Canon Full Frame or Not?

by Miles Hanley
(Columbia, SC)

"I am an enthusiast photographer who will be retiring next year. I plan on doing some photography on the side. I've done several events for friends in the past and have gotten quite a few requests. I have been using a Canon xsi and recently upgraded to the 90d. In your opinion will the 90d suffice for a small side or should I consider getting a full-frame camera with it? And if so, which one would you recommend? Also, should I consider getting mirrorless (seems to be the direction Canon is going) or stick with a good DSLR which can be had for a bargain? (Sorry about the multiple questions.)"

Hi Miles,

Congratulations or your upcoming retirement! That's exciting. That will be quite a change for you, I'm sure.

The question of whether to go with a full frame Canon to stick with your 90D is an interesting one and exactly the same decision I faced, but with a totally different situation behind it.

Canon Full Frame vs. "crop" 90D

I don't think you need to invest in a full frame camera to shoot events. The 90D is such a great camera, capable of outstanding image quality, for both video and stills. I just bought my 90D (as a back-up) and like it so much that I have been using it exclusively, instead of my full-frame Canon 5D Mark III, except for wide angle landscapes and my portraits photography. Your 90D is such a HUGE upgrade from your Xsi-you're going to be thrilled with its performance.

Unless you are shooting a lot of existing light photos under dim lit conditions, where high ISO noise could be an issue, the 90D (small pixels) will serve you well. I bought my 90D because of its superior video capabilities and the 10 frames-per-second wildlife/birds in flight photography abilities.

Canon 90D backup

If you're shooting once in a lifetime events, like weddings, you might want to consider if your Xsi is an adequate backup. Your 90D will be very reliable, but "Pro" photographers should always have a backup camera accessible if you're being depended upon to capture an important moment in time.

Canon 70Ds and Canon 80Ds have become very affordable since the arrival of the 90D and would work perfectly if you feel the need to have a better backup camera for important shoots.. You've already got the EF-S lenses from your Xsi. Going full frame or changing over to mirrorless will likely force you into investing a lot more money for lenses to match.

I hope my answer is helpful to you and please let us (The Canon Geek Readers and me) know how you progress with your decision.

Thanks so much,
Bruce