full-frame CAMERAS

There’s never been more choice when finally upgrading to a full-frame Canon camera. Matthew Richards weighs up the options

Bigger and better, full-frame image sensors have significant advantages over their smaller APS-C format siblings. With more than two and a half times the surface area, there’s the option of adding more megapixels for capturing greater levels of fine detail and texture in photos. Alternatively, a modest megapixel count enables physically larger photosites, equating to pixels within images. This gives the potential for a dramatic reduction in image noise, when shooting under low-lighting conditions at high ISO settings.

Whereas Canon’s APS-C format cameras have a crop factor of 1.6x, there’s no crop factor when using a full-frame camera. As depth of field is more closely linked to the ‘actual’ rather than ‘effective’ focal length, you can get a tighter depth of field with a full-frame camera. It’s ideal for blurring the background in portraiture, or for isolating objects in still life photography. The downside, naturally, is that you’ll need bigger lenses if you want that really long telephoto reach.

Canon’s exciting range of full-frame cameras stretches from the ‘enthusiast’ level 6D Mark II to a diverse collection of professional SLRS. The 5D Mark IV is an ideal all-rounder, while the 5DS and 5DS R are ultra-high-resolution specialists, and the 1D X Mark II is a real speed demon. The EOS R is a relative newcomer, and Canon’s first mirrorless full-frame camera. As such, it’s unique in the line-up. Let’s take a closer look at how all the models compare…