anax276 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Hi!Everybody is talking about this unique "full frame look" that cannot be reproduced with smaller sensors (e.g. A7S vs. GH4).Can someone explain this to me? Or (even better) give me an example? Is it the shallower depth of field or is there more than that?Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 The 'look' is shallower depth of field. This is most relevant with medium wide angles. You can't reproduce the look of a 35mm f/1.4 on fullframe on a smaller sensor. To get the same look (when shooting the same subject, from the same distant, with the same framing), you would need something like a 23mm f/1.0. This lens does not exist for aps-c and if it would, it would be crazy expensive.This article gives nice examples, comparing Fujifilm aps-c to fullframe: http://andrewvanbeek.com/fuji-x-lenses-and-full-frame/It's about photography, but applies to video too.Also, full frame sensors generate less noise and typically have better dynamic range. But this isn't usually what people refer to when mentioning the full frame look.Important point: you don't need the full frame look to get the 'cinema' look, since most professional film cameras are using a S35 sensor, which is the same as aps-c. On top of that, most films are not shot at wide apertures like f/1.4 because it's very difficult to keep an actor in focus with a super small depth of field. nahua 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richg101 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Opening a can of worms.... The full frame look comes from the ability to shoot with longer lenses while maintaining the same field of view. Longer lenses have a shallower dof. longer slower lenses also tend to be lower distortion and sharper than wider faster lenses so the 3d pop is pronounced. shoot gh4 and you need a 25mm f1.4 to get the same look as a cheap 50mm f2 on full frame. however the 50mm will always outdo the 25mm. Nearly all users of smaller sensors who haven't used bigger sensors will argue this fact, claiming shallow dof isnt important, yet will always get excited by a fast wide lens that gives them the ability to get the shallow dof if they want it.If shallow dof and wide fov's are top priority a full frame sensor will save you money on lens purchases at the moment. the ability of smaller sensors being able to match the look depends on how many more advances there are in lens making technology. lens tech is slower than sensor tech at the moment and the thought of paying huge amounts for a small format 25mm f1.4 in order to obtain a basic 50mm/f2 look seems like madness to me. Julian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzynormal Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Yeah, about that A7s.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anax276 Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks! Julian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted January 9, 2015 Administrators Share Posted January 9, 2015 I think full frame is also about seeing the edges of the image circle from the lens. With a crop sensor and a lens designed for full frame you shoot through the middle of it and don't see the rendering in the corners. You can miss the curving bokeh and vignetting... little imperfections that will give the image so much character.A smaller sensor is best with glass suited to it, e.g even though the Super 16mm sensor in the Digital Bolex is tiny, you see the edges of your Super 16mm lenses with it and so you get the nice rendering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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