Any sense to upgrade from 60D to full frame for better image quality ?

[Ivo]

I am not a professional photographer, but very enthusiastic one. Apart from various type of photos (landscapes, macros, documentary etc.), I also like to do atmospheric photos of my music instruments (where I am a professional), product photos of them, studio videos etc. But in whatever I do (including this) I don't like to make compromises. I have very nice collection of lenses for my EOS 60D: Sigma 17-50, Canon 70-200, 2.8 IS II, Tokina 11-16, Sigma 35 1.4, Sigma 150 Macro etc. that I collected after I got enthusiastic about it. Sometimes I am thinking whether going to full frame would bring clearly better image quality (depth, colours etc.) or not and I am tempted to think to go for 6D or even 5D ... But the question is, would it be really worth to do this "upgrade" ? Sure, there are many extra features in 5D or 6D comparing to 60D, but I don't miss features on 60D for my purpose, I am thinking only in terms of image quality. Would the quality of the same shot look better with 6D or 5D comparing when made with 60D, using the same lenses compensated by the crop factor ? Or I better should be happy with what I have and apart from improving the skills I should think of some more beautiful lenses etc. ?

Thank you for your opinion and sharing your experience.

 

[Juga]

The 6D is a beautiful tool but honestly you should only upgrade if you are limited by your current camera body to capture the images you want.

 

[KmH]

Image quality is almost entirely a function of photographer knowledge and skill.

Use of light is a area of expertise that significantly affects image quality.
Under $30 - Chasing the Light: Improving Your Photography with Available Light (Voices That Matter)

Camera Flash: Appearance
Camera Flash: Exposure

 

[Ivo]

It is sure - but the question is, if within the same shot, same time, same angle, same lenses (apart from the crop factor) you would get photos of similar quality made by APS camera vs full frame or different quality ...

 

[goodguy]

It is sure - but the question is, if within the same shot, same time, same angle, same lenses (apart from the crop factor) you would get photos of similar quality made by APS camera vs full frame or different quality ...

I don't think you will really see any noticeable difference, if you were a real pro then maybe but for most cases a good crop sensor camera is very close to a full frame in IQ, the biggest noticeable difference is in low light situations.

 

[grafxman]

I "upgraded" to a 6D. I needed better low light/high ISO capabilities for museum photography. I immediately discovered that the selection of lenses for a full frame camera is extremely limited compared to my 7D. I have yet to find a lens the equal of my much loved Sigma 18-250mm macro. The few lenses available can be slightly soft (Canon's 24-105mm L lens) or don't like to focus in low light (Tamron 28-300mm macro). The Sigma 12-24mm however is excellent but is only good for wide angle. The 6D is absolutely terrific in low light but that's about it. If you need low light capabilities and can spring for new lenses then go for it. Otherwise it's probably not worth it.

 

[Justman1020]

I own a 6D now, I also own a canon t4i, I will always have atleast one crop sensor camera because of the lenses available on them, like mentioned above, going to a full frame only system would limit you, because of two things:: Price of lenses, (Even though you already have a wide variety) and the fact that you cant use the APS-C lenses, so, if you want the best of both worlds, buy a full frame, (Maybe a 6d? or older 5D?) and keep your 60D.

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

Full frame DSLR: do you really need one? | Digital Camera World

John

 

[bratkinson]

I upgraded from a 60D to 5D3 a year ago for two main reasons...High ISO capabilities for low light, no flash work, and absolute drop-dead sharp focusing...which took me a while to get used to. The extra quiet shutter mode is a nice 'freebie' as well, since I do a lot of my photography at non-wedding church events. Reason #4...the ability to MFA my lenses. Although none of my lenses were out by more than + or - 5, the improvement was noticeable, especially when pixel peeping. Being able to MFA each end of the zoom lens ranges surprised me, as I figured they'd be the same.

My only sort-of complaints about the 5D3 is the loss of the swivel screen and the somewhat unexpected size & weight differential compared to the 60D.

As for IQ, I had no complaints with the 60D. My only issue was noise at ISO 3200 and up. Shooting with all L lenses on the 60D has the advantage of using only the center area of the projected images from the lens...less distortion, CA, etc. I -did- notice, however, my 16-35 f2.8L gets a lot less use with the 5D3 than the 60D as the 24mm end of the 24-105 is 'wide enough' on the 5D3, where as I needed the 16mm end of the 16-35 to get an FOV of a theoretical 25mm lens.

The first shot was with my 60D - 24-105 f4L at 70mm, f4, 1/100, ISO 1600.


This one's with the 5D3, same 24-105 f4L at 105mm, f4, ISO 3200, 1/40th


And lastly, 5D3 with 135 f2L wide open (what else?), ISO 3200 at 1/320


I am more than satisfied with what I can do with the 5D3 that the 60D couldn't. Now all I have to do is finish paying off the credit cards!

 

[jsecordphoto]

I have a 60D now and dream of upgrading to a 6D or 5D for the low light performance. I really am getting into shooting the stars and such at night and the noise at iso3200 with the 60D is pretty foul

 

[Ivo]

Thank you for all your replies. So it seems that the main advantage of full frame would be better IQ at low light and in normal condition the difference in picture quality (at the same conditions) may not be that dramatic (if I am correct). I was looking at used 5D Mark II, that are sold often here for OK price, but maybe it is already a bit obsolete ? (to keep both 60D and 5DII). I like Tokina 11-16, Sigma 17-50, which cannot be used with full frame.

On the other hand, sometimes I cannot get close enough with my flagship lens Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II because of the APS crop factor ... so full frame would be an advantage to use this marvellous lens at normal distance ... or maybe better to wait a year or so, till 5DMKIV is introduced and MKIII prices fall down a bit ? I read everything about 6D and while 60D is one of the best APS cameras, 6D is at the bottom among full frame cameras .. so not sure if this "upgrade" would be worth it ...

But still - if there is a choice between 5D MKII and 6D (for a similar price), what would be better choice in terms of image quality ?

 

[Juga]

6D hands down.

 

[weepete]

By the sound of it you should focus on your skills more before considering an upgrade. The 60D is still a perfectly capable camera and can produce some brilliant results if used in the right way.

A full frame camera won't get you closer to the action for the same focal length, you'll have a wider field of view so it will appear that you are further away given you are in the same spot and using the same focal length.

While the 6D or the 5Ds are better cameras and there is nothing wrong with wanting a better camera I don't know if you will see the kind of results you are thinking of just by switching bodies. Mibbies you could post a few of your photos you think need improvement and we may be able to give you a better idea of what the issues are and whither upgrading would help?

 

[Ivo]

Here are links to some of my (Facebook compressed) photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741843.100003538211394&type=1&l=95e0c7c7ba

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741839.100003538211394&type=1&l=11c770e821

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741838.100003538211394&type=1&l=dfe3dd3f68

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741842.100003538211394&type=1&l=bb587b5e11

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741849.249133978519493&type=1&l=cb289e88c6

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741852.249133978519493&type=1&l=141fa62a1b

etc

 

[Overread19 7]

On the other hand, sometimes I cannot get close enough with my flagship lens Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II because of the APS crop factor ... so full frame would be an advantage to use this marvellous lens at normal distance ...

If you can't get close enough to the subject at 200mm with a crop sensor then the fullframe will be a disadvantage because you'll be capturing more edge, so the 200mm will feel like a shorter focal length on the fullframe.

The 5DMIV is unlikely to land next year; I'd expect a good few years between 5D releases (rebel camera bodies come out each year with slow upgrades but always behind the others - the higher up bodies upgrade slower because the tech is pushing closer to the limits of what, at the time, is possible).