying a product to prevent terrible choices.
Final Words
It is no secret that a professional videographer or photographer’s primary assistant is his or her camera since it is the work tool. However, with the many camera choices available, many customers are often in a dilemma of what to buy.
As a photographer, you should understand every feature of the camera you want to buy and how these features contribute to your work. Also, identify why one option is better than the other concerning your working conditions.