Why buy a cropped-sensor camera?

While most recently-released cameras use sensors based upon the 36 x 24mm (35mm) film frame, before Canon released the EOS 5D back in August 2005, all DSLRs had sensors, which were smaller than a 35mm frame. And in the main, they met the needs of most photographers.

Today, the focus has shifted to ‘mirrorless’ cameras, and increasingly to models with sensors close to 36 x 24mm. This is because the cost of producing larger sensors has declined steadily making ‘full frame’ cameras cheaper to produce.

This has pushed cropped sensor models to the sidelines, which is unfortunate since there are many areas in which smaller sensors provide genuine benefits. For those unsure about their commitment to serious photography, it will be cheaper to invest in a cropped-sensor camera and lens(es), which is a good starting point.

However, even for serious enthusiasts, cropped-sensor cameras have significant advantages. Smaller