Photography: Camera sensor size difference

i have an XA2 that i lent to a lomographer she prefers it to the lomo and has had stuff published in the lomo books (that would upset the purists if they found out)
also have a yashica t5 that i bought with the intention of taking more 'snaps' but i only ever put a couple of rolls through it and it's sat in drawer for the last 5-6 years.
i also have one of those waterproof/shockproof olympus compacts but i haven't used that much either, think i filled the card up on holiday and then lent it to somebody for their snorkling holiday.
i'm thinking about getting the ep-1 but with my track record it will probably not get used unless i make an effort to take more 'snaps'

I bought an old Olympus 35 SP rangefinder a couple of years ago as I'd managed to convince myself I needed a compact, and I never use the bloody thing. The trouble is I'd never forgive myself if I saw "the perfect shot" and all I had on me was an old school rangefinder or a compact digital. For random shots I just stick a 50mm f1.8 on my SLR body and it's bulky, but fits in my bag fine.

That said, the difference in weight between my D100 and D200 is massive. I may well have to dust off the Olympus...

I do not entirely agree. the quality of the upper shelp rangefinder digitals is just stunning. i.e. the DP1, D-Lux4. LX3. The only real trade of is the small control on depth in field IMO. But every camera to its uses. Wasnt there a BP photo prize winner once who used a single use ?

I do not entirely agree. the quality of the upper shelp rangefinder digitals is just stunning. i.e. the DP1, D-Lux4. LX3. The only real trade of is the small control on depth in field IMO. But every camera to its uses. Wasnt there a BP photo prize winner once who used a single use ?

I agree - it's more a psychological thing than a technical thing. I can get great shots out of my polaroid, the same as I can from my 60-year old Halina TLR, and the Olympus hasn't actually let me down, but it's the psychological thing - I'd rather be shooting with a decent lens with a decent body, as that's the camera I use for paid work anyway - I can't separate the two. I suppose it's like being at an alien landing, and only having your camera phone with you.

I persuaded the missus to get a Canon SX-110 IS the other week, and it's a lovely camera - great resolution, lots of mode flexibility (fully manual, aperture priority etc) which means I can have a muck about with it, and in spite of being a 'superzoom' it's small enough to fit in your pocket. Got it for £140 too, which was good. I'd stick it in my bag as a backup for sure.

Sorry to dredge this up.

Ed have you still got your 5D?

I'm in a pickle whether to go for the 5D (used) or a new 550D.

Sorry to dredge this up.

Ed have you still got your 5D?

I'm in a pickle whether to go for the 5D (used) or a new 550D.

If you're wanting a bit of HD video (and who wouldn't with the quality you can get) then the 550D is a winner. If you crave full frame goodness then the 5D is a winner. If you want both, like I do, then you have two options. Stump up the cash for a 5D MkII or do as I have done for the past few years and just 'wait until full frame and HD video cost under my budget on eBay'.

After much deliberation I recently went for a well looked after second hand 5D and I don't regret it at all.

It depends what your priorities are. If image quality, 5D. If you want video as well, 550D. Either will take great photos, but for me the viewfinder, full frame sensor and fantastic IQ made the 5D the right choice for me - it's just a great photographic tool (but I'm not interested in video).

The price difference between the 5D and MkII is painful.

After much deliberation I recently went for a well looked after second hand 5D and I don't regret it at all.

It depends what your priorities are. If image quality, 5D. If you want video as well, 550D. Either will take great photos, but for me the viewfinder, full frame sensor and fantastic IQ made the 5D the right choice for me - it's just a great photographic tool (but I'm not interested in video).

The price difference between the 5D and MkII is painful.

After thinking it looks like I'm going to go with the 5D

I always think oh video would be good, but honestly how often am I going to use it?

the 5D looks and feels imo much more like the film cameras I'm used to.

The only thing which puts me off is the fact that the 5D's are 3-4 years old now, is the technology old at all, is there anything I should be looking out for when buying one?

After thinking it looks like I'm going to go with the 5D

I always think oh video would be good, but honestly how often am I going to use it?

the 5D looks and feels imo much more like the film cameras I'm used to.

The only thing which puts me off is the fact that the 5D's are 3-4 years old now, is the technology old at all, is there anything I should be looking out for when buying one?

The technology is older yes but the quality is still very good and you can pick them up for a lot less money.
I've had a MK2 for 8-9 months and am still to use the video in anger, though it is there for when I do I guess.
I have many prints up to a metre across from the 5D that sit happily next to medium format film scans.
Make sure the sensor glass has no scratches on, sometimes people can get overly vigorous when cleaning them.

Oh and I have a good nick one with a grip and couple of batteries if you're still interested? £550 all in.

Cheers,

Ivan

After thinking it looks like I'm going to go with the 5D

I always think oh video would be good, but honestly how often am I going to use it?

the 5D looks and feels imo much more like the film cameras I'm used to.

The only thing which puts me off is the fact that the 5D's are 3-4 years old now, is the technology old at all, is there anything I should be looking out for when buying one?

Spiders, if there are spiders nesting on the camera it's probably a bad 'un.

I have a 5D and 550D - there is a difference in image quality (in the 5D's favour) but the 550D is still pretty amazing.

The other thing to bear in mind is lenses (although by the sounds of it you probably already have a collection) - 5D's EF lenses (FF) are more expensive than EF-S (cropped sensor) lenses.

I always think oh video would be good, but honestly how often am I going to use it?

Once you see it, all the time.

I've had a MK2 for 8-9 months and am still to use the video in anger, though it is there for when I do I guess.

I must have had my MK2 for over a year before it even occurred to me to take a still ! (seriously)

I must have had my MK2 for over a year before it even occurred to me to take a still ! (seriously)

^^ Touché ;-p

The technology is older yes but the quality is still very good and you can pick them up for a lot less money.
I've had a MK2 for 8-9 months and am still to use the video in anger, though it is there for when I do I guess.
I have many prints up to a metre across from the 5D that sit happily next to medium format film scans.
Make sure the sensor glass has no scratches on, sometimes people can get overly vigorous when cleaning them.

Oh and I have a good nick one with a grip and couple of batteries if you're still interested? £550 all in.

Cheers,

Ivan

Wow. That's a great price. If only this was 2 months away.

Tynan - you seem to know your stuff man!

I've not got any lenses at the moment, I've been using film RF's and SLR's for a few years. Both 35mm and Medium format.

I did have a Nikon D70 (loved it) but sold it to my dad along with the lenses so I will be starting again with a lens collection as well as a new body.

Thinking at the moment a couple of primes and a flash should do it. Then I'll buy more once the bank account and Mrs. lets me.

Wow. That's a great price. If only this was 2 months away.

I just pm'ed him!

Or two months ago.. On eBay going rate is more like £700 body only.

Wow. That's a great price. If only this was 2 months away.

Or two months ago.. On eBay going rate is more like £700 body only.

But £550 is still a good price.

I meant I wish he'd been selling it two months ago so I could have paid £150 less.

It's a very good price, being £150 lower than the going rate!

Tynan - you seem to know your stuff man!

I am just trying to answer all the questions, get all the praise, maybe post a few images and lord it over everyone before MrSmyth and EdScoble get here

Thinking at the moment a couple of primes and a flash should do it. Then I'll buy more once the bank account and Mrs. lets me.

Show's you how much of a photographer I am as I have never owned a flash, I just stick old and fast Nikon lenses on the 5D and 550D and use available light, but like I said I am no photographer.

What kind of photos are you planning to take spenceey?

What kind of photos are you planning to take spenceey?

He does pedopgraphy.

From the bushes.

I quite like wide angle lenses, for indoors and landscapes, would a 28mm be good enough for landscapes as well as indoor groups or is it maybe not as wide for landscapes?

Most of my photography so far has been portraits and landscapes and general documenting of life.

Is also like a 50 as a standard keep on the camera most of the time lens.

Do you think the 28 and 50 would be the best choices here or is it worth going for a zoom over both these lengths?

I quite like wide angle lenses, for indoors and landscapes, would a 28mm be good enough for landscapes as well as indoor groups or is it maybe not as wide for landscapes?

Most of my photography so far has been portraits and landscapes and general documenting of life.

Is also like a 50 as a standard keep on the camera most of the time lens.

Do you think the 28 and 50 would be the best choices here or is it worth going for a zoom over both these lengths?

28mm is wide on a FF sensor (like a 5D)
50mm is a standard field of view on a FF sensor (like the 5D)

28mm is a standard field of view on a cropped sensor (like a 550D)
50mm is a slightly telephoto field of view on a cropped sensor (like the 550D)

If you are nice to me I can sling a 28mm and 50mm onto a 5D and 550D and shoot a picture later on if you want, might give you an idea.

The 5D is plenty enough to do what you want it to do, the biggest drawback for me is that the LCD have a slight green tint, but I never use it anyway, and even though it can go up to 1600 ISO and look very clean, it doesn't go up as far as 6400ISO on the newer model.

point being, the 5D have been around for almost half a decades, yet still work beautifully and does exactly what I want it to do.

handle them both, see which you like, and buy

If you are nice to me I can sling a 28mm and 50mm onto a 5D and 550D and shoot a picture later on if you want, might give you an idea.

that's what he said to me and that is why i'm posting from a very large hole in Tynans cellar clad only in the discarded carpaces of long dead cockraoches