What sized sensor are you using and why? I'd love to know! Always looking to know my viewers habits and gear to make better videos!

I like this guy. Straight to the point, no obnoxious yelling/loud talking, just simple, concise explanations. Great video!

My photography mentor took me to Kenya (saved up for a year for that trip!) and demonstrated why he only shot crop sensor Nikon bodies. Instead of putting all his money into the newest full-frame gizmos, he put his money into the lenses. He used a Nikkor 400mm 2.8 lens on his crop sensor body and got reach and depth of field the rest of us could only dream of. Using the effective 600mm body/lens combo he grabbed a close-up portrait of a lion mid-roar. That photo was sold to CC Africa for one of their catalogs and paid for his entire trip. The body? A several years-old D200 that he shot until the camera wore out and then he got a D7100. I learned to stop reading internet reviews and megapixel comparisons. The proof was in the images.

The thing that separates Simon from others… He gets to the point. Clear, concise, and thorough.

Simon is the best photography teacher on KZfaq.

Another ‘no nonsense’, practical and easy to understand video, full of common sense! Keep up the excellent work Simon. Alun

I use an a6000 as a hobbyist. I have a different profession that I enjoy, so this is just a hobby for me. Even though the a6000 is older,it is very very usable. I was going to spend over 1000 dollars to upgrade my body. But instead I bought better glass and bought topaz de-noise. I’m very glad I went this route as now I get amazing looking photos. Most of my issues I had were do to my knowledge and not my gear. Thanks to Simon. I am enjoying photography far more than I ever have before.

"Use what you have and go out there and take some amazing photos." That is the best photography advice I have heard in some time. The best way to hone your hobby/craft is best accomplished by doing. Thank you Simon!

Gotta give you props. As a m4/3 user I have to say that this is the most even-handed comparison of full frame vs crop/.small sensored cameras I've yet to hear/read. Well done.

This is one if not the best photography channel in my opinion. No bullshit, pure knowledge👍

This has to be one of the best explanations of the differences between crop and full size sensors. They need to have this video playing on a big screen in the lens section of every camera store.

I needed to listen to this video again. Everyone else just talk about their own kind of photography. It is hard finding someone like you who understand that different kinds of photography work different and some characterisrics of the gear are more or less important than in other generes.

I love how knowledgeable you are, it's incredibly evident in your ability to simply, and efficiently, explain what, at first brush for me, a complicated topic. Thank you for sharing your expertise!

another benefit of crop sensors : sice you need a smaller focal length to emulate the same angle of view compared to full frame cameras, you can run into situation where the focal lenght is small enough that you could get a very small focus distance, as close focusing capabilities degrade when the focal length increases. Also there is something I wanna add about the size and weight : Brands are not taking the same approach when it comes to APS-C, and recently it has gotten a bit worse. Before, in the DSLR days, we had APS-C cameras that could be entry level, with entry level lenses. But we also had pro level cameras that were made specifically to take advantage of a crop sensor (like the 7D line from Canon, D300/D500 cameras from Nikon) as well as prosumer cameras that were the mid/high end of consumer cameras (80D, 90D or the whole D7000 line). What made these cameras such good platforms is that you could use the APS-C glass that was purpose built for them(DX lenses from Nikon, EF-S lenses from Canon), but you could also use the full frame glass on there if you needed more reach or better image quality. But these times are kinda over. Nowadays, the crop sensor market is a lot more dull compared to what it was 5 years ago. The best contender in the APS-C space by far is Fujifilm, with very high quality APS-C cameras, and purpose-built APS-C glass that is very good whithout breaking the bank like a Sony GM lens would. The problem with that system, is that you're basically locking yourself in APS-C as Fujifilm doesn't have any full frame cameras. In firm second place comes Sony, with a good range of lenses, but aging camera bodies that will limit the potential of the whole system and are just here to be a kickstarter to the E mount ecosystem, ultimately pushing people towards full frame if they want basic prosumer features like dual card slots. Canon and Nikon have taken the exact same approach witht their mirrorless APS-C cameras as you have pretty decent cameras (especially on Canon's side with the R7 and R10) but you don't have any glass for it except kit lenses, so if you want good quality glass you'll have to get a full frame lens, and at this point you'd give up the advantage in size and weight that those camera systems would offer. Anyway, this was an outstanding video, with no nonsense and no further confusion added on top of that very controversial subject ! I've been trying to get this right at my level for the last few months and realised that most of the confusion came from youtubers that tried to explain something they didn't fully understand in the first place. You sir, know what you're talking about and it shows!

Dear Simon. Your explanations are like someone asks you and you give the answers to the point without any extra telling and without missing a thing. Thank you very much.

Found your channel and love it for clear reasons: 1. You are smart, know the tech and are not afraid to talk about it on a high level. Astro stuff included. 2. The pacing of your videos are up-tempo and information packed. Keep it fast and dense. Love the channel.

This video is gold .my man explains and simplifies what you want only .no filler talks no ads and no nonsense

I watched many explanations/debates on the same subject. Your presentation is by far the best, easiest to understand, and best delivery style. Cheers!

I just like to say I REALLY appreciate your patience in explaining full-frame and crop sensor dynamics. Never understood it THIS CLEARLY until now. Thank you, Sir!

Only discovered your channel the other day, but loving the clarity you bring to your explanations - thank you!

This is by far the best explanation I've seen about crop sensor and full frame. Clear, simple and to the point information.

Excellent presentation and very non-biased. As a long time amateur photographer using Olympus micro four thirds gear, I prefer it for size and cost considerations. But I know the system has both pros and cons as any camera system. At this stage, I'm more concerned about developing my "eye" and post processing skills rather than spending lots of money chasing sensor size and megapixel count. This video is one of the best, if not the best at presenting an overview of the various sensor sizes. Thanks!

Your objective assessment is one of the things that keeps bringing me back. Just the facts please. Simplicity and accuracy in presentation are a great skill not often seen. Thank you. You make it seem so easy, but so well thought out. I'm an APS-C user which I chose for reasons of cost, size and weight. I'm 70 years old and one-handed. Size and weight are critical issues. I bought the gear a couple of years ago new and have no regrets. Well... weather sealing would have been nice. I cope.

This feels like such a safe place to finally wrap my head around all this camera jargon.

9:58 I’ve been arguing this with photographers for years. The people I’m arguing with always compare a 50mm full frame lens to a 50mm equivalent APS-C lens, using the same aperture value at the same distance, or just like your example, try to frame the exact same with the same lens using both sensor sizes to try and prove their point. Your video proved literally what I’ve been saying for a long time. Great video as always. I’ll send people to this video anytime that conversation gets brought up.

Simon! I love, love, love the photography content you're making on this channel and your teaching style is so calm and informative. I look forward to every video so please keep up the good work my friend. Sending you best wishes from here in the UK :)

I definitely needed this advice, and the rest of your channel has been equally helpful. As an amateur photographer, my greatest worry has been that my 15-year old crop sensor camera is holding me back from progressing to a professional level. I've come to realize that gear-wise, the lens is more important than the camera, and technique, practice, and passion will get us far. As you said, the best camera for you is the one you have in your hand and you use. Great advice in these videos, thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for this video. The way you broke things down and explained it finally made it make sense for me better than all the other videos/things I’ve read about it.

The effort you put in the videos shows up in your professional style. Nobody does it better and if you ever are doing a wildlife photo tour anywhere I'll book in a heartbeat!! Thanks Simon!!!

Thank you for the very informative video. There is a push from youtubers to convince everyone that real photographer has to use full frame and the crop cameras are inferior. However after switching from MFT to APS-C, I realized that what matters is to have a good camera that you have with you. Just because of bigger and heavier camera and lenses, I missed tons of shots. Just because of that, I switched back to MFT. Now I can carry my camera everywhere and also I can buy many high quality lenses that deliver fantastic results. I have seen many people buying aps-s or full frame camera to just pair it with one single low quality kit lens. Again, thank you very much for fantastic videos.

What a great video. No fluff, just pure honesty and knowledge. I like that you used examples for why even some professionals would choose crop over full frame!

I love your videos because they're to the point with no BS and you cover all the aspects of a topic and with authority

I found your channel recently. I am enjoying your videos. I greatly appreciate the relevant, realistic and unbiased approach you give to subjects and how you communicate your thoughts. Stay the route! Cheers.

Your teaching style, demeanor, and delivery are exceptional. Smart. Concise. Correct. Subbed!

Finally someone said it correctly. I love the fact you do understand both the physics aspects and art of taking photos. I would maybe mention that to simulate same crop you have to have "shorter" lens on your crop sensor - therefore the distortion introduced will be different. I do family photos, some landscapes and a bit of street. Now with 80D and 18-135 lens. But know internally that my go-to these days would be R5 and RF 24-240 just to have all-in-one package ready to do everything anytime

Another excellent video! Clear and concise. Your comment about taking pics with the camera you have resonated with me. When someone (in person) comments on my gear, I always say, "Having any camera, even one on a cellphone, is better than having no camera at all."

Your explanation about depth of field was simple and just perfect, a lot of others videos tried to explain more technically, but you just showed how it works in a few seconds! There is one thing I simple love about the APS-C sensor, it's the camera size. I have the Canon M200 with grip adapter and a 50mm f1.8. The camera is small and I can carry all day in a trip without getting uncomfortable with a big bag. Now it is my best friend haha.

I wish I found your channel 13 years ago when I started photography. Everything is explained so clearly with no fuss and complicated theory, exactly what a beginner needs (needed in my case). Keep up the great work. Merci Simon!

Why this channel doesn't have over 500k subscribers is one of youtubes great mystery.great accurate description of sensor size differences

Simon’s explanations are much clearer than everyone else’s and correct where many others are wrong or confusing

This is the best explanation ive of crop vs fullframe ive ever watched on YT, awesome!

I sold my Sony A7III and bought FujiFilm X-T3 and couldn't be happier. I shoot mostly landscapes and shooting with the camera is so much fun. The only difference real difference I perceive between FF and APS-C is that every time I change lenses I have to calculate the focal length equivalents so that I know what fov the lens has.

Awesome video ! As an amateur enthusiast, I went the M4/3 route for size so traveling was much easier. I also got a M4/3 with weather sealing and a fair bit of pro features like focus stacking. This is the best photography channel, keep up the great content !!

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

Wow! This was amazingly informative Simon, yet easy to follow and quickly understand the differences between a full-frame and a crop sensor camera. Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video!

You're a natural teacher. Thanks so much. I've been using a crop sensor for years (portability) but have been thinking about full frame. I have a trip to Alaska next year and would love to have a crop sensor on one hip and a full frame / travel tripod on the other. I guess you always want what you don't have.

It's always nice to see someone explaining this in an honest manner and cutting through the bad info that has been spread for years. I think the DOF issue is such a big one that lingers out there.

Love your channel! Quality content presented with clarity and reason. It is clear that you care about photography much more than about sponsorships or things like that.

I truly wish that I could join you on the trip next year. Love your photos, videos and the way you explain, and share, your knowledge! Thank you Simon!

Sometimes, I check if this is a Masterclass channel I'm watching. Thank you sir for giving us high quality photography episodes!

Another great video. I went M 4/3 (Lumix G9) when I got back into photography 2 years ago. I did spend the $ to go with a few of the higher-quality Leica lenses. I like the lower weight factor due to some rotator cuff issues. I do miss the nighttime shots but with sports, street and wildlife photography as my main hobby, I'm very happy with my choice. I appreciate the fact you presented this in a non-judgemental way of comparing the variety of types of cameras. It is fun to shoot with the smaller, shorter M4/3 lens and have others look at you and wonder what you're shooting with when it is so much smaller than the full frame lens.

i love the fact you are unbiased on whatever you comment on. thanks, keep it up, im never going to be a great photoghrapher but am interested in getting better. my first experience in SLR was i was a tattooist (this is in the days of film) i bought the most expensive compact camera you could get at the time with the biggest zoom lens but could not get go pics of my tatts so i went into jessops (when they were still on the highstreet) and explained to the assistant my problem. he gave me a knowing look and gave me an SLR and said borrow this for your photos. what an eye opener, it was like night and day obviously i bought the camera (a canon D10) i quickly realised how much more you could do with an SLR. my camera now is a 2000d, yes i still use my phone for photos but it still cant compete with a DSLR

I've just recently gotten into photography and your videos have helped me LOADS. I really appreciate the time and effort put into each video and the spectacular editing that you do on them. Keep up the great work.

I am using a couple of Lumix GX8s (micro 4/3) for hobbyist wildlife and landscape photography, the light weight makes it practical to carry 2 of them with different lenses. An undocumented "feature" is that no-one takes much notice of a "toy" camera.

This is probably the best - and most concise video I've seen on this subject! I like to shoot full frame and crop sensor - it just depends on circumstances! Thanks for another great video.

Brilliant, thank you. I have just discovered your channel and was so impressed with your clear, concise explanation of all aspects of the differences. Having migrated from full frame Nikons to APS-C Fuji and also MFT with Panasonic bodies, this video clarified a few doubts for me. I have subscribed and will be catching up on all of your previous videos. Keep up the great work.👍

What a great video! I love the precision, clarity and comprehensibility of all your videos, Simon, not to mention the way you encourage and give novices (like me) confidence. You simplify complicated phenomena without sacrificing accuracy - this one in particular sorted out several misconceptions for me. Thank you!

APS-C works fine for me for all the reasons you mentioned - size, weight, cost, and what I use my photography for as an amateur hobbyist. I always enjoy the combination of your narrative and illustration that results in those AHA! moments, even for subjects we have read about and listened to others talk about many times! Great teaching! Thanks!

Simon, not sure you'll see this but its worth the effort. Of all the channels I scour to master the craft, you have some of the most illusory videos here, so thank you for your efforts. I'm a Director and DP in LA, and have been committed to the craft for over 15 years now, and I'm still learning. My mom is an amatuer wildlife photographer, and in the last 10 years, has progressed far enough that her photos outshine anything I could hope to capture. Im going to show her your channel tomorrow so that she has you a resource, as well as myself. You give us the information we need.

Very well done as usual Sir!!👏 This is the holy grail of Full frame vs Crop sensor videos. Very clear, no guesswork, on point with reasoning. KZfaq should save the whole channel at all costs. Keep it coming. You're much needed here!! I myself was confused and thought that full frame is the best for everything. I thought the crops are so inferior and as a newbie I thought I must buy a full frame to start with for my casual travel pics to look good. But, today I learnt that I was wrong big time. That said the Full frame cameras are coming down in price now. So they are both quite accessible now.

So glad to have found your channel! No nonsense and practical advice. Thank you Simon!

Awesome take on the topic! I like you don't choose one sensor in the end of the video as most people do. I personally switched from Canon Fullframe to Lumix M43. For example, I have an optically perfect Leica 200/2.8 paired with 1.4x TC, reaching almost 600 mm with the crop factor. Paired with the Lumix G9, the whole setup is weather sealed. It's an extremely good build quality, and all for a fracture of a FF lens + body price. Another great portrait / product lens is Leica 42,5/1.2 which is an absolute treasure for me. There might be quite a noise issue on the higher ISO, but there are many brands as Topaz Labs so I can easily crop it, denoise it, then enlarge it. Or I can also use the 80Mpx mode on the Lumix G9 which really allows me to crop deep in the picture. I'm currently saving up for the new OM 90/3.5 macro which gets up to 2:1 magnification (not 4:1 as often wrongly mentioned), weather sealed, with AF so I can do bracketing right in the camera... I'm happy with this system and that's the most important thing. :-)

Absolutely wonderful explanation, thank you ! So nice that you cleary understand the technology as well as its application. The organization and delivery of knowledge is perfectly paced. Its clear you put considerable thought and work into this. Thank you !

Wow, finally I found someone who explains things in a simple but professional way. Thank you, I have become a big fan of yours after only two videos! Keep up the good work.

You made a brutal clarification, loved it! A hug from Portugal

Really good video; very clear and understandable...thank you! I am a MFT user. I used to use APSC, but even that was too big and heavy for me now. I love the small form factor and the crop factor. I'm less concerned about the low light performance and though lovely FF blurry backgrounds are incredibly beautiful, I am willing to sacrifice it for those other features.

When I went from DSLR to Mirrorless I moved up from a crop sensor to a 46MP Full-Frame. I feel like with this combo I get the best of both worlds! When I need to crop in to a standard APS-C size, I still get a nice sharp 20 MP image.

Content is KING: Your dialog is for learning, your presentation is A++ teacher....a winning combination. I love to learn from you, just like others have said. Me, I am a situational photographer. I see it, I take it, I make sure to sell it. My camera of choice: Fuji X T-5 with 35mm 1.4; 70-300 with 1.4 teleconverter; 16-80mm ; 30mm 2.8 macro. I often go back and relisten so I can absorb more...thank you.

Excellent topic Simon, thank you. I have a Canon SL3 with the APS-C, 24 MP sensor. An entry level DSLR camera, that provides everything I need to enjoy photographing just about anything I choose. I've also resurrected my Canon A1, and rediscovered my joy with B & W film photography (from 40 yrs. ago). It's all about the fun we create for ourselves, that is important. I appreciate your videos as they help to explore & develop one's personal creativity, regardless of skill level or equipment.

Hello and thank you for an informative compilation of "pros" and "cons" for sensor sized cameras. I have two crop sensor cameras: a Canon APS-C 80D and an Olympus OMD-E1 MkIII. I don't use a full frame camera, not because of it's features, but because of it's weight. I am losing my arm strength due to a very old war injury, so carrying a heavy lens+camera is not possible. I would love to be able to carry and use the larger sized sensor cameras just as you do. I am both a nature and astrophotographer as you. Your work and your KZfaq tutorials and information is excellent.

Brilliant lecture about Pros and Cons of different sensor sizes! Agree with every point you make Simon! I changed several times from mFT to full frame and back again. Three years ago I settled for Nikon's Z full frame system, and I am happy in every respect. Image quality is definetely better, which is important in landscape photography. I also can transform the full frame camera into an APS-C camera by cropping the files (DX- mode), which stretches the reach of my lenses.

extremely helpful and clear. Thank you as i venture back into my journey into photography after a 40year hiatus !

I love learning about my gear an you information helps so much to better understand. Thank you for your great videos and explanations. Your very good at this. Keep it up.

Finally, a video that delivers the information I need without hype and glitz. Thank you!

I'm a MFT guy and never regretted it. The majority of trips I do are on foot and the small size is a plus. But what really counts is the weight, or the lack of. Glass is heavy and after a 10Km trip to a location you will be happy about every gramm you don't have to carry back.

Love the information. One thing that is great about new features for post processing is you can adjust and manipulate different factors of an image that takes away the need for some of the hardware we would need for those purposes. I bought a crop sensor camera in 2018 and have shot everything and made a business with that one camera. All the new updates to lightroom and photoshop have expanded how easily and quickly I can get very creative. And have my work stand out without buying expensive equipment. All I have is 3 lenses, 2 powerful strobes and 3 modifiers. And a 6 year old camera. And my customers are always blown away by my work. All thanks to post processing. I never feel bad standing next to someone with a full frame camera and 20k worth of lenses.

Wonderfully informative and perfectly presented (i.e., pace, voice inflection). Also the production quality and illustrative examples were topnotch. A pleasure to watch and learn, Simon.

I started in photography with a sony a7r3 and a 16/35gm in which I exclusively do landscape photography. I do mountaineering and I go to places difficult to reach and high, and the sony in a snow storm suddenly turned off. Since then I sold my sony a6600 and bought the OM1 with the 12/40proII 2.8 and with its 50 megapixel handheld photography it does not detract at all in landscape photography, I also use it in macro with the 60mm and the new 90mm macro, and with the price of a 600 mm in ff buy the 40/150 pro and the 100/400 from Olympus. Nobody disputes the quality of FF but my om1 has been with me in very hostile places, snow storms, rain, at Montblanc, at the Gran Paradiso, etc... and it has never failed me. I barely use my Sony camera anymore. With the weight of this and two objectives I carry a camera and four Olympus objectives.

I so much look forward to seeing your videos each week! Please keep them coming. And thank you.

Thank you. One of the best videos on this topic. I too have a Canon 7Dmkii and Canon M50 and absolutely love them. Travelled the world with them and shot everything from wildlife to cityscapes, landscapes, concerts and weddings. The issue is not the sensor, it is people not understanding the different sensor types and how to get the best out of them, and not being prepared with the correct equipment for what they are doing

Nice video Simon! The same way in which crop is better for wildlife photography, fullframe is better for almost all other everyday genres including landscapes where we need wide to normal focus ranges. I mean a lot of people after playing with telephoto for some time understand that most of everyday pictures are located within wide and normal ranges. On the other hand for landscapes with crop it's usually enough to set f=8-11 in most situation, but in FF you need to choose between not enough DOF (8) and difraction losses (16-22), if I remember correctly (not an active photographer last few years), so it's always a hard choice. Anyway I think for some people (including me) FF is just need-to-reach achievement just to experience how it feels to use 35mm, as for many years before the digital era comes :)

Many presenters on KZfaq offer information and opinions with a clear bias. Yours do not, which is something I appreciate. Your presentation on sensor size is a perfect example of your objective approach. You did not, for instance, immediately inform us that bigger is better as some presenters do. Instead, you provided the viewers with relevant information, contextualized it and then left it us to us to decide. Bravo!

This is HANDS DOWN the best explanation of DoF and how it relates to sensor size and lens choice of seen in quite a while. New subscriber for sure 👍🏿

I have never before found someone who could explain these things so clearly, without favoring 1 over the other. I really like the "different tools for different jobs" mindset in your videos. Very nice work!

I have the Canon 90D. Crop-sensor with 32 MP. Sometimes I see people mentioning that so many megapixels on a smaller sensor can make it harder for some lenses to resolve enough resolution for that sensor. I mostly shot with EF-S 10-18 (got the 10-22 as well, but a bit bigger) and EF 24-105 f4 IS II. Daily photos when walking is shot with my iphone 14 pro. I like playing around with it in different settings to find situations where it’s useful and when less so.

Is wonderful video again Simon! One thing I wish you would have mentioned is that when discussing equivalency between the APS C and full frame cameras: you have to multiply both the focal length and the aperture by the crop factor. You discuss this a little bit when talking about background blur, but I'm a mathematical guy so in my brain it's easier if I just do the conversion.

This is the best video I seen that explains the differences and how everything works in a great way. Especially correctly explaining why there is DOF difference - especially with all the misconceptions that people tend to say.

i love your videos man, im trying to get more serious about my photography journey and your videos have been a big help

Great video, it reminds me that back in the 90's, when I was working on machine vision systems for robotics applications, I got chatting to a Photographer who was disappointed with his Digital Cameras. After years of only using 35mm kit, and getting pretty comfortable with it, he didn't like having to rethink almost everything he did, when using his digital cameras. He couldn't re-use the lenses for his film cameras on his digital camera bodies and expect the same results, every combination had to be thought about. He asked when the industry would start producing digital cameras with sensors the same size as 35mm film, and I couldn't answer. At the time, the largest sensors I'd worked with were 3/4", but I had researched a 1" square sensor (which used a pair of piezo cells to physically nudge the die, to quadruple the effective resolution) and explained how much more expensive that was. I could explain how silicon lithography processes worked though, and how expensive, relatively speaking, such a large 'chip' would be, and how the likelihood of a single defect ruining a whole sensor die would push up the price even more, but I had no idea that it would take a decade before these problems were solved well enough that full frame cameras would hit the mainstream.

Amazing explanation!! Just a couple more points I would like to add. The reading speed of the small sensors can be faster, so the fps in photography can be faster (up to 60fps with exposure and focus and 120 fps fixed in the OMSystem flagship) AND how much easier it is to stabilize the smaller sensor just because the lower inertia moment and smaller dimensions

Thank you for the video. I've seen some photographers act like it's their format is the only one true choice and all outer formats are poor choices. They ignore the fact that there are always trade offs in Format choices. You did a very good job summarizing the trade off choices we can make.

I've been watching your videos for about a month now. You have upped my game already with all your tips. I'm about to move up to a new camera from my Nikon B500, which has served me well and given me some great pictures. I just never knew which way to go. I love doing wildlife and historic sites and want to get into night sky photography. Thanks for all the info on sensors and lenses.

Thanks for that! I started out with a Nikon D7200 but bought lenses for a full frame camera. When I finally moved up to a full frame D780 I was surprised and mildly disappointed that my reach was diminished with my lenses. To regain that reach I sometimes set the D780 to the smaller DX crop size. Now I know why the images were not as sharp as I had hoped. I'm glad I didn't sell the D7200. It still has a purpose.

I use M4/3. After having used it as an amature for 10 years I don't think I would change. The small form factor, low cost and features that exceed my skill level make it a really good fit for me.

catching up on previous videos, thank you so much

Thank you for all your hard work the benefits we are getting from all of your videos are highly appreciated. Your 10:28 - 10:40 explanation is what really made me retained both of my ff and C years ago. Be blessed and be a blessing!

Sensor crop factor finally clicked for me. Thank you for such great and easy to understand explanation.

This was a good video overview on the subject. I particularly appreciated your illustration of how image circle crop factor, focal length and perspective (camera to subject to background distances) affect DoF. You could have added that smaller formats such as for example Micro Four Thirds have a two stop exposure advantage for similar DoF over the 35mm small frame ("full frame"), e.g. achieving a similar DoF, such as an exposure with f4 on Micro Four Thirds requires f8 on "full frame", allowing Micro Four Thirds to have two stops faster shutter speed or two stops lower ISO for an equal exposure (=exposure value, EV). This negates the advantage in image quality for larger formats over smaller formats in many cases because either the larger format ends up with a smaller, undesirable DoF with more elements out of focus; or blurry subjects because of a two stops slower shutter speed; or no benefit in image quality because any sensor size advantage is negated by the need to a two stops higher ISO; e.g. I would argue that there is no perceivable difference between a modern Micro Four Thirds sensor at ISO 200 compared to ISO 800 on a "full frame" sensor in terms of quality. Here's some minor criticism though: 6:53 "Capturing more light because of the larger surface area": this is highly misleading - and this is the source of much misconception. If I meter a scene using my Sekonic 308 with a specific exposure value being read out for that scene, I can dial in that EV into any camera with any format in any exposure triangle resulting in the same EV - regardless of sensor size. Example: a scene metered at ISO200 with 1/125s and f4 (e.g. EV 11) on my Sekonic allows me to expose that scene equally using the same exposure value in my Micro Four Thirds camera or my 6x9 on 120 medium format camera (or any "full frame" camera, whatever). The medium format camera does NOT capture more light because of the larger surface area, it gathers an equal amount of light required for an equal exposure. Here's why: f4 is f4 is f4, regardless of what sensor size I am using. It doesn't matter if I use the same lens on medium format, "full frame" or Micro Four Thirds (provided its image circle is large enough to cover all of them), f4 on that lens lets in an EQUAL AMOUNT of light on all of them for any given aperture, because light passing through the lens based on aperture is a property of the lens, not the sensor behind the lens. ISO 200 is ISO 200 is ISO 200, regardless of what sensor size I am using. The 120 film I put in my 6x9 camera is made from the same film base with the same sensitivity that is cut for 135 in my 35mm format cameras. The same applies to digital gain on digital cameras. ISO is not a property related to sensor size. 1/125s is 1/125s is 1/125s regardless of what sensor size I am using. The shutter opens the same amount of time, letting in light for the same amount of time regardless of what the sensor size is. The EV is universal. There is no setting on my Sekonic that requires me to specify sensor size when metering a scene. It's not the sensor size that defines the amount of light gathered. It's the EV and the exposure triangle - and sensor size is not in that equation.

Great job, Simon. Yours was the clearest explanation about depth-of-field that I have seen on KZfaq videos, and I've watched a few of them. I'm a real estate photographer and I own both micro 4/3's (Panasonic G9) cameras and a full frame (Panasonic S5). For my job, shallow DOF is not an issue (everything must be in focus), and I don't shoot in low light. Both sizes of cameras perform equally great in these conditions. Plus, I bought a 100-400 mm lens (200 - 800 full frame equivalent) for my G9 to have fun when I go bird watching. It's awesome! But my full frame is definitely better when, for instance, I pull over to the side of the road to shoot a longhorn steer over a fence. For that I want the blurry background. Edit: As Simon mentioned, focal length is one of the factors in depth of field, so even with a micro 4/3 camera I get shallow DOF (good bokeh!) when shooting with my 100-400mm lens.

I’m an old retired guy who take pictures as a hobby. I use an OM 1 Micro 4/3 camera. I was first attracted to the system for its size, weight, and quality for price. Also, the image stabilization is amazing. For wildlife I have the Olympus 100-400. It’s amazingly compact for its focal length range. I, of course, have a couple bags of other lenses. We live in good times with all the great camera technology out there, and KZfaq has made learning so much easier. Thank you for all the great content you’ve given us.