- The 35mm film single lens reflex (SLR) camera stands as the predecessor to the DSLR. The 35mm SLR used cartridge film that measured 24mm x 36mm, a total of 864 square millimeters. Camera manufacturers designed lenses to cover all 864 square millimeters of film area. This coverage gets referred to as full-frame coverage. Only a few extreme fisheye lenses did not cover the full 864 millimeters of film area, but these were used in special situations.
- The DSLR ushered in a new era of photography and technological confusion. DSLR cameras use a sensor to capture image data instead of film. The confusion comes from the size of the digital sensor used in the camera. The majority of digital cameras have a sensor smaller than the 24mm x 36mm size of 35mm film. The smaller sensor size, typically called compact or APS-C (advanced photo system compact), when used with standard 35mm lenses produces a "cropped" effect because the sensor does not capture all of the image area covered by the lens.
- The digital crop factor refers to the amount of image coverage obtained using a digital camera with a smaller than full-frame sensor. The typical crop factors, sometimes referred to as image multipliers, are 1.5x, 1.6x and 2.0x. When standard 35mm lenses get put on a digital camera with a compact sensor, the user must multiply the crop factor times the focal length of the lens to determine the effective focal length. For example, a 50mm non-compact lens used on a 35mm film camera or full-frame DSLR has a 46-degree angle of view. The same lens on a camera that has a 1.5x crop factor now functions as a 75mm lens and has an angle of view of approximately 31 degrees...same lens, but different coverage based on sensor size. Most consumer and prosumer DSLR cameras have compact sensors and manufacturers now create lenses specifically designed for use with these cameras.
- Full-frame cameras take full advantage of the angle of view of a given lens. Full-frame cameras do this by having a sensor the same size as a roll of 35mm film--24mm x 36mm. A full-frame DSLR has a number of advantages over a compact sensor DSLR. Because full-frame DSLR cameras have larger sensors they capture more data in a larger space. This results in finer detail during image capture and during printmaking. For landscape and architectural photographers, a full-frame DSLR allows them to use the full angle of view of a given lens. Since these photographers capture wide spaces in their images, none of the space gets cropped due to the compact DSLR's smaller sensor. Disadvantages for the consumer photographer include cost, as full-frame DSLR cameras can cost up to 10-times more than a compact DSLR. Full-frame DSLRs have more bulk and weight than their compact counterparts. Also, most electronic, discount and department stores do not carry full-frame DSLR cameras.
- For most amateur photographers the compact sensor DSLR provides ample quality for the types of images taken. The cost and additional benefits of a full-frame DSLR make it more acceptable to the professional photographer.
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