It is funny how 48x36mm is not a crop sensor and 44x33mm is, especially when 6x4.5 is about 56x42mm and the largest sensor is 53.7x40.3mm. I shoot with a 48x36mm sensor and a 44x33 sensor and there is no real difference.
I try to remember to refer to the 48x36 as a 1.1 crop sensor. If I ever fail to remember to do so please let me know why!
Regarding "full frame"
41.5 x 56.0 - Nominal film gate size of a Mamiya/Phase 645
40.4 x 53.9 - P65+
That leaves half a mm on the left and right and a smidge more than a mm on the top and bottom.
More over the viewfinder of the Mamiya 645 was very close to 100% coverage but not exactly 100%, so the end result is that if you put a P65+ on a Mamiya 645 the viewfinder will be exactly what you get (without a mask).
In other words What You See is What You Get. If that doesn't qualify as "full frame" I don't want to be involved in a conversation about what would.
Now all that said the practical differences I find in using a 1.0, 1.1, or 1.3 crop sensor:
- the larger sensors see more of the weak areas of the less-sharp wide angle lenses. So if you go large sensor and you want to shoot wide angle you need to invest in the best wide angle glass available to take advantage of it. At mid-wide and longer this is a moot point.
- when shooting wide open a 1.0 or 1.1 sensor has a significantly shallower depth of field when filling the frame with the subject, as compared to a 1.3 sensor. If you rarely shoot wide open this won't be especially important. The look of the 150mm f/2.8 lens on a 1.0 or 1.1 sensor, shot wide open, is very hard to match.
- it's nice to look through a larger viewfinder. You notice this the most when, like me, you work with a dozen cameras a month. 1.3 to 1.0 especially is a pretty large change in the size of the viewfinder.
- if your back is against the wall (literally - as in you're shooting e.g. an interior of a yacht) and you're using the widest lens you have in your bag, if you're using a 1.3 crop sensor you will REALLY wish you had a 1.1 or 1.0
I also feel the "medium format" ness of the image is strong on the 1.0 and 1.1 crops vs. 1.3. But I've never tried to directly compare this, and to be honest the terminology and effects involved are very vague "feeling" is the best you say. So I would not make a big deal of this aspect.
Doug Peterson
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