You can take advantage of this in anything from regular scenics front to back sharpness, through urban scenes and even in macro shots. You can argue that a FF sensor produces more detail, but that means nothing if it’s out of focus. Though it’s often seen as a drawback, smaller sensors’ extended depth-of-field means focusing is easier, or at least needs to be less precise, and sharpness is greater throughout the frame. But remember – there’s two sides to every biscuit. ![]() All other things being equal, a larger sensor will always be capable of shallower results, assuming you can afford the fastest lenses. One of the big advantages that full-frame systems trumpet is that they can produce a shallower depth-of-field than smaller sensors at equivalent apertures. Even though it shares the same Z mount as its full-frame cousins, Nikon’s Z 50 is a mirrorless body with an APS-C sized sensor, making it more affordable, while enjoying many of the same advantages. Much like the principles of using smaller kit, lower cost bodies and lenses let you either spend less overall, or pick up more gear for an equivalent price. Smaller chips are cheaper to produce, and so are the lenses that sit in front of them. Sure, there might be full-frame bodies out there that can be picked up cheaper than class-leading APS-C or MFT bodies, but generally buying into a smaller sensor system means you save money. With smaller bodies, models like Fujifilm’s X100V, which uses an APS-C sized sensor, make for a less intrusive way of shooting. All this is great for documentary, street or even wedding situations where you want to remain an observer and not affect your subjects’ behaviour. And just like the size comparison we made above, you’ll also most likely be carrying a much smaller camera bag, or even slipping your camera into your pocket between shots. Make no mistake, people act differently when confronted with smaller cameras, so even if they see you shooting, they’re less likely to be disturbed than they would with a bigger body, in the same way that no-one takes notice of someone shooting on a smartphone. A smaller body, combined with modern features like an electronic shutter and tilting screen means you’re a more stealthy shooter, too. The benefits of a smaller camera system don’t just extend to easing the strain on your shoulders. Smaller sensors mean smaller, lighter bodies and lenses, letting you carry less, or take more gear for the same burden. Of course you don’t need to just carry less – with a small sensor system you could just as well carry the same weight and have more lens and accessory options. Remember that larger sensors need lenses that can project a larger image circle, and that means more glass and more metal. Compare a typical full frame mirrorless body like a 20.1mp Canon EOS R6 at 680g, with a crop-sensored alternative like an 32.5mp EOS M6 Mark II at 408g, and you’re saving hundreds of grams. Smaller sensors take up less space, need a smaller image circle from a lens, and use less power, meaning that camera bodies, lenses and batteries can be smaller, too. If you use a body and lenses weighing several kilos, it’s no wonder that your shots will be less spur of the minute and impulsive. That’s why the majority of images taken today are on smartphones. One of the biggest barriers of doing photography is sometimes just picking up all your stuff and getting out there to do it. Comparing the size of these sensors and their crop factors which affect equivalent focal length, this diagram shows full frame (1x, 36x24mm) as the largest, then APS-C (1.5x, 23.6×15.7mm), APS-C Canon (1.6x, 22.2×14.8mm), Four Thirds (2x, 17.3x13mm) and 1in (2.7x, 13.2×8.8mm). But what are the benefits of using cameras with smaller sensors? We’ll take a look at a few of them there… What’s a small sensor? For the purposes of this article, we’re thinking about APS-C, Four Thirds, and 1in sensors, though basically anything smaller than the traditional 35mm or full frame format. ![]() Just check out the recent launches by Olympus, Panasonic and Fujifilm. From APS-C format to Four Thirds, and even 1in sensor models, there’s no shortage of new cameras still coming to market and plenty of dedicated lenses, too. ![]() Just as was the case with smaller-sensored DSLR models battling full-frame back in the day, there are plenty of reasons to invest in ‘crop censored’ mirrorless systems. But does it mean that anything below full frame in size is a waste of time? Of course not! There’s a lot of heat around full-frame mirrorless cameras right now – and with the likes of Canon’s new EOS R bodies, Sony’s ever-growing Alpha range and Nikon’s up-and-coming Z Series, that’s understandable.
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