Advances in technology in high-resolution sensors have made full-frame cameras more accessible than ever.

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However, technological advances have also been significant for crop-sensor cameras. Which one should photographers choose?

There still is a price difference between a crop-sensor (APS-C) and a full-frame, with a full-frame being the pricier option. The good news is that advances in crop-sensor technology mean you can shoot images up to 50MB in resolution.

Do you really need to pony up the money for a full frame, or is a crop-sensor enough for your needs? What are the differences between the two cameras? Are they significant enough to justify putting up the money for the more expensive camera?

You'll need to look back in time, so to speak, to understand a fundamental difference between crop-sensor and full-frame cameras. The crop-sensor cameras have a smaller image sensor than the physical frame of a 35mm film camera.

You'll find that entry-level and mid-range DSLRs and many mirrorlesses or compact system cameras (CSCs) also have smaller systems. Why does that matter? Those sensors produce images with a narrower angle of view. Their sensors can't capture a scene the same way or size that a full-frame camera can.

We've put together a six-point comparison of the full-frame vs. crop-sensor (APS-C) systems to help you decide.

Full frame vs. APS-C

Sensor sizes: A full-frame sensor measures 36mm x 24mm, the standard size for 35mm cameras. APS-C sensor size is smaller, measuring 23.6mm x 15.7mm.
Lower costs: There is a difference in costs because the sensor is one of the most expensive things in a camera. The smaller sensor is less expensive to produce. The smaller the camera body, the fewer materials used, making it cheaper to manufacture.
Image quality: Overall, a full-frame camera gives you a wider dynamic range than an APS-C camera with the same pixel count. Interestingly, though, the smaller pixel size of APS-C-sized sensors at low sensitivity settings could enable you to capture more fine detail.
Body size: You will get better dynamic range, resolution, and images overall at higher ISO settings with full-frame cameras. While full-frames are getting smaller (think Sony's A7 range), you typically sacrifice body size for better images. The full-frame camera's body is larger than an APS-C. It's something to consider when selecting a camera. If you spend a lot of your time lugging your camera around, you might prefer a smaller camera body with a high-quality sensor.
Low light: A full-frame will get you more noise-free images in low-light conditions. Assuming the same pixel count, the full-frame camera typically has larger photoreceptors (pixels), gathering more light and giving a more robust image signal. This means you can raise the ISO up to higher settings with a full-frame camera. If you often or typically shoot in low-light conditions, a full-frame would be the better choice.
Viewfinder performance: Scenes appear better and brighter in a full-frame viewfinder than in an APS-C viewfinder. This is because a full-frame camera uses a bigger mirror than the APS-C. Keep in mind that APS-C and full-frame mirrorless cameras use electronic viewfinders (EVF). Another critical point is that APS-C format mirrorless cameras have the same size and resolution EVF as full-frame models.

Full frame vs. APS-C Lenses

Costs: There is a big difference in lens pricing for the two camera types. Full-frame lenses can be expensive, often costing significantly more than the camera. On the plus side, they can last forever!
Interchanging: In some cases, you can use an APS-C lens on a full-frame camera - but not always. Two brands that can allow for some interchanging are Nikon and Sony. Alas, Canon's EF-S (APS-C format) lenses do not. Nikon's full-frame (FX) DSLRs and Sony's A7-series cameras can automatically restrict the sensor area to an APS-C-size rectangle in the middle of the frame. While you won't benefit from your full-frame camera's resolution, the lenses can be used.
Wider Lenses: Using full-frame lenses mounted on a full-frame camera gives you their true focal length. So if you use a wide-angle lens on a full frame, you'll get a true wide-angle without needing to calculate the effective focal length.
File size: Higher resolution images produce bigger file sizes. It doesn't matter if you're shooting with an APS-C or a full-frame or cropped sensor camera. You'll need to account for more storage capacity needs, including memory cards and storage options.

We hope you found this side-by-side comparison of a full-frame vs. a crop-sensor useful. Ultimately, it depends on your needs and photography.

A full-frame camera might be better for one kind of photographer. In comparison, a crop-sensor camera might be better for another. Using our guide, we suggest carefully considering what, how, and where you shoot before choosing which type of camera to use or purchase.

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