ZOMG! Full Frame vs Crop Sensor SLRs

[Diamond Hell]

So, I've read a lot about 'the beauty of full frame' recently and the 6D release has really piqued my interest in the format.  The whole time I've been shooting with my DSLR I've been shooting on a crop sensor (1.6 crop for what it's worth), but I had no idea what this meant for my images, or my photography.

Today I had the chance to get hold of an old 5D and back to back with my 500D.

Here are the results.  I think they speak for themselves:

500D



5D



500D



5D



Would you LOOK at that bokeh?!

I think I might have just spent an extremely expensive few minutes. 

[bobbarley]

I was lucky enough to have a play with my friends 5D when we were on our rally the other week.  Going back to my A200 after was NOT a pleasant experience 

[stealthwolf]

I see no bokeh but see dof.

[Diamond Hell]

I see no bokeh but see dof.

Read and learn:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

[Winso]

Full frame is undoubtedly better then a crop sensor but has little to do with bokeh. Like stealthwolf said, the effect in the photos posted is just from a shallow DOF. Was the same lens used on both cameras?

[Diamond Hell]

Full frame is undoubtedly better then a crop sensor but has little to do with bokeh.

The difference is that the field of view is wider on a full frame camera vs. a crop sensor with the same lens.

this allows you to get closer to your subject while keeping it all in the frame.

The closer you are, the less DOF.

The less DOF, the more background/foreground blur.

the more bg/fg blur the more blur. there is "more" bokeh, if it can be said.

This is from a very long discussion, but the quality of bokeh from the full-frame appears to have more appealing characteristics.  If I have a chance to play more, to get further back-to-back comparison shots I will do.

Was the same lens used on both cameras?

Well, duh - what's the point in doing a back to back test if it's not using the same lens, at the same distance on the same subject?

Of course it was, as well as using the same ISO and F-stop, floating the shutter speed to expose correctly.

[shepgti]

Full frame is far superior, however it comes down to are people being limited by their crop sensors and i would say very few no pros are...

[stealthwolf]

For me, bokeh's always been about light rather than simple blurring of background.

Anyway, *want*

[DubFan]

When you say "old 5D", do you mean the Mk1 or the recently superceded Mk2 ?

You can now get a 5D Mk2 for about £1500 brand new, which although it's not the latest, is a very good camera.
But as for me, I can't afford to go full frame. That said, all my good lenses are older full frame lenses anyway.

[Diamond Hell]

When you say "old 5D", do you mean the Mk1 or the recently superceded Mk2 ?

I mean original 5D.  Just happened to lay my grubby mitts around one for a short while, to play with.