After shooting with the Leica Q2 for about a week (having shot crop APS-C sensors and digital medium format) — I was thinking:
Is full-frame overrated or underrated?
In praise of fixed-focal full frame cameras
The benefit of fixed full frame cameras (non-interchangeable lenses) is:
- Smaller size (more compact)
- Ability for macro mode (closer focusing abilities)
- More creative opportunities (I think having the option of changing your lenses is often more of a distraction than a creative benefit). In fact, constraints give birth to creativity.
It seems right now the most interesting fixed full frame cameras include the Leica Q2, Sony RX1R, and the upcoming Zeiss fixed lens full frame camera.
Downsides of full frame?
This is a random thing —
Street photos look a bit too real when shooting full frame.
For example, you capture almost too much detail in your subjects. I don’t think I like it.
In street photography I think I like the idea of turning people into more abstract art. So when you get a little TOO much sharpness and detail in people, the photos look slightly vulgar to me.
Why full frame?
I’ve found that I really like full frame for photographing plant life, urban landscapes, and food.
Funny enough, it seems full frame makes for interesting and fun snapshots. What you might shoot as a snapshot on your phone (instead on full frame) is far more interesting.
For example instead of shooting your food on an iPhone, what if you shot a macro 28mm photo on a Leica Q2 full frame? The food photos look 1000x more interesting on full frame!
The future of photography
I still think the future of photography is going to get bifurcated into smartphone and digital medium format.
I think for photographers who want supreme image quality will get a digital medium format camera, and photographers who want convenience will use a smartphone camera with more computational power.
Perhaps the future of full frame belongs to Leica digital cameras. I see the Leica M10 is selling very well (full frame), and the Leica Q2 is also selling like hotcakes. I imagine that DSLR cameras will eventually die off, in favor for more compact mirrorless cameras. Just look at how Sony is eating the lunch of Canon and Nikon.
“Investing” in a full frame camera
The tricky thing is all digital cameras are poor investments, as their value plummets faster than stones in water.
Now you can get a Leica Q1 for sub-$3000 prices, and even Leica M240 cameras are going for sub-$3500 prices. So realize the purchase of any full frame camera isn’t a good one.
Also the tricky thing is this:
Full frame cameras aren’t really pocketable, thus not optimal “everyday” cameras.
What is a full frame camera for?
It seems full frame is optimal for focused, all-day shooting.
If you’re traveling or spending a whole day shooting street photography, full frame is for you.