Mirrorless Camera News

We’ve all heard the banter: “If you’re serious about photography you need full frame.” Or how about “You’re not a proper landscape photographer if you don’t shoot full frame.” All this boils down to the notion that big is always best, all the while bad-mouthing APS-C and MFT cameras.

But is all this absolutely true for every photographer, or is the full-frame revolution partly clever marketing? We recommend that you watch the video below before ditching your trusty DSLR and all the accessories, and investing in a new full-frame mirrorless camera and a bunch of new glass.

Craig Roberts is an experienced British travel and landscape photographer. He admits to being an early large-sensor adopter when he sold his medium-format film system and bought a Canon full-frame DSLR—way back in 2007. In the quick video below, he discusses the difference between “want” and “need,” and somewhat discredits the notion that, “It’s full frame or go home.”

There are a lot of things to consider before investing in a totally new system, including the type of shooting you do, how your images are used, the need for more storage capacity, and the expense of a whole new array of accessories and glass to go along with the new body. And as Roberts points out, full-frame mirrorless cameras tend to be smaller and lighter than comparable DSLRs, but the same isn’t always true for high-end lenses.

But what about image quality? After some time using two older full-frame DSLRs, Roberts switched to a micro-four-thirds system and says his clients and publishers were always happy with the professional quality of his images. As he says, “If they were happy, I was happy too,” while enjoying the convenience of the much more mobile MFT system.

Of course technology is constantly evolving, and Roberts does a good job clarifying the advantages and drawbacks of the latest full-frame cameras, to help you plan your next move. After watching his video, head over to his YouTube channel for more helpful tips.

And be sure to check out yesterday’s story, with our initial take on the powerful and compact Pentax K-3 III APS-C DSLR that was just introduced.