Theories, or better yet, an explanation, please?

[teamster633]

18 months ago, a broken latch on the camera back of my Canon Elan IIe, at the beginning of my last vacation of the year, forced me to buy a new camera. I had a reasonably generous budget to work with, so I had some good options. I've used Canons for over 20 years so it came down to the 20D or the EOS 3. I ended up getting the EOS 3 because it had features I had coveted for years, and because I couldn't get beyond the sensor size in the 20D since it would neuter my 17 mm lens. Which brings me to my question: every few months sensor sensitivity increases, why not sensor size? I'd much rather have an 8 MP camera with a full size sensor that a 12 MP camera with a 1.6x sensor factor. The cheapest Canon I've seen with a full size sensor is priced around $3500. Why is there no middle ground?

[Blue_In_AK]

1. The 5D has a full-sized sensor

and I don't think it costs that much. I see some for around $2200 without lenses.

[teamster633]

2. You are absolutely correct.

I just checked my online source and found the 5D for $2199. That's still nearly a grand more than I'd like to pay for a camera body. I just wonder why if the Rebel XSi sells for $800 with 12.2 MP why there isn't a full frame option in the price range of the 30D?

[flamin lib]

3. Why not just pick up the 10-22 zoom? That would

give you the equivalent of 17mm and it's about $600.

[teamster633]

4. It's just an academic question at this point anyways.

As I mentioned, I chose to get the EOS 3, for among other reasons, the high price of DSLRs with full frame sensors. Shortly afterward, I purchased my first L series lens, the 70-200mm 2.8L and am now hooked. Sometime before fall, I hope to match it with the 17-40mm f4L. When the opportunity to add a digital camera to my kit arises, I wish it didn't entail having to purchase an additional lens as well. I was curious if any of our more technical-minded members had any insight into why manufacturers have chosen to opt for more mega pixels over larger sensors in 2nd tier products? The advanced amateurs at whom these models are targeted almost certainly have a collection of lenses and the wider of these suffer considerably from the sensor factor.

[bvar22]

5. Sony is producing a Full Frame Sensor.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08013001sony35mmcmossensor.asp

There is plenty of controversy about the Full Frame vs the small sensor.
Most of the controversy is around increased light fall off, vignetting, and spherical aberration with the larger Full Frame digital sensors.

http://photo.net/equipment/canon/fullframe/

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/full_frame_vs_aps-c.html

[teamster633]

6. Thank you very much.

Your two links are exactly what I was looking for. It would appear that sometime in the not so distant future, Canon will be moving to all full frame except for the Rebel line. That makes me a lot more comfortable going for that 17-40mm lens this summer.