Jim writes:

I have been viewing your blog for the past six months and love your work.

Currently, I am using a Rebel XT and thinking about moving up to a 5D and I noticed you just did. What’s your take on the 5D? Is it worth the extra weight in lugging around the trails and is there anything you prefer on the XT when compared to the 5D.

Thanks, Jim.

That can be a more complicated question than might be apparent at first. I really do like the 5D for its greater dynamic range, greater ability to capture fine detail, good wide angle performance, and ability to use f/11 and f/16 without diffraction issues.

That said, there are also good arguments for the smaller crop sensor cameras including the XT or the newer version, the XTi – especially if you are photographing on the trail. These cameras are certainly lighter and smaller and can use smaller and lighter lenses to capture the same angles of view. They can also produce fine images if you use good lenses and good shooting technique. I regularly made 13 x 19 prints from my XT and successfully printed up to 16 x 24. If you don’t print larger than this, the size and weight advantages of the crop sensor cameras may trump the other advantages of the full frame bodies.

Another factor may be which lenses you currently own. If you have a crop body but no great lenses yet, it can make a lot of sense to upgrade lenses first, with an eye to developing a set that will work with your future full frame camera. While DSLR bodies have a fairly short life span these days, good lenses will last – and they’ll improve your photographs on the both the current and future cameras.

In the end the decision between crop and full frame camera bodies is a personal one. For me it is worth the extra size and weight but that may or may not be the case for others.

Dan