Should it be Full-Frame or APC or M43 Sensor?

Last Update: 28th December 2020

I guess one could say, the mobile phone is now the official always with me camera. Some say they do everything with their mobile phones. But mobile phones use tiny sensors! There are many articles and YouTube videos discussing this same question. Mobile phone channels say phones are better today, and photography presenters say, cameras are still the preferred option for photographers? If the size of the sensor kept you from only using your mobile phone, then why not test different sensor sizes. Considering sensor size, I had a few cameras and thought, let's study the images and see for ourselves. Should I keep my camera or simply get the next mobile phone?

So often we see how M43 photographers are pushed around on subjects like equivalence and anyhing related to sensor size. To make things worse, there is no alternative to biased info we see in camera reviews and on photography forums. With only one or two cameras, how will you ever know?

For example, what is the so-called "Full Frame" look talked about on forums? With all the hype about full-frame sensors, wouldn't it be nice to at least simulate this "Full Frame" look? I am also searching for a formal definition but could not find anything describing this full-frame look...

Olympus Pen F, handheld @ 1/15Sec, f4.0 and ISO2000 (see the slow shutter speed and higher ISO)

I had a few cameras with different sensor sizes. It didn't take much to create a semi-controlled test for these cameras. The next step was to take images and compare them.

A little Photography wisdom...

Photography is one of those things that has a negative for each positive. Interestingly manufacturers are working hard to build new features to "bridge" these negatives. For example, study the above image and the camera settings below the picture. It's basically a blue hour scene from my wife and me strolling through this coastal town. I had my Pen-F and 17mm f1.8 with me. 

Let's study the positives and negatives:-

- Positive: Increasing the ISO helped me to up the shutter speed. Great for a blue hour
- Negative: Slow shutter speeds cause camera shake and a higher ISO more image noise.
- Solution: Build-in Image Stabilization with fast lenses, ISO w ETTR, or using a tripod?

I think we can agree that it's quick to create a long list of positives and negatives for almost every situation. I am not going to do that in this article, I believe readers know the arguments and they generally have the information when buying a new camera.

Let's look at another option:

- Positive: High ISO values enables the photographer to safely work in low-light situations.
- Negative: High ISO settings result in more noise, a lower DR, and color response issues
- Solution: Select the right solution for the job. You need more light in low-light conditions

Digital photography is much more than the size of a sensor, image noise, or IBIS. I believe the informed photographer will plan and match his or her gear to support their photography. 

To illustrate, let's consider a few more examples:

Example 1

Two hobby Photographers are going on a 5-day mountain hike. They like doing birding, animal, and landscape photography. One specializes in landscape and bird photography and the other enjoys wildlife, macro, and video. The size of their equipment and carrying weight are important to them. Image quality is important because they promote and publish their work. What typical photography gear do you think these two photographers will carry with them?

Example 2

Both the wife and husband turned 50 and they planned a 6-day bus tour in celebration. Both enjoy photography, street photography, cityscapes,, and video (storytelling). They like good IQ and prefer light and portable photography gear. Both are active on social media and each has a blog or video channel. They both won prizes and both published images. When home they do photo editing, video editing, and scrapbooking. What gear will this couple have in their camera bags?

Example 3

A 40-year-old sports fanatic and hobby photographer likes to photograph live football games and he never misses an opportunity to watch Formula One. Through the years he is a well-known face at Formula One and his action shots are popular amongst motorcar enthusiasts. Camera speed, fast and accurate autofocus, and long zoom lenses are all basic must-haves for him. Because he likes to move around during the game or race, he found mobility is important to him. What will he carry in his camera bag?

Let's study a few cameras and images...

I read a few articles and technical papers as I prepared for this article. I looked at equivalence, something discussed a lot on forums. We also know that photographers and artists are people who focus on the visual aspects of their surroundings. I, therefore, thought it was a good idea to take a few simple images and compare them so readers can examine the differences for themselves.

I used the following cameras:

Unfortunately, I had no 1" sensor camera available. I purposely mixed older and newer cameras to see if age makes any difference in image quality. Interestingly, older cameras have a lower maximum high ISO value. (The LC1 has a max ISO of 400 and the Konica Minolta A2 is ISO 800)

I used these lenses with the above cameras:

- Sony FE 50mm f1.8
- Panasonic M43 Leica 25mm f1.4
- Fujinon 35mm f1.4

I created the following "Controlled Environment" to record these images.

- I used one large Video LED soft light with fixed settings and it's on a tripod.
- I used the same "dark Room" camera setting for all the images at higher ISOs, 
- Each camera was on the same tripod in a "fixed" position. (No IBIS or IS used)
- All images were taken with a focal length of +/- 50mm and a 3:2 image ratio.
- Used RAW images and used the same basic editing for each image with PS.
- I applied no noise reduction and left the raw images "as is" or OOC.
- I focussed on the maize in the front. Background = the fruit basket and 2 chairs.

Testing background Blur @ ISO 200 & lower and f2.8

The purpose was to see how these cameras isolate the subject. It also helps to see the background blur from each camera/lens combination.

 Fujifilm XT-20, 1/15, f2.8, ISO 100

Sony A2 MKII, 1/40, f2.8 ISO 200

Konica Minolta A2, 1/25, f2.8, ISO 100

 Olympus EM1 MKII, 1/13, f2.8, ISO 64

 Panasonic G9, 1/40, f2.8 ISO 200

 Panasonic LC1 (5MP), 1/30, f2.8, ISO 100

 Panasonic LX7 (10MP), 1/25, f2.8, ISO 100

 Fujifilm X20 (12MP), 1/60, f2.8, ISO 160

Depth of Field @ ISO 200 & lower and f9.0

The purpose of this test was to study the depth of field with f9.0 selected on all these cameras. One can see how landscape images will benefit from using smaller sensor cameras.

In terms of focusing, I focused on the main subject (Corn). Using the 3rd's rule, the distance from the camera to the subject is the same as the distance from the fruit platter to the subject and the same from the chair to the fruit platter. I placed the subject on the first 3rd.

 Sony A2 MKII, 1", f9.0, ISO200

 Olympus EM1 MKII, 1/3, f9.0, ISO 200

 Panasonic G9, 1", f9.0, ISO 200

 Panasonic LX7, 1/3, f8.0, ISO 200

 Fujifilm X20, 1/5, f9.0, ISO 100

Fujifilm XT-20, 1/5, f9.0, ISO 100

High ISO (3200) and an f-stop closest to f2.8

The purpose of these test images was to see the different cameras perform at high ISOs. I was looking for things like image noise, color variations, image detail, and finally how the images compare at higher ISOs. Keep in mind I used a custom white balance for Photoshop and ALL the images. I used the "WB point" just above the chairs on the background wall.

Also important is the fact that manufacturers have different levels of noise reduction for their jpegs. Canon APS-C cameras were always praised for their good high ISO noise performance. See the Canon reviews at DPReview. The fact is, most of these highly acclaimed cameras deliver clean high ISO images with no image detail. This seemed completely irrelevant to most reviewers.

What reviewers refuse to talk about is noise reduction smears image details. This "eagerness" to present clean jpeg files happens today, also with many full-frame cameras. This is why I used RAW files for these test images and not jpegs. I also used no noise reduction with these images.

 Sony A2 MKII, 1/25, f2.8, ISO 3200

 Olympus EM1 MKII, 1/25, f2.8, ISO 3200

 Panasonic G9, 1/30, f2.8, ISO 3200

 Panasonic LX7, 1/80, f2.8, ISO 3200

 Fujifilm X20, 1/80, f2.8, ISO 3200

Fujifilm XT-20, 1/50, f2.8, ISO 3200

Testing the Full Frame look @ ISO 200 and max Apertures

The purpose of this test was to see what these different solutions look like with max apertures. What does the background blur look like and what is the ability of each camera to isolate its subjects' background? Keep in mind these images were taken in a similar "controlled" environment.

 Sony A7 MKII, 1/50, f1.8, ISO 100

 Olympus EM1 MKII, 1/160, f1.4, ISO 200

Fujifilm XT-20, 1/60, f1.4, ISO 100

Does the size of the sensor change the exposure settings?

I used the Sony A7 III, the Olympus EM1 II, and the Panasonic LX7 in this example. Three sensor sizes and three different cameras. The settings used with each camera were exactly the same. I used 50mm, f4, and 1/5 seconds at ISO 200. I used a small video LED source for each test.

I edited the RAW files in Photoshop. See the histogram for each camera next to the sample image.

The purpose of this test was to see if any of these cameras receive more light than the other. I also wanted to see if I had to adjust my exposure setting for any one of these cameras...

Well, as you can see the size of the sensor did not change the amount of light reaching the sensor. In other words, it was NOT necessary to change my exposure settings for any of these cameras...

Conclusion

If you get the chance to try different cameras in a similar "controlled" environment, then you will see how the results make you view this complete sensor size or "size and capture" thing differently. To be honest I did not discover any "Full Frame" look either. What I did see was a bunch of interesting and capable cameras, each with its own appeal and benefits.

At the start of this article, I said your photography gear should match your unique photography needs. For example, I see NO reason for having a wide angle lenses if I only do macro photography. If you are really interested in something more than a mobile phone or any specific camera or lens configuration, then search for something secondhand and sell it again if you didn't like it...

Also, study some of my other articles...