Full frame is not really necessary for HD video?
- Thread starter deleuze3
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David W. Jones
Veteran
If you need the full frame look then get a full frame camera. If you don't know if you need the full frame look, then you likely don't need a full frame camera. I own a 5DmkIII as one of my cameras because I have a client that requested we shoot with that full frame camera. I also shoot with S35 and M4/3 size sensor cameras depending on the job and desired look we are after.
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Unless you want super shallow depth of field, the answer is no.
Stuart Keasley
Well-known member
If you mean better, in terms of quality, then the answer is no.
The sensor size determines the depth of field characteristics of an image, the larger the sensor the smaller the depth of field (given the same frame and focal distance).
But you also get better low light capabilities with more photo cells. Full frame will have better iso performance than a crop, in general.
Stuart Keasley
Well-known member
There are a lot more factors than that to determine end quality. For instance, our 5d mk II shoots full frame video, the quality of the image is nowhere near as good as footage from our FS700 cameras (super 35 mm sensor size), even using standard onboard AVCHD recording.
Finn Yarbrough
Well-known member
I think the question that you are actually asking is about the resolution of the sensor, which doesn't have anything to do with the physical size of the sensor. Tiny point-and-shoot camera sensors can be 12 megapixel, and 2/3" 3-CCD sensors from broadcast cameras can have fewer but larger photosites.
Still-camera sensors have far more photosites than are needed for HD video, it is true. But most of those photosites are discarded or passed over in the video recording process in a way that is completely different from the way that the camera processes stills (and sometimes even causes new problems, like aliasing). Any video that you shoot in 1080p HD will be exactly the same resolution, no matter how big the sensor is or how many photosites it has.
So, as others have said, you should not be thinking of it in terms of whether full-frame sensor has "too much resolution," because it does not. What it does have is shallower depth of field and (sometimes) better light sensitivity. Many clients respond positively to the shallow depth of field look, but it really is an aesthetic preference, not empirically better.
Still-camera sensors have far more photosites than are needed for HD video, it is true. But most of those photosites are discarded or passed over in the video recording process in a way that is completely different from the way that the camera processes stills (and sometimes even causes new problems, like aliasing). Any video that you shoot in 1080p HD will be exactly the same resolution, no matter how big the sensor is or how many photosites it has.
So, as others have said, you should not be thinking of it in terms of whether full-frame sensor has "too much resolution," because it does not. What it does have is shallower depth of field and (sometimes) better light sensitivity. Many clients respond positively to the shallow depth of field look, but it really is an aesthetic preference, not empirically better.
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Liam Hall
Veteran
Define; better.
Liam Hall
Veteran
There are many factors in a camera system that affect sensitivity and perceived resolution.
Here's a video I made a few years ago to demonstrate the difference (or lack of) between 7d and 5D2. It's made entirely out of B-Roll from various jobs I shot that year:
https://vimeo.com/14669505
Here's one I put together from jobs I shot last year. It was shot on a variety of cameras; C300, 5D3, BMCC and F5:
https://vimeo.com/85236675
Now, you tell me, does size matter?
Stuart Keasley
Well-known member
The amount of pixels on the sensor determines the resolution, larger sensors do allow for more space for the pixels... However in terms of video, even a GoPro can manage 4k, so it's really not relevant.
How about expanding on what you'd like to do, what's driving the questions?
Finn Yarbrough
Well-known member
Yes. Full HD is all 1080p, that's the resolution.
Strictly speaking, the only things that the sensor size DIRECTLY effects are the focal properties like DoF and angle of view. Photosite density is what effects light sensitivity, but bigger sensors can fit bigger photosites which are more light sensitive, so bigger sensors are often more light sensitive.
Liam is on to something about PERCEIVED resolution, though. There are a lot of things that go into that, such as sharpness, contrast, lack of noise, and color rendition.
Unlike in still photography, where pixel count can have a direct relationship to how well an image is rendered and how large it can be printed, when you deal with video you can completely forget about the megapixel thing and focus on what matters about the image quality and ergonomics of your camera.
Ebrahim Saadawi
Carbonite Member
The thing is, there is no "better" when it comes to aethetics. For example, some people might like sharp imags with huge depth of field and detail reproduction. Some people might like a softer- more flattering image with shallow depth of field. Some people might like an image with muted- unsaturated colors, and some people might like very color-rich images.
So the term "better" comes down to you, what you see is better. Full frame sensors tend to have a slight softer images and have very shallow depth of field, also they are more sensetive to light.
Smaller sensors tend to have sharper images with more details, with deep depth of field, and they are less sensetive to light.
Look up some footage of the camera you want to buy and see of "you" like the image.
So the term "better" comes down to you, what you see is better. Full frame sensors tend to have a slight softer images and have very shallow depth of field, also they are more sensetive to light.
Smaller sensors tend to have sharper images with more details, with deep depth of field, and they are less sensetive to light.
Look up some footage of the camera you want to buy and see of "you" like the image.
