I think I'm done with full frame!

Jules

Ok, I'm a videographer primarily and have a Canon cinema camera for paid work.
But I also like to have a decent stills camera for photographs of family events.

I've had a full frame Canon 5D Mark IV for quite a while for this, but I've increasingly found myself leaving it at home because the big lenses were a chore to carry around.  And if you ever take out a big white 70-200mm full frame lens in public places, people freak out / call security!!  It generally sucks the life out photography.   And don't talk to me about camera shake!

So for the last few weeks I've been playing with a Micro 4/3rds Panasonic GH5s (for low light video work), and a Panasonic G9 (with amazing image stabilisation) for stills... and the weight saving has been huge.

The little M43 lenses get far less attention, and what's more the image quality is very very good (not quite as good as the Canon, but much closer than I imagined it would've been), and being mirrorless you can monitor your exposure in the viewfinder... which means faster shooting, less mistakes, and less post processing.

I took the Panasonic system to a family event last week, and got shots that to me look every bit as good as my 5D.  

So I think I'm just about done with full frame.
Even if I was a giant with big muscles, I'd still prefer not to freak people out with a big lens.

AMc

I never had the budget for full frame so it was never an option but going from a DSLR to M43 was a good move for me.
I didn’t enjoy lugging the DSLR around so often took my compact and was then disappointed with the quality.
I’ve given up on the compact and my M43 kit covers everything for me.
I don’t have any pretensions towards professional work but as an amateur the M43 size and the price of the kit esp. the lenses suits me perfectly. Look forward to seeing some of your work in the sharing thread

Micro four thirds place (all m43 images welcome)

Johnmcl7

The best camera is the one you have with you - FF is absolutely not the be all and end all so if m4/3 works for you then that's great.  I'm not ashamed to admit one of my favourite cameras is the one on my phone which does impressively well for a little 1/2.3in sensor as well as being incredibly quick to use.  M4/3 has been extremely popular so you're far from on your own in wanting a portable, high quality setup.

When I went FF I went for the 24-70mm/70-200mm but mostly used the GH2/14-140mm  as the Nikon setup was too large to go out and about with.  Although the 28-300mm is hated and scorned is my favourite FF lens because it makes the D750 viable as a walk around camera.

That said last weekend I was out at a race track and while packing up I decided to take the 70-200mm and the 150-600mm but then I was thinking can I really be bothered carrying those around all day.   I thought not and just went with the 28-300mm with the RX10mkII stuffed in placed of a second lens which after walking over 13 miles both days they were feeling very heavy.

In the evening I was glad to change to a Sony RX1 which is my new toy, well new is relative as it's a pretty old camera I picked up for a good price from a local camera shop.  When I walked away with it wrapped up in bubble wrap as it didn't have a box or anything else I was wondering if I'd made a mistake and more so when I started shooting with it as it feels like an RX100 with an inflexible 35mm lens.  I can't get into my head that it's a FF sensor so it seems so weird it can do shallow depth of field and great high iso.

It's still limited in what it can do though so I'm not recommending it as a general camera but thought it relevant when discussing FF and portability.

NSNO

I'm the opposite, switched to the 5DIV from a 7D2 and would never go back - the images are just so much better.

newbie1

@Jules its good found a system better suited to what you need.  

Personally I’m with @NSNO and prefer my FF.  I really don’t find the size or weight a chore and experience no difference pointing a camera in public based on size.

This weekend for example I was out and about with 5D, 70-200 and flash for family portraits at sunset.  Good results and no-one around took any notice.

shotokan101

Fair enough - BUT - have you tried m4/3?

newbie1

Yes, the results are good no doubt about that.  However, I don’t want a second system and overall it won’t replace for me.  I can see it would for many people.

Jules

I think the benefits of M43 are more obvious at the longer end.  Once you go beyond typical portrait focal lengths on full frame, it becomes less and less practical to use a fast lens wide open because the plane of focus is so thin.  Therefore, the light gathering advantage of full frame compared to M43 starts to dwindle.

I do agree that for wide angle and portrait stuff, full frame is potentially the better option if you don't mind the weight.

Maybe I'll stick with both after the honeymoon phase with the Panasonic fades.
I just think I'm far more likely to grab the g9 in a hurry than the 5Div.

py6km

I've made the change back and forth between APS-C, full frame and smaller sensor cameras several times over the past x years.  I'm with you on the size thing - even just a couple of nice primes are large and heavy when you crave the very wide aperture versions that work well with FF bodies.  However, ultimately for me, the sensor size and the benefits that go with that won out.

If you can live with one focal length, try a Leica Q.  I now have one, and find it stunning.  I find the usability and IQ better than any previous combo I had (inc. 5D3 or 1D3 with 85/2 or 50/2; D750 with 85/1.4G...etc.).

snerkler

I have FF and m4/3 both have pros and cons. IQ is very close, however there are a few reasons why I can’t give up FF.

1. Shallow DOF. I’ve always had a ‘thing’ about images shot with fast lenses on FF. the DOF and fall off gives a quality that I like.

2. I crop a lot and not only does FF crop better, I’m now also blessed with a 45.7mp camera. I doubt m4/3 will ever get much above 20mp, at least with the current sensor designs.

3. Noise

4. Dynamic range. Having the ability to push a single file is better for me than having to bracket.

I do love my little Olly though