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Full Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras for Real Estate Photography

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Full Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras for Real Estate Photography

When it comes to real estate photography, choosing the right camera is crucial. Full frame cameras and crop sensor cameras are two popular options, but which one is the best choice for this type of photography?

In this article, we’ll explore the differences between full frame vs crop sensor cameras, and consider the pros and cons of each option for real estate photography.

By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of which type of camera is the right fit for you and your real estate photography business.

Table of Contents

Full Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras: What's the Difference?

The main difference between a crop sensor camera and a full frame camera is the size of their image sensors.

A full frame camera has an image sensor that’s the same size as a 35mm film frame, which is approximately 36mm x 24mm.

A crop sensor camera, on the other hand, has a smaller image sensor, which is usually about half the size of a full frame sensor.

One major difference is that the smaller size of the crop sensor crops the image that is captured by the lens, resulting in a narrower field of view.

For example, if you are using a lens with a focal length of 50mm on a crop sensor camera, it will have the same field of view as a lens with a focal length of 75mm on a full frame camera. This is known as the “crop factor.”

Another difference between the two types of cameras is that full frame cameras tend to have larger pixels on their image sensors, which results in better image quality, particularly in low light conditions.

Full frame cameras are also generally more expensive than crop sensor cameras.

Pros and Cons of Crop Sensor Cameras

Pros

To be honest, there aren’t many pros for using a crop sensor camera. However, there are a few:

  • Cost: Crop sensor cameras are typically less expensive than full frame cameras, making them a more budget-friendly option for real estate photographers.
  • Size and Weight: Crop sensor cameras are usually smaller and lighter than full frame cameras, which makes them more portable and easier to carry around. Although with the adoption of mirrorless cameras, this is less and less true.

Cons

  • Image Quality: The largest and most important con of crop sensor cameras is that they lack in overall image quality. This is not to say you can’t capture great real estate photos, but when compared to full frame sensors, they simply do not measure up.
  • Limited Lens Options: While there are many lenses available for crop sensor cameras, the selection is generally not as wide as what is available for full frame cameras. And the overall quality of lenses tends to be better for full frame cameras.
  • Worse ISO Performance: The smaller pixels on a crop sensor camera can also result in more noise as the ISO increases. This can be a problem for any shots in low light settings, which is somewhat common in real estate photography.

Pros and Cons of Full Frame Cameras

Pros

Unlike crop sensor cameras, there are many pros to using a full frame camera:

  • Image Quality: Full frame cameras generally produce higher quality images, with better dynamic range and less noise at high ISOs, due to the larger size of their image sensors. This is easily the biggest pro for full frame cameras.

  • Low Light Performance: The larger pixels on a full frame camera’s image sensor allow it to perform better in low light conditions than a crop sensor camera.

  • Wide Angle Lens Options: Full frame cameras have a wider field of view for any lens compared to crop sensors, which makes them much better suited for real estate photography.

  • Larger Selection of Lenses: There is a larger selection of lenses available for full frame cameras, which gives photographers more options and greater ability to choose exactly the focal lengths they want.

Cons

There is really only 1 con that comes with full frame cameras:

  • Cost: Full frame cameras come with a much higher price tag. Sometimes they can cost thousands of dollars more than crop sensor cameras, which makes them not realistic for every budget.

Full Frame vs Crop Sensor: Which is Better for Real Estate Photography?

In my opinion, and I feel quite confident in saying this, full frame cameras are better overall for real estate photography.

The biggest advantage of full frame cameras is their image quality. Full frame cameras produce higher quality images with better dynamic range and less noise at high ISOs.

That alone is enough for me to say that full frame cameras are better suited for real estate photography. Also, take a look at our article Best Cameras for Real Estate Photography. You’ll find only full frame cameras.

When you add in considerations like the fact that full frame cameras have better lens options and a wider field of view for any given lens, it really tips the scale.

Finally, something that is worth noting, full frame cameras tend to hold their value better than crop sensor cameras. This can be important for real estate photographers who may want to sell their equipment.

While full frame cameras are undoubtably better for real estate photography, it’s worth noting that crop sensor cameras can still be used more than effectively for this purpose.

There are plenty of real estate photographers creating beautiful photos with crop sensor cameras.

Additional Resources

If you’re just getting started in real estate photography, check out our Beginners Guide. It’s full of helpful articles and tips that will guide you in the right direction as you begin your real estate photography journey.

You can check out our Gear section as well to see reviews and recommendations on the latest real estate photography gear.

If you’re more interested in other resources that can help your real estate photography business, check out our Business Resources page.

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About author
Matthew Digati is a professional Real Estate and Architectural Photographer. Matthew has worked as a Real Estate and Architectural Photographer since 2015 and has photographed properties and projects all over the United States.
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