Can someone explain in super layman's terms what Full Frame / non-FF means? :sweat:
as mentioned here already, the sensors for DSLR are normally smaller than a full sized film format as it was and still is difficult to fabricate a large piece without faults.
Nikon's crop factor is 1.5x
Canon's crop factor is 1.6x
Four thirds is 2.0x (if I'm not wrong)
A full frame is 1.0x
Full frame should be called 35mm frame since any lens developed specifically for a certain camera system and film system/sensor size is full frame.
If a 6x4.5 camera uses a lens designed for it, it's full frame, but it's not 35mm frame.
Four-thirds fits into this category since the lenses were all developed specifically for that sensor, not for 35mm film, so the whole system is full frame.
Can someone explain in super layman's terms what Full Frame / non-FF means? :sweat:
When people refer to a "full frame" DSLR, it means the physical sensor size of the camera is the same as a 35mm film frame. This technically means the physical size of the sensor will not change. Nikon D3 and Canon EOS 1Ds series / 5D fall into this category of cameras.
When DSLRs were first introduced, they used sensors smaller than FF, e.g. APS-C size. To take advantage of that, lens makers made lenses that have an imaging circle that fit just enough over the smaller sensor so that such lenses are smaller and lighter (Nikon: "DX" lenses, Canon: "EF-S" lenses). Traditional or FF lenses have an imaging circle that covers the whole 35mm frame - which is quite a waste since the larger imaging circle won't get used to its full potential in a smaller sensor.
Although FF lenses can be used in a smaller sensor camera, the opposite is not true. If a DX/EF-S lens is used in a FF camera, there will be vignetting since the imaging circle of the lens is not large enough to cover the whole sensor. That is why "some lenses" are not compatible with FF cameras.
Full frame should be called 35mm frame since any lens developed specifically for a certain camera system and film system/sensor size is full frame.
If a 6x4.5 camera uses a lens designed for it, it's full frame, but it's not 35mm frame.
Four-thirds fits into this category since the lenses were all developed specifically for that sensor, not for 35mm film, so the whole system is full frame.
So EF-S lenses are full-frame for the 1.6x crop cameras
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Did you ever use film for shooting? I mean regular film, not those "APS" type of small film camera?
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FF should be called full 135 format. 35mm is just the type of film which was adapted from cinematography.
Of course, you're right. Most people (even some photographers and salespeople) don't know about 110, 120, 126, 135, 220, or 620 formats/films.