Mixing APS-C lenses with full body cameras has lengthy been thought-about a mistake, one thing you’d by no means need to do if you happen to cared about picture high quality. However relying in your wants, it may be a sensible and sensible alternative. The trade-offs aren’t as black and white as they first appear, and in some circumstances, the advantages may very well outweigh the downsides.
Coming to you from Jason Vong, this insightful video breaks down why utilizing APS-C glass on a full body mirrorless physique isn’t the sin folks make it out to be. Vong compares choices just like the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8, an APS-C zoom, with its a lot bigger and heavier full body counterpart, the 24-70mm f/2.8. The distinction is placing: the APS-C choice is a few quarter of the load, measurement, and value. Sure, compromises exist, however the worth is plain in order for you one thing light-weight and reasonably priced. Sony’s APS-C Tremendous 35 mode makes this pairing much more sensible, cropping into the sensor to take away the heavy vignetting brought on by the smaller lens picture circle.
This video additionally explains why subject of view adjustments relying on the sensor measurement, which is the place many individuals get confused. For instance, mounting a 50mm lens on an APS-C physique successfully turns it right into a 75mm equal. The identical factor occurs while you use an APS-C lens on a full body digicam in crop mode—it mimics the smaller sensor, so the maths stays the identical. Whereas this does imply you’re shedding megapixels in stills, the impression relies upon closely on the digicam. On a 24 MP physique just like the a7 III, you drop to about 10 MP in APS-C mode, which is limiting. However on one thing just like the 61 MP a7R V, you continue to get 26 MP information, the identical decision as a devoted APS-C physique, making the compromise far simpler to stay with.
The story adjustments when capturing video. Not like stills, 4K doesn’t demand an enormous sensor readout. Since a 4K body solely requires round 8.3 MP, you don’t lose decision by cropping into APS-C mode. In reality, in some cameras you achieve sharpness, as a result of the smaller crop permits for a clear oversampled picture. This makes APS-C lenses an interesting alternative for video shooters who worth portability, particularly for setups like gimbal work the place measurement and weight matter. Vong additionally factors out that cameras just like the a7 IV and a7C II power a crop when recording 4K 60p, so having APS-C glass really restores your vast angle choices as a substitute of taking them away. Take a look at the video above for the complete rundown from Vong.
