Full frame vs APS-C: which sensor should you buy

Choose APS-C if you want a smaller, cheaper camera and shoot mostly in good light. Choose full frame if you often shoot in dim rooms, want the shallowest background blur, or plan to grow into pro work. The sensor is only one part of the choice, and lenses cost more than people expect.

A full frame sensor is about the size of a 35mm film frame. APS-C is smaller. Our catalogue lists a crop factor of about 1.5 for Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm APS-C bodies and 1.6 for Canon, which means a lens frames a narrower view than it would on full frame.

What the bigger sensor changes

Low light. At the same f-number and field of view, a larger sensor collects more light in total, so it can reach the same image with less noise. The gain is real but small in bright light and shows most in dim rooms, at night and at events.

Background blur. To frame the same shot, a full frame camera usually gives a shallower depth of field. If soft backgrounds matter most, this is the biggest visible difference.

Field of view. A 50mm lens on a 1.5 crop body frames like a 75mm on full frame. Wide-angle shots need a wider lens on APS-C to match, and long lenses reach further.

Size and weight. Full frame bodies and lenses are often larger and heavier. You will notice it on a full day of travel.

Pairs from our catalogue

Sony A6700 and Sony A7C II. Same maker and the same E mount, so lenses carry over. The A7C II has the full frame sensor and the higher price.

Canon R10 and Canon R8. The R10 is the APS-C starter, and the R8 is a lighter full frame body that shares the RF mount.

The cost people forget: lenses

The body price is only part of the bill. Full frame lenses are often larger and cost more, and a fast zoom or prime can cost as much as the body. APS-C lenses are lighter and cheaper, and many full frame lenses will also mount on an APS-C body of the same system. Plan your budget as body plus two lenses, not body alone.

Which sensor suits you

• Beginners and travel: APS-C. Smaller, lighter and cheaper, with plenty of quality for prints and screens.
• YouTube and vlogging: APS-C works well and is easier to hold at arm's length. Check the lens is wide enough, because the crop narrows the view.
• Weddings, events and low light: full frame earns its price here.
• Portraits with strong blur: full frame helps, and a fast prime on APS-C also works well.
• Wildlife and sports: APS-C's crop gives extra reach for the same lens, which is a real benefit at a budget.

Before you buy

Decide your lens budget first, then see which sensor fits. A good APS-C camera with a good lens beats a full frame body with a basic kit lens for most people. Compare today's prices for each body in the tiles above, and ask a local store to let you hold both before you pay.