Full-Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras: What You Need to Know for Photography and Filmmaking

Selena
BySelena

Selena is a Los Angeles based cinematographer and camera operator with credits including Hulu, Disney, ABC, and more. She uses her on set expertise to break down filmmaking concepts for aspiring filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike.

A clear guide to full‑frame vs crop‑sensor cameras—what sensor size and crop factor mean, how to choose between them, and beginner‑friendly camera picks.

Published: August 25, 2025
Last Updated: August 26, 2025

7 Minute Read

Full-Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras: What You Need to Know for Photography and Filmmaking

When you’re shopping for a camera, one of the first specs you’ll see is the sensor size: full-frame or crop sensor (often called APS-C or Micro Four Thirds). But what do these terms actually mean? How does it affect your photos and videos? And which one should you choose? This guide breaks down the key differences so you can make the right decision for your style of photography or filmmaking.

What Is a Camera Sensor?

To understand digital sensors, let’s take it back to the early days of film cameras. Film cameras rely on two things: a device to capture light (a camera shutter), and a medium to record it (film). When the shutter opens, light passes through the lens and imprints the image that the lens sees onto the film, and thus, a photograph is taken.

“A digital camera sensor is the modern equivalent of the film medium.”

The digital camera sensor is the physical plane inside the camera that captures light coming through the lens and converts it into a digital image. Just like film comes in different sizes (35mm, 120mm, etc.), digital sensors also vary in size. Larger sensors allow more light to be captured, which generally equates to higher image quality, especially in low-light conditions.

When shopping for your camera, these are the most common sensor sizes you will most likely run into:

  • Full-frame: 36mm × 24mm (same size as 35mm film)
  • APS-C: ~22mm × 15mm (varies slightly by brand)
  • Micro Four Thirds (MFT): 17.3mm × 13mm

We’ll break down what these sizes mean for your photography and filmmaking below.

Chart comparing relative digital camera sensor sizes to scale. A large blue rectangle represents full-frame (36×24 mm), a smaller green rectangle inside it represents APS-C (23.6×15.7 mm), and the smallest brown rectangle represents Micro Four Thirds (17.3×13 mm). The diagram shows how smaller sensors capture a narrower portion of the same image.

What Is a Full-Frame Camera?

When digital cameras first came out, most of them had sensors smaller than the standard 35mm still photography frame (like APS-C or Micro Four Thirds). So when manufacturers eventually built a sensor that matched the entire 35mm still photo negative (36×24mm), they called it full-frame — meaning it uses the full size of that classic standard instead of a cropped portion.

So, a full-frame camera is one that uses a digital sensor the same size as a single frame of 35mm still film: 36×24mm (sometimes called “full-frame 35” to distinguish it from motion picture formats). This means lenses behave at their true focal length, without any crop factor applied. Because the sensor is physically larger, it also captures more light and provides a wider field of view with any given lens, which translates to better low-light performance, shallower depth of field, and more flexibility for both photographers and filmmakers.

Advantages:

  • Better low-light performance (larger sensor = more light)
  • Shallower depth of field (creamier background blur/bokeh)
  • Wider field of view with the same lens

Disadvantages:

  • More expensive (camera bodies and lenses)
  • Larger and heavier gear to carry

Note for filmmakers: Traditional 35mm motion picture film was slightly smaller than still photography film. That format is known as Super 35, and its size is closer to APS-C. This is why many cinema lenses are designed for Super 35, and why they may vignette on full-frame digital cameras. Today, “full-frame” cinema cameras (like the ARRI LF, Sony Venice, or Canon C500 MkII) use the larger 36×24mm sensor, giving filmmakers access to the same full-frame look as still photography.

What Is a Crop Sensor Camera?

A crop sensor camera uses a smaller image sensor than standard 35mm film or full-frame sensor, which effectively “crops in” on the image compared to full-frame — meaning it captures a narrower field of view with the same lens. This results in a magnifying effect known as the crop factor, which makes focal lengths appear longer than they actually are. Crop sensors are smaller than full-frame, with APS-C and Micro Four Thirds being the most common.

Advantages:

  • More affordable and lightweight
  • Crop factor gives “extra reach” for telephoto lenses (great for wildlife/sports)
  • Excellent image quality for everyday photography and video

Disadvantages:

  • Narrower field of view (a 50mm lens looks more like 75–100mm depending on crop)
  • Less background blur and low-light performance compared to full-frame
A small dog sits at a window, framed by three overlaid rectangles that represent different digital camera sensor sizes. The largest blue box shows full-frame coverage, the smaller green dashed box shows APS-C crop, and the smallest orange dashed box shows Micro Four Thirds. The boxes illustrate how sensor size changes the visible field of view from the same lens.

Understanding Crop Factor

Crop factor is the ratio of how much smaller a sensor’s view is compared to the standard 35mm film or full-frame. This number tells you how your lens will “look” when mounted on a crop sensor camera.

  • APS-C sensors (1.5x crop factor) → a 50mm lens looks like 75mm
  • Canon APS-C (1.6x crop factor) → a 50mm lens looks like 80mm
  • Micro Four Thirds (2x crop factor) → a 50mm lens looks like 100mm

Quick Lens Comparison Table

Lens Full-Frame APS-C (1.5x) Canon APS-C (1.6x) Micro Four Thirds (2x)
35mm 35mm 52mm 56mm 70mm
50mm 50mm 75mm 80mm 100mm
85mm 85mm 127mm 136mm 170mm
100mm 100mm 150mm 160mm 200mm

Why does this happen?
Crop factor occurs because smaller sensors only capture the center of the lens’s image circle. A common misconception is that it is magnifying the image, but it does not — it just crops the image.

Analogy: Imagine you’re looking at a big painting hanging on the wall. Now take a standard sheet of printer paper and cut out a rectangle from the middle — when you hold that cutout up, you see most of the painting but not all of it. That’s like a full-frame sensor: it captures the full 35mm view. Now, from the same paper, cut out a smaller rectangle the size of a postcard. Hold it up to the same painting. You’re still standing in the same spot, but now you only see the cropped center portion of the painting — you’ve lost the edges of the scene. That’s what happens with a crop sensor (APS-C or Micro Four Thirds): the lens projects the same image, but the smaller sensor only records part of it, making it look like you’ve “zoomed in.”

Full-Frame vs Crop Sensor for Different Photographers

  • Portraits: Full-frame cameras are ideal for portraits thanks to their ability to produce shallower depth of field, smoother skin tones, and more natural background blur (bokeh).
  • Landscape: Both sensor types can work well for landscapes. Crop sensors offer extra reach with telephoto lenses, while full-frame sensors typically provide better dynamic range and detail in highlights and shadows.
  • Wildlife/Sports: Crop sensor cameras are often preferred for wildlife and sports photography, as the crop factor gives extra “zoom” without needing longer (and more expensive) lenses.
  • Travel/Street: Crop sensor cameras are great for travel and street photography because of their smaller size and lighter weight. Full-frame is the better choice if you want the highest possible image quality.
  • Filmmaking: The best sensor for filmmaking depends on the look you’re going for. Full-frame offers a more cinematic depth of field, while crop sensor cameras are lighter and more budget-friendly for rig setups.

Which One Should You Choose?

Crop sensors are a fantastic entry point — affordable, versatile, and portable. Full-frame is ideal if you want top performance, cinematic depth of field, and excellent low-light results.

APS-C and MFT bodies are perfect for wildlife, sports, or portraits where you want extra “zoom” without carrying huge lenses. Full-frame excels when image quality, low light, and depth of field matter most. In truth, many pros use both depending on the job.

Camera Recommendations

Sony A6400 camera on an outdoor film set.

Thinking About Your First Camera?

Here are some solid options for both crop sensor and full-frame systems:

Crop Sensor Recommendations (APS-C / Micro Four Thirds)

  • Sony a6400 – A compact APS-C mirrorless camera with a 1.5x crop factor, known for its lightning-fast autofocus and excellent image quality in both photo and video.
  • Canon EOS R10 – A user-friendly APS-C camera with a 1.6x crop, offering Canon’s reliable Dual Pixel AF and impressive performance for creators on a budget.
  • Panasonic Lumix GH6 – Built on the Micro Four Thirds system with a 2x crop factor, the GH6 is a video powerhouse packed with pro features like 5.7K recording and high frame rate options.

Full-Frame Recommendations

  • Sony A7III – A versatile full-frame mirrorless camera that delivers excellent dynamic range, sharp 4K video, and strong battery life, making it a favorite for hybrid shooters.
  • Canon EOS R6 – With a full-frame sensor, superb low-light performance, and fast, accurate autofocus, the R6 is perfect for photographers and filmmakers seeking premium image quality.

Conclusion

Full-frame and crop sensor cameras both have strengths. The best choice depends on what you shoot and how you shoot it. Don’t get stuck in the gear race; the most important part is learning to use whichever camera you have to tell your story.