Full versus Crop Sensor

This is a common topic among photography circles.  Crop versus a full frame sensor.

Full Frame:  A sensor equal to size of a 35mm film (24mm x 36mm)

Crop Sensor:  A sensor smaller than 24mm x 36mm that has a 'crop' factor (Nikon's DX models have a  crop factor of 1.5, Canon has two smaller sensors with a 1.3x and 1.6x factor)

For almost all applications, the Full Frame sensor has an advantage, mainly due to it's reduced noise, especially at high ISO.  Full frame sensors are also better with wide shots due to know crop factor.    Where does the full frame fall short, well in price, weight, size, and losing the extra reach that a crop sensor can give (A 200mm lens on a crop equals 300mm due to the factor, where on a full frame all you get is the 200mm).  

So it seems to come down to what you are shooting and who your photographs are targeted for.   For most wedding, architectural, landscape (actually would go medium or large format, but that is another discussion), or anyone who works in low light a full frame camera would be the best choice.

For the average consumer the price of a crop camera and lenses is the way to go.  Also for sports/wildlife enthusiasts the extra reach of a crop sensor might be beneficial. 

The one thing to keep in mind if you are making the jump from crop to full is that all your crop lenses may not work on a full frame sensor since the image circle is larger on the full frame.

Downtown Chicago from the River!

Happy Thanksgiving! - Photog Edition

Pursuing photography was not something I had ever originally thought I would do.  I have been through so many hobbies that I still love, but had never been so dedicated too, and have brought me so much joy.  It's really all be due to one thing, well one person, and that is my wife.  She has supported me in this so much from feedback on my photographs, understanding the time I spend out shooting and home processing, to surprising me with some amazing gifts (85mm f1.4!!).  She is my biggest fan and critic!  She is what I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving and for the past ones we have been together and for the future ones we will share in as a family.

Now for today's image.  Taken from my in-laws again, but this time with my camera!  I love blue hour and love the city of Chicago.  This is the reason why:

I hope everyone travels safe this Weekend and has a great Holiday with friends and family!  Eat lots and make sure to capture those moments we all love!!

Playing around with one Camera, dreaming of another.

Well if you are into photography as I am, then you pay attention to new equipment.  For me that is watching nikonrumors.com for new cameras, lens, and other Nikon items.  Well this past weekend apparent leaks of upcoming D800 camera arose. 

Check out the post here: Ladies and Gentleman I Present to You the Nikon D800!

Now I have been debating on what to get as my next camera.  The D3000 is just getting old and obviously is not the best on the block.  I do always get quality images out of my baby, and don't get me wrong I love my camera.  She has worked well and in instances that a lot of others complain about the function of it.  It is light and easy to hold, though when you put on a lens like the 85mm f1.4G it does get a little front heavy.  My only real complaint is the fps on it and the fact I have to use menus to change a lot of options, but I have gotten really quick at that.

So this weekend I was luck enough to borrow my father-in-laws D7000.  What a nice camera, light, but heavy enough to give good balance.  Fast (compared to my D3000) and all the options you need at your finger tips, well within reach of you right hand, giving you full ability to shoot manual with one hand.  Now the battle becomes full frame versus crop sensor, for what I do, I do not need the extra reach of the 1.5 factor.  But the price jump is a big investment.  We will see when Nikon officially announces it's follow up to the D700 where I will go.  

Here is a sample shot with the D7000.  This is of a new high rise going up next to my in-laws building in downtown Chicago.  I want to take a series as this building is going up so look out for more of this view of the building going up!

Before the Cold Sets in

Thankfully the other day I was able to get out and walk around down in the loop before this beautiful cold weather set in.  I like winter personally, the crisp air, the blanket of white (before the plows and cars make it brown).  The other good thing about winter is the air is clearer which makes for some amazingly crisp shots.  So looking forward to that.  But back to the other day, on my walk, which really consisted more of scoping out new spots than shooting.  I did take a couple, this first one I was able to get up into a parking garage down in the loop, but shortly after I started setting up, the security guard kindly asked me to leave.  Which I did, but I did get this shot:

I ended up having to crop this shot because my tripod was set up on an angle and the steel cables keeping people from the edge crept into the shot, so I cropped it to look like a two shot pano.  Still the lights from the buildings looked great.  Now the shot I really want to get from there I need to go sneak back in and the guard was kind enough to let me know when guards are not working ;-)

On my way back to the train, I realized I had never really taken a shot from underneath the 'L' tracks, so I realized I was at Lake and Wells.  What better place to take a shot.  Not wanted to do the normal HDR you see under the tracks, I decided I would do a fused shot (several shots fused into one).  I did this to get light trails in both directions since I could not get a long enough exposure to get it in one (I need to get a Vari-ND filter).

In post processing I brought down the brightness of the scene by dropping a 50% overlay black and white layer to bring out the details and give it that 'faded' look.  I have seen shots like this and I like them, so this was my first attempt.

This weekend is the lighting festival downtown on the Mag Mile so I hope to get down and get some fireworks shots over the river.

Two of Thirty Two

As I walked out of the Fullerton CTA station on Friday I came across three of these mannequin's that were once lined along Wacker Drive supporting Pedestrian Safety.  These 32 mannequins represent the 32 Pedestrians killed last year in Chicago.  Now the mannequins are scattered along several CTA stops.

So I finally grabbed a shot of two of them this morning on my way in to work since there is really no people to deal with as there is in the afternoon!

New Blog! - Fully Integrated!!

Well after a few attempts at fully integrated my blog into my website, we are now at a go, I think!    So welcome to the new Christopher|F Photography blog.  Full of my photography and general ramblings and shots.

Since getting a flash for part of my wedding gift, thanks to my beautiful wife, whose Birthday is today, I have been playing around with all types of flash portraits.  It becomes a challenge to find the right angle, modifier, and power for each shot, but it brings a whole new element to photography.  The other day while out doing some of my normal Chicago photographs, I decided to do a little self-portrait playing around with my flash.  This is what I achieved:

I used my SU-800 commander on my D3000 to remotely control the speed light to light my face, trying to give it the look of a flashlight lighting the scene.  I hope to try more this style night portrait in the future, so stay tuned for more flash fun!