Position:Home>Visual Arts> Are non-full-frame CMOS sensor DSLR's adequate for producing top quality lan

RedBad M,


In landscape photography the bigger the format the better!. I personally do not consider APS-C or 35mm adequate for professional quality landscapes!.

If I am specifically shooting postcards or 5x7" or smaller prints I will use a Mamiya RZ67!. If I intend to make the prints 8x10" or bigger I use a Wista 8x10" view camera!.

In a recent issue of Arizona Highways they compared landscape images produced by a FF Canon and those produced by a 4x5" camera!. The difference was quite noticeable!.

The argument for a larger format is not limited to issues of resolution and sharpness!. A larger format also offers a much better tonal range with the graduations being much finer!. It adds much to the aesthetic quality of a finished print!. The advantages of Tilt and Swing cannot be overlooked as well!.

In conclusion, yes, a FF camera will offer a little better picture than APS-C, however, neither offers serious landscape imaging, especially when compared to a large format such as 4x5"!. If you are serious about landscape, invest in a very affordable view camera such as the Toyo 4x5" with a Schneider 150mm and find out for yourself!.

jWww@QuestionHome@Com

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First of all, there's no real difference from a CMOS sensor and a CCD sensor, at least in terms of image quality!. There is a difference, however, in full framed cameras!. The obvious difference is that you're seeing everything through the finder, you're getting the same view as with 35mm film!. No more annoying crop factors to add in!. When it comes to full frames, like the 5d, instantly being better than cropped frames, like the 50d or the 30d, that's not necessarily true!. I'm sure Nikon's D300 can produce similar image quality!. The 50d will give you very high quality images, it's a great camera, way more modern, and technically advanced than the 1D or 5d!. Those are quite old cameras!.

However, the Price of the 5d has dropped due to the release of The new Mark II, under two thousand, so it might be a good idea to get it now, you'll save some money:

http://www!.amazon!.com/Canon-5D-Digital-C!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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yes full frame is better, bigger sensors produce less noise, just as a cropped 20d sensor is better than a cropped again point and shoot sensor

if you have sharp glass then the full frame is the way to go, if not use a cropped sensor camera

the nikons require FX lenses to record full frame, they fit all nikon lenses yes, but they are cropped

if you have the cash get a full frame its the futureWww@QuestionHome@Com

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nope!. not unless you're shooting for an outdoor ad spread, a camera with an aps-size sensor would do very well!.

if you're shooting with a 50d, using the super-fine jpeg and largest picture size settings would result in an image roughly the size of a movie poster!. that's already really good, especially if you're just making 4x6 prints (heck, it's pretty good even for 8x10 prints!)!.

just make sure you use the lowest iso to keep noise down, the smallest aperture (f/22) to lengthen depth of field, and the best lens you could get your hands on (i've heard the canon 10-22 mm is pretty good)!. don't forget your tripod too - the low iso and small aperture will ensure you'll have to use at least a few seconds of open shutter, even in bright light!.

happy shooting! hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I answered in "Cameras," but I want to politely take issue with those saying that there's no real difference between CCD and CMOS sensors!. I own a D200 and D300 and I say there is a difference, most notably in low light situations!. In fact, in low light, I will go so far as to say that there is no comparison!. The CMOS blows the CCD out of the water, even in older cameras (older software)!.

Instead of linking you to a dozen samples, take a look at the one I did most recently!. This happens to be shot with the cheapest lens I own, as I was trying to create purple fringing for a comparison!. View this in the original size!. http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/samfeinstei!.!.!.
Scroll to the upper right corner and set it up so you can see the D200 and D300 frames shot at f/5!.6 next to each other!. I'm suggestingn those two frames, because at f/5!.6, I was using 1/4000 and there is no camera shake as there is in the 1/100 frames!. These were hand-held, no VR (IS), and taken within seconds of each other!. Besides the fringe on the CCD and lack of it on the CMOS, take a look at the general edge sharpness!. There are no leaves in these samples, but look at the definition of the stamping of the cross!. What looks like rolled edges in the D200 frame look more like bevels in the D300 frame!.

Just to officially answer your question so this is not pure chat, I say that you can produce extremely useable landscape images with a half-frame CMOS sensor, but obviously a full frame sensor will capture more detail with less noise!. This is for those who would choose an 8x10 view camera over a 5x7 view camera!. Same difference!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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From your question on a different venue

I use D300 and D3 Nikon's and I am a Brooks grad!.!.!. I think you may have misunderstood your buddy!.

While it is true in general, that you cannot compromise when it comes to image quality, that quality is not dependent upon a camera brand or model!. It is dependent upon the skills of the photographer and upon the format size, but comparing a APS-C and FF digital is like comparing a 645 to a 6x6 medium format camera !.!.!. the difference is only slight !.!.

I am sure your friend will agree that the difference between the images produced with a Sinar vs!. a Toyo is negligible !.!.!. again, it is dependent upon the skills and eye of the photographer!.

Just think, six years ago, there were no full frame DSLR's and images produced by cameras that had "only" APS-C sensors are still high enough quality to be sold as stock and provided images perfectly fine for use in magazines and posting on clients websites!.

Obviously he is a Canon guy and as a survivor of Brooks, where only perfect cuts it, he may be overstating the issue, but in general you have to always by the best equipment your skills can support (plus some to grow into) and can afford!.

Oh, yes !.!. don't fall in love with CMOS !.!.!. there is little difference in quality between CCD and CMOS !.!.!. CMOS is just cheaper to make and most of the processing is done on the sensor, rather than within the electronics found on the camera that uses CCD's

Now to your shooting needs!.

You basically want a camera that will produce high quality landscape images!.

If you shoot any of the Nikon or Canon system cameras using the same techniques used when using a view camera, they will all produce high quality images !.!.!. how large do you intend to enlarge these images!? That may well be the issue!. It may well be, for your needs, you will have to buy a medium format camera, film or digital!.

Since you have so many friends, I would suggest you do what most of my colleagues do !.!.!. go out and shoot using each others cameras!.

In the past two months, I have used two 1Ds, Mark III's (different revisions) a 5D and my D3 and D300!. Next week I will be testing the D700 and D90!. It is on these outings, you can get a feeling for the different lenses and bodies available from the top two makers of professional miniature cameras!.

It was on these outings, I got to use a Nikkor 200 mm f/2 and Nikkor 200-400 mm as well as a Canon 24-70 mm f/2!.8 and 70-200 mm f/2!.8!. I now have head to head comparisons of those two fine focal lengths made by Canon and Nikon

Do your research !.!.!. remember you are not buying a camera, but a system !.!.!. later if you want to use the nice Canon 10-22 mm EF-S lens, but you have upgraded to a nice Canon 5D, Mark II, you cannot use that lens !.!.!. no EF-S lenses can be used on FF Canon camera !.!.!. on the other hand Nikon FF cameras can use all the Nikon lenses made now and since 1959Www@QuestionHome@Com

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