Full frame

Definition

Full frame refers to a specific sensor size in digital photography and cinematography, which measures 36mm x 24mm, matching the size of a 35mm film frame. This sensor size is significant because it provides a wider field of view, better depth of field control, and improved low-light performance compared to smaller sensors. Full frame sensors are often favored for their ability to capture high-resolution images with less noise, making them ideal for professional work.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Full frame sensors are commonly used in high-end DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, catering to professional photographers and videographers who demand superior image quality.
2. Using a full frame sensor allows for a shallower depth of field, which helps create beautiful background blur (bokeh) that enhances subject isolation.
3. Full frame cameras often perform better in low-light situations because they can capture more light due to their larger sensor area, resulting in clearer images with less noise.
4. Lenses designed for full frame cameras can be used on crop-sensor cameras, but the crop factor will alter the effective focal length, making them behave differently.
5. The choice between full frame and smaller sensors often depends on the type of work being done; full frame is preferred for landscapes, portraits, and any work requiring high resolution.

Review Questions

• How does the full frame sensor size impact the depth of field and low-light performance compared to smaller sensors?
  • The full frame sensor size significantly affects both depth of field and low-light performance. A larger sensor allows for a shallower depth of field, which creates a more pronounced background blur and emphasizes the subject. Additionally, full frame sensors have greater surface area to capture light, improving low-light performance by reducing noise and enabling clearer images even in dim conditions.
• Discuss the implications of using full frame lenses on crop-sensor cameras regarding focal length and composition.
  • When using full frame lenses on crop-sensor cameras, the crop factor effectively multiplies the focal length, leading to a narrower field of view. This means that a 50mm lens on a crop-sensor camera may behave like an 80mm lens due to the crop factor. As a result, photographers need to adjust their composition techniques and may find it challenging to achieve wide-angle shots that are easily captured with full frame cameras.
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of choosing full frame cameras over crop-sensor alternatives for different types of photography.
  • Choosing full frame cameras offers several advantages like superior image quality, better low-light performance, and enhanced creative control through shallow depth of field. These features make full frame ideal for portraiture and landscape photography. However, they tend to be bulkier and more expensive than crop-sensor alternatives. Crop-sensor cameras can be advantageous for travel or wildlife photography due to their lighter weight and longer effective focal lengths while still providing excellent image quality for many situations.

Related terms

Crop Factor:

A ratio that indicates how much smaller a camera's sensor is compared to a full frame sensor, affecting the effective focal length of lenses used.

APS-C: A popular sensor size that measures approximately 22mm x 15mm, smaller than full frame, resulting in a narrower field of view and greater depth of field.

Depth of Field:

The distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image, which can be influenced by sensor size.