Top 5 reasons to own a full frame camera

It's been a many years since I owned my first DSLR. I have a Nikon D90 and I love it. But despite the great capabilities of my trusty D90, I've always aspired to have a full frame DSLR.

At the time when the D90 was released, the cheapest full frame DSLR was very expensive at 120k. A few years later, Nikon releases the D600 – an entry level full frame DSLR currently priced around 80k. And with that price range, owning a full frame DSLR does not seem so far away.

So what makes a full frame DSLR desirable? Here are my top 5 reasons:

1. More photographic possibilities.
2. Better image quality.
3. Superior low light performance.
4. Superior build quality.
5. Better ergonomics.  

Better ergonomics
Full frame cameras are generally larger in overall size. A larger camera actually helps me a lot because it allows me to have a better and more comfortable grip. My hands are too big for my D90 and I often find myself not knowing where to position my pinky finger. This will typically lead to sore hands after prolonged shoots especially when I have a heavy lens on the D90. A battery grip on my D90 is the quick fix, but I don't want to have a battery grip on all the time.

Superior build quality
Full frame DSLR bodies are built to withstand a beating. The D90 is made from industrial grade plastic and it's still alive. On the other hand, full frame DSLRs typically utilize metal alloy to make the camera body, which is tougher than plastic. On top of that, full frame DSLRs are weather sealed, ensuring that we can shoot in confidence in situations where the camera is exposed to sand, fog, moisture, mud, or some rain.

Superior low light performance
Full frame DSLRs simply performs better in low light situations compared to APS-C DSLRs like the D90. This is all attributed to the larger image sensor used in full frame DSLRs. Below is an image that shows the size ratio between the two sensor types:

The larger sensor of the full frame camera allows it to capture more light in low light conditions. This makes our photos brighter without creating much image noise in high ISO situation unlike the D90 which starts to become unusable beyond ISO 1600.

Better image quality
With the larger sensor, the full frame camera also captures more detail in shadows and bright areas. This can come in handy when editing the exposure of the photo. As mentioned, low noise in high ISOs also contribute to the overall image quality of full frame cameras.

More photographic possibilities
As someone who likes to take photos, it can be frustrating to miss a moment due to technical limitations of the camera. Right now, the limitation I am experiencing with my D90 is the ability to shoot clean photos in poorly lit scenes or scenes with barely any light at all. I occasionally shoot events where these scenarios are common, and I can see the high ISO capabilities of a full frame camera as the solution. The capability to shoot in low light scenarios opens up new doors to explore.

To wrap things up, the D600 is my next target camera. All I have to do is be patient and wait for the price to normalize. When the D90 kit was released, it sold for 60k; after about 4 years it now sells under 35k. I'll wait for the D600 to hit the 60k mark before I decide to pull the trigger.