The full-frame sensor came to the DSLR via the SLR which used the same film format as the movie industry where it has been used for over 100 years. The APS sensors were developed for cost and availability reasons with their size being equivalent to the Advanced Photographic System cassette film. The diagram shows the relative sizes of the various APS versions used by different manufacturers.
What are the potential drawbacks of using a full-frame camera for wildlife photography?
One potential drawback to consider is that full-frame cameras often have larger sensors and weight, making them less portable in the field. Additionally, full-frame cameras might have slower burst rates than crop-sensor cameras, impacting continuous shooting capabilities.
Image Quality
The full-frame camera has larger photosites or light receptors on the sensor than an APS camera of the same megapixel (MP) size. The larger receptors receive more light giving the camera more information allowing it to produce images with less noise and grain. It also tends to perform better in low light and to have a wider dynamic range.
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Camera Size
The small APS sensor allows the design and manufacture of a more compact camera. The small sensor also gives the camera a smaller field of view which means that a shorter telephoto lens gives the same “magnification” as a 60% longer telephoto. This adds significantly to the size benefit of the APS camera especially when using a long telephoto.
Megapixel size
For the same image quality, with all else equal, the full-frame sensor produces a much larger image size as measured by the total number of pixels.
Price
The full-frame camera is significantly more expensive than the APS, especially for higher-end professional cameras.
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The Choice
For the wildlife photographer, the smaller size of the APS camera and the advantage the smaller sensor gives to the use of telephotos are distinct advantages that match particular needs.
Although the APS camera’s image quality is not quite up to that of the full frame it still has the ability to produce great photographs and its significantly lower cost will most often make it the sensible choice for all but the very top professionals unless the higher megapixel size is a necessity.