Full frame vs Crop sensor: can you tell the difference?

Many photographers with crop sensor cameras dream of switching to full frame sensor. But is it really essential for raising your work to a next level? Photographer Manny Ortiz has created a real-world comparison of the photos taken with a full frame and a crop sensor camera. He shot with a full-frame, $5,000 Sony A9 paired with Sony 85mm 1.4 G Master lens. His crop sensor camera is $1,400 Sony A6500, paired with Zeiss 55mm F1.8. Can you tell the difference between the results?

Manny notes that he post processed the photos because you’d also do it for a client, and they are all edited the same way. He shot both in good and in poor light and got almost the same results with both cameras. Here are the photos he made. You can compare them and try guessing which camera he used to make them, and the answers are in the video:

Of course, Manny points out there are some advantages to full frame cameras. They give you a better dynamic range, better color and shallower depth of field. They also produce more detail, which clients won’t notice, but you might as you zoom in. Still, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll level up your work.

At the end of the day, things that really make a difference to your photos are retouching, composition, and lighting. A good lens, more than a full frame camera, will help you produce good photos. So, upgrade your skills instead of upgrading the gear.

I must say that the point of this video isn’t to undermine full frame cameras or photographers who use them. After all, Manny uses them too, and they have their purpose. This is rather a friendly reminder that you can just use what you have, try doing as much as you can in-camera, and you’ll still get great shots. And if the budget doesn’t allow you to upgrade to a full frame body, I hope this video will make you grab that crop sensor camera and go make some awesome photos.

[Full frame vs Crop sensor | A REAL WORLD COMPARISON! | Manny Ortiz]