Now unless you are a photographer yourself, of course a lot of this makes little or no sense to you. Lucky for you, I have PICTURES! Please see the examples below:
This was shot with a D700 FX (full frame) sensor camera
This was shot with a D300 DX sensor camera
The small-format (DX) D300 is inferior. The noise isn't much worse, but what is much worse is that the details are smeared over. Look at the fur, it's lost all of it's detail.
The full-framed camera's have the ability to shoot at high ISO without sacraficing quality. So what does this mean for you? Here's a few scenarios:
Church Wedding
You are getting married in a church where flash is not allowed (95% of churches do not allow flash). Before the technology of these camera's were introduced, the lack of flash would force us to slow our shutter's and open our apertures to settings we wouldn't otherwise use! (Motion is impossible to capture at a 15th of a second) So, to compensate we shot on a tripod and advised our couples to be still or pause while doing their major events; walking down the isle, ring exchange, kisses, etc. With these camera's we're able to adjust our ISO settings, making our camera's more sensitive to light, which results in our ability to use settings as though we were outside with an abundance of light! Ultimately, you get high quality images without any motion blur and without the use of flash!
Dusk/Sunset Weddings
So you and your Fiance want to be married at sunset and choose not to see each other before the wedding for pictures. Most photographers would panic in this situation because the light is gone and you still want stunning images of the wedding party and of course the two of you! Their only option is to use flash, which is absolutely not flattering light! Ultimately, you're disappointed and so are they! With the full-frame camera's, again, we are able to increase our ISO, making our camera more sensitive to light. Making it possible for us to continue shooting, even after the sun has set! We are able to get stunning breathtaking images, when most photographers would have to throw on their flash, bring external lighting equipment, or stop shooting all together!
Notice in this image, as they leave the Ceremony as Mr. and Mrs., the sun just above them, is setting.
After the abundance of family pictures were complete, the sun was completely behind the hills, yet we were still able to produce GORGEOUS pictures!
RECEPTION
Last, but definitely not least, I again bring up the fact that these camera's enable us to avoid the use of flash, even indoors during the reception. This is HUGE! Because we do not have a flash firing every few seconds, you're not necessarily aware your picture is being taken! Wouldn't you agree your expression and demeanor is much more natural than when you know your pictures is being taken!? We can stand across the room with our telephoto, and capture moments you don't without you feeling like there's a camera in your face all night long!
