Opinions please!!!

[John_M_King]

I have two Nikon Digital SLR's, one a D700 and a D90. Both nominally have 12 Mp and they have the same processor and sensor. As you will be aware, the D90 has a 'D' sized sensor and the other a 'full frame'. I have tried to see if there are any differences in resolution/quality by using the same lens on each camera, set at the same apperture, with the ISO set the same on each camera body (400iso) to cover the same scene .....but failed to see any difference on an A3 print. The focal length of the lens was adjusted to give approx the same image size. 28mm on the D90 and a shade over 50 mm for the D700

So, given that the largest print generally made by regular, non trade or amateur photographers is A3+ is there any REAL benefit of a full frame sensor?

 

[pschwart]

It's a great convenience to be able to use the same lenses on all your film and digital Nikons and get the same magnification and FOV. Don't forget that APS-C lenses won't cover 35mm and so will vignette.

 

[John_M_King]

I know the problems with vignetting and have an APS sensor compatible lens to cover the wider angles on the D90 (Sigma 17/70) and the others I have are also used on my F6. (20/35, 28/70, 70/300, 105 macro) However that wasn't the point I was raising. I was wondering what the apparent advantage should be with an full frame sensor with 12mp and an APS 12mp sensor because I cannot see any difference between them on an A3+ sized print .

 

[Alan Klein]

It would seem that 12mb is 12mb. If you can't see the differences, then no one else could either. Trust yourself.

Larger sensors would have larger individual sensors for each pixel so you get less noise as you raise the ISO all other things remaining equal. Other differences have to do with DOF, crop factors and the like.

 

[Alan Klein]

PS: How could they have the same sensor? The sensors are different sizes. If one is bigger than the other yet both have 12mb, that means the FF sensor has larger individual elements.

 

[John_M_King]

Sorry I should have clarified that to mean the sensors are both 'CMOS'.

 

[Eric Rose]

Shot them both in low light and you will see a huge difference.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

It's a great convenience to be able to use the same lenses on all your film and digital Nikons and get the same magnification and FOV. Don't forget that APS-C lenses won't cover 35mm and so will vignette.

not having to deal with a crop factor at all would bre reason enough for me.I upgraded from the D700 to a D800 and much prefer it;better resolution and better color rendition.It was worth it! but next time I'd take the F800e

 

[pschwart]

not having to deal with a crop factor at all would bre reason enough for me.I upgraded from the D700 to a D800 and much prefer it;better resolution and better color rendition.It was worth it! but next time I'd take the F800e

Agreed. I never buy APS-C lenses that I would have to replace as soon as I upgrade to a full frame sensor.