BUDGET FULL-FRAME CAMERAS

The best DSLR vs mirrorless cameras for going full-frame while keeping your costs down

We find the best full-frame option on a budget

THERE ARE TWO BIG ATTRACTIONS IN MOVING UP FROM A CROPSENSOR CAMERA TO A FULL-FRAME SYSTEM. FIRST UP, DEPTH OF FIELD IS MORE DEPENDENT ON ACTUAL FOCAL LENGTH, RATHER THAN THE ‘EFFECTIVE’ FOCAL LENGTH WITH A CROP FACTOR APPLIED. THE UPSHOT IS THAT YOU CAN GET A TIGHTER DEPTH OF FIELD TO BLUR BACKGROUNDS AND MAKE THE MAIN PART OF A SCENE STAND OUT; IDEAL FOR PORTRAITURE AND STILL-LIFES.

THE OTHER BIG BONUS IS THAT, IF YOU STICK TO A MODEST MEGAPIXEL COUNT,

THE PHOTOSITES (EQUATING TO PIXELS) ON A FULL-FRAME IMAGE SENSOR ARE LIKELY TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN THOSE ON AN APS-C OR MICRO FOUR THIRDS SENSOR. THE GREATER LIGHT-GATHERING POTENTIAL GENERALLY EQUATES TO MUCH CLEANER IMAGE QUALITY AND FAR LESS IMAGE NOISE WHEN YOU NEED TO BUMP UP YOUR ISO. YOU ALSO GET GREATER RETENTION OF FINE DETAIL AND TEXTURE, AS THERE’S LESS NEED FOR THE IMAGE PROCESSOR TO SMOOTH OUT THE APPEARANCE OF IMAGE NOISE.

THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT FULL-FRAME CAMERAS CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE ALL OF YOUR LENSES AS WELL. IF YOU’RE A CANON OR NIKON USER, YOU MIGHT ALREADY HAVE SOME COMPATIBLE LENSES, WHICH CAN BE USED IF YOU UPGRADE TO A BUDGETFRIENDLY FULL-FRAME SLR OR MIRRORLESS CAMERA OF THE SAME MAKE.

IF YOU UPGRADE FROM AN SLR TO A MIRRORLESS CAMERA, YOU’LL NEED A MOUNT ADAPTER. THE BUDGET-FRIENDLY CANON EOS RP (P81) ISN’T AVAILABLE IN THE UK AS A ‘BODY ONLY’ ITEM, AND COMES COMPLETE WITH AN EF-EOS R MOUNT ADAPTOR OR A KIT ZOOM LENS.

HERE, WE COMPARE AFFORDABLE FULLFRAME CAMERAS FROM NIKON AND CANON IN DSLR AND MIRRORLESS FORM. LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CONTENDERS...