p.1 #1 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
My wife and I are just getting started, and are using DX Nikons for now. She'd eventually like to upgrade to a D700, and I originally was on board with doing so myself, but there's a part of me that likes the portability and weight advantages of crop sensors. The numerous advantages of FF have been discussed here and elsewhere extensively, but who here's shooting crop (by choice or by force of finances)? If so, why?
p.1 #4 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
I've been shooting a D300s for the last year, but will be upgrading to the D800 when it's announced. I've had absolutely no problem with it, but is getting a little outdated. My second shooter just got the D7000 and loves it (other than not being a pro body). Many awesome images can be captured with a DX body if you don't have the funds to go FF right now. Don't fret it too much.
p.1 #5 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
Think about it for a second... you're suggesting, sacrificing the image quality of the product your client is paying for to gain just a miniscule amount of portability... does that sound like a good business decision?
p.1 #6 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
RichardLavigne wrote:
Think about it for a second... you're suggesting, sacrificing the image quality of the product your client is paying for to gain just a miniscule amount of portability... does that sound like a good business decision?
I respectfully disagree. It may be hard for some people just starting out to afford $4000 and up worth of camera bodies. There a few DX cameras very capable of capturing great images and many weddings have been shot with them. Is it a better business decision to go in the hole just to get a couple of FX bodies?
p.1 #8 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
RichardLavigne wrote:
Think about it for a second... you're suggesting, sacrificing the image quality of the product your client is paying for to gain just a miniscule amount of portability... does that sound like a good business decision?
Possibly. I think these days the difference between DX and FX is pretty slim and probably imperceptible to the client.
p.1 #9 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
I'm skinny and weak. I could barely tell the difference in weight between the bodies of a 20d (crop), 7d (crop), and 5ds'. However I do feel the weight of the lens that are attached. As far as quality goes, as long as it works for you in low light, you should be good. Clients will likely never be able to tell the difference between quality unless you hand them a poster sized print full of noise.
p.1 #10 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
TomHarmon wrote:
I respectfully disagree. It may be hard for some people just starting out to afford $4000 and up worth of camera bodies. There a few DX cameras very capable of capturing great images and many weddings have been shot with them. Is it a better business decision to go in the hole just to get a couple of FX bodies?
I didn't say that.... if you can't afford a full-frame camera because you're starting out, that's fine. We've all been there, done that. The OP is suggesting that he'd rather not get a D700 because a crop is more portable... but really, essentially its the same.
maxwell1295 wrote:
equipment is overrated, IMO...
You're lying... you shoot with 5D's... they aren't the latest and greatest, but they're plenty capable and we all know it.
I'm not saying that one can't shoot with a crop... but if you think you you're making the choice because a crop camera is more portable, you're lying to yourself.
TRReichman wrote:
Possibly. I think these days the difference between DX and FX is pretty slim and probably imperceptible to the client.
- trr
So.. as part of Sexy Business, are you advocating that people sell their full-frame bodies to buy crop cameras and get some money back?
p.1 #11 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
RichardLavigne wrote:
So.. as part of Sexy Business, are you advocating that people sell their full-frame bodies to buy crop cameras and get some money back?
Depends on the person's situation. I'm suggesting today's DX camera is more capable that many of the FF cameras we were using a few years ago, so the idea that they are somehow ripping the client off by using them is suspect. If it is an economics of ROI thing some people might benefit from going crop instead of FF. On a practical level I could switch to DX tomorrow and it wouldn't affect me negatively at all. I just don't see it as the big deal it was a few years ago (when admittedly there was a marked difference).
Then again, sounds like I might need to add an additional day to the workshop to sort all this out...
p.1 #12 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
TRReichman wrote:
Depends on the person's situation. I'm suggesting today's DX camera is more capable that many of the FF cameras we were using a few years ago, so the idea that they are somehow ripping the client off by using them is suspect. If it is an economics of ROI thing some people might benefit from going crop instead of FF. On a practical level I could switch to DX tomorrow and it wouldn't affect me negatively at all. I just don't see it as the big deal it was a few years ago (when admittedly there was a marked difference).
Then again, sounds like I might need to add an additional day to the workshop to sort all this out...
p.1 #13 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
SloPhoto wrote:
I think it is obvious that you can make it work with crop cameras...
but if his primary reason not to switch is weight, that is what seems odd to me.
I agree with this.
I started out with a 20D - moved to a 50D and now run with a 7D and 1DsII (FF).
I am on my 4th season this year.
weight is a weird reason. Financial - makes sense. want best IQ but can not afford the latest FF ... rather have some of the features on latest croppers .... i can see this too.
p.1 #15 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
Hi everyone...thanks for the responses so far. I'm really just interested in seeing if anyone here opts to use crop sensor cameras, and why.
Personally, the weight isn't the only factor that has me considering sticking with crops; I also like that they're much smaller and cheaper. My ideal lens setup is 2 or 3 primes, so the idea of having a small, fast, and light setup is appealing to me.
p.1 #16 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
Quite honestly, no photographer that I look up to (or even really respect) uses a crop body as their main camera. Of course new crop bodies are significantly better than they used to be and most of the differences are relatively small (slightly less DOF, better tonality and color separation, better high-ISO, usually better build, etc). While each thing may not be big in itself, after shooting over and over again they all add up to a much smoother workflow.
Something I've found in the past few years I've lurked on these boards: If there's an overwhelming amount of "big dog" photographers using the same thing (all using blogs, off camera flash, and yes, shooting full frame), it's often for a good reason.
Now onto your situation: Yes you can shoot a wedding with a D90, but at that point you're giving up the significantly better sensor and autofocus of the D7000. Which, if you don't want the full-on weight and cost of a full frame, would likely be a better compromise. And like Joe said, the weight difference between a D7000 and D700 isn't a whole lot. You gain the "all mighty" full frame, not to mention professional-level autofocus. If you're shooting primes, you don't save any weight either. The only crop prime that might be worth it would be the 35 1.8 which is, wait for it, about the same price/size/weight as the 50 1.8 (its full frame equivalent).
And folks, those of you saying that a good full frame camera cost $4000? Uh... Last time I checked 5Ds were going used for less than $900 and D700s for $1700 and dropping.
All that to say, crop cams can certainly get the job done, but if you keep going in weddings I'll give it 1 year (maybe 2 if you're really frugal) before you go full frame
p.1 #17 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
I started out with crop but in about the last 6 months made some upgrades and there is definitely obvious improvements in what I am now able to do and get the results I was wishing for because of the equipment I chose, sure it cost more and I am certainly carrying more weight, but in my opinion it is worth it. If I weren't getting paid I probably wouldn't care nearly as much, but my thoughts are that if I am a pro and getting paid for photography, then I should give my clients what I think they deserve.
p.1 #18 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
sheri-
That sums it up well.
Of course crop sensors can deliver good enough results, but when clients are paying us to deliver AWESOMEFANTASTICKICKASS results, its not really fair to deliver "good-enough" just to save a few bucks or shave a few grams off the load.
I could shoot a rebel xT with a 17-55IS and get good enough results, but they would hardly match the sheer awesomeness of the images from a full frame sensor shot wide open with a fast prime. Even the clients can tell the difference.
Even if they were priced the same, I would choose a 5D over a 7D any day, and the 7D is a fantastic camera with all the bells and whistles.
p.1 #19 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
Once upon a time I had a meeting with a potential client -he was a pixel peeper amateur photographer. From seeing my website he thought my images were shot on 5d cameras. I told him that most (at that time) were shot on a 50d. He also said he wished he'd brought a loop to look at the albums more closely. He couldn't comprehend that our albums (visionart) were printed with jpg files. The day after the meeting I sent an email advising that I wouldn't be able to work with him.
p.1 #20 · Anyone shoot with only crop sensor cameras?
DX was a nice promise but it never materialized. Good lenses for DX are basically same size as full frame lenses. So to save moneys, yes (though you are doing disservice to your customers. To save weight? No.
