For macro with the same lens, is a crop sensor or full frame body better?
Asked 4/1/2018
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I’m recommending a camera for someone who wants to shoot macro. Ignoring budget, and assuming the same macro lens is used on both cameras, is a crop-sensor body or a full-frame body the better choice for macro work?
My assumption is that crop sensors may help because many have higher pixel density, but I’m not sure whether that actually gives an advantage or if I’m misunderstanding how magnification and field of view work in macro photography.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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For a given number of pixels, a crop sensor will indeed have a larger pixel density, thus a potentially larger resolution. But as the pixels are smaller, you'll have a bit more noise.
The real difference comes when you look at the size of the image on the sensor: you really like to have the subject fill the field of view. If you use a "real" macro lens which gives you a magnification of 1:1 (or more), at 1:1 the image is the same size as the subject. For a 1.5× crop sensor, a subject of 16 mm will take up the full height of the sensor, for a FF sensor, you'd need a 24mm subject. So the apparent magnification on screen (or uncropped print) will be larger for the crop sensor.
While not strictly related to the question, keep in mind that there's more to take into account when setting up for macro: when you are working at or close to 1:1 magnification (or more), handheld is getting tricky. So a good tripod is needed (and one that can go down to ground level). Also focussing becomes difficult, easiest is often to use a rail. Etc... All these extras have to be taken into account for the budget.
Originally by user72870. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user72870
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
With the same macro lens at the same reproduction ratio, the lens projects the same image onto either sensor. If the lens is set to 1:1, it is 1:1 on both crop and full frame.
The practical difference is framing: the smaller crop sensor records a smaller portion of that image circle, so the subject fills more of the frame. A 1:1 shot on crop can therefore look “more magnified” in the final image, but that is because of the narrower field of view, not because the lens magnification changed.
A crop body can be advantageous if it has higher pixel density, since you may get more pixels on the subject. The tradeoff is that smaller pixels can show more noise.
So neither format is automatically “best” for macro. Full frame gives a wider view around the subject; crop gives tighter framing with the same lens and may place more pixels on the subject if pixel density is higher. For macro, lens capability and working setup matter at least as much as sensor format.
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