Pixiq

When I first started shooting digital, I knew very little about the sensors on the cameras I owned. In fact, I thought they were pretty much the same. Little did I know how little I knew.

At some point in your development as a photographer / videographer, you'll suddenly learn that you need to know more about sensors as well and when you do, you'll want to know the differences between the "full frame" sensors (like on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II (reviews)) and the 1.6 crop factor (on cameras like the Canon EOS 7D (reviews)). 

The video below which was shot by Mike Collins (whom I met at the Canon EXPO) shows the difference between two cameras using the same lenses. Tho the title of the video talks about comparing lenses, in reality, what it is really showing you is how the same lenses are impacted by the different sensor sizes.

Since the 7D shares the same sensor with the Canon Rebel T2i/550D and the new Canon EOS 60D, then of course this comparison applies to those cameras (and any other camera with a Canon APS-C size sensor).

From Mike: "This is a short test with the tripod in the same spot switching between prime lenses to show how the crop affects the 7D.  The subject, ace stand in Chris Clement, was roughly five feet from the camera.  This isn't meant to be an aesthetic test to show the difference in image quality between the two cameras.  It's a down and dirty field guide for myself and the other shooters we work with so we can quickly figure what lens we want to use on each camera. We go from 20mm all the way to 100mm with a Lensbaby composer thrown in at the very end."

Shows the differences quite well doesn't it?

So, post your experiences in the comments now.

planetMitch