Real Estate Photography - Should I go Full Frame?

I've been shooting photos/videos for weddings and commercial work for a few years now but have now made the jump into part time real estate photography. I've been very comfortable with my Canon T3i for shooting the events I listed previously. I have a Sigma 10-20mm Wide Angle lens for interior shots and pretty happy with the results (with the exception of some minor distortion, which might make me look at the Tokina 11-16mm).

My main question is this: Should I jump into full frame now that I have a more serious position with real estate photography? I'm so very content with the lenses I have for my crop sensor camera that it'd be painful to part with these and pay more for the higher quality lenses with equivalent focal length. By no means am I against it but with a T3i and lightroom for some wide angle lens correction, can I achieve close results to a full frame? All of this is for web use, so resolution isn't quite important. I'm just concerned about color depth and lens distortion.

Any help would be great and give me a little piece of mind in knowing if it's time for me to make the jump to FF at this point in my career. Thanks to anyone looking to help out a forum n00b!

Instead of thinking about image quality or the coolest camera-think about your business. A new full frame Canon with lenses is $2500+. How soon will your business increase due to this new camera to break even on the expense? Will the equipment change bring you new customers or revenue?

Realistically, slightly better image quality(5-10%) will probably not significantly change your income or business success. The smartest approach now is to start saving for a new camera and set aside $$$ from each job until you can at least pay 50% or even 100% of the new gear cost.

-Scott

Many real estate photographers would consider a "full frame" 24mm x 36mm camera format little more than an undersized toy.

Truth is, the client's requirements and expectations, not the subject, determine what tools are needed.
My hunch is that when you're truly ready for real estate photography, you'll know what tools are required.

Have you tried renting some gear? I am in a similar situation as you. I have my T2i/T3i combo for my 6 month old family/event photography business. Ever since I've started my business, I have been looking to upgrade my gear. So I would make my wish list, and then rent the ones I want to buy whenever I have a job. To my surprise, I actually ruled out a few items I thought I really wanted to buy.
For example, I thought I would want a wide lens for events in smaller spaces. So I rented 16-35mm but the distortion was too much for my liking on my crop bodies. Also, I was thinking of not getting the 24-105mm lens, but when I tried it with 5dm2, I really liked the versatility for events, so now it's on my list to buy.
It's so true how you have to rework all your lenses thinking about going ff. My current fave is T2i/T3i with 17-55 f2.8 & 50L. But I want to go ff in the next 1-2 years, and then I think I will have 2 5dm2s with 24-105 & 85 L.
Lastly, I make a log of all the images I love (& are on my website) and all the images my clients buy. I go through which camera body & lens were used, f stop (to see if I really need f 2.8), etc. So far I am seeing a pretty even spread (crop body vs. ff & L lens vs. non-L) so I am not buying anything yet. Luckily I live about 20 minutes away from Borrowlenses headquarters, so renting for jobs and experimentation is working out quite well for me.
Good luck!
-Sue

I've dabbled in the RE field quite a bit lately. I'm still shooting with my 6+ year old 40D. I mainly shoot with my 10-22 and have debated the FF idea for awhile. I personally don't have a use for it. I'd have to sell lenses and get comparable focal length lenses and it's just too much to justify it for me. I'm fine with APS-C and plan on getting the 7DmkII when it's hopefully launched in August

sspellman wrote in post #15673145
Instead of thinking about image quality or the coolest camera-think about your business. A new full frame Canon with lenses is $2500+.

Technically a used 5Dc is $500.

I used the T4i + 10-22 mm for real estate this past year. It was perfect. The flip screen and built in HDR are really helpful. I just upgraded to the 6D and that too, will be perfect with the 17-40 lens. The built in WIFI with remote shooting and image viewing makes working with an on-site agent a breeze. If they don't like what they are looking at on my iPad, I can change things right away. Having built in HDR in both cameras is really nice, especially for indoors real estate shots.

Does the built in hdr use a single file or use multiple files? I havent kept up to date on the newer cameras.

GerryDavid wrote in post #15680048
Does the built in hdr use a single file or use multiple files? I havent kept up to date on the newer cameras.

On the 5DmkIII it uses 3 bracketed photos and crunches it down to 1 extra HDR file at the end.

I've had good results with a 7D and 10-22

On the T4i and 6D, it combines 3 images into 1 jpeg.

Real estate photography on a professional level often uses tilt shift lenses like 24mm tse or possibly 17mm tse. To get wide enough with them you have to use full frame.

If this is going to be a serious money making venture then a used 5DMk2 and a 24mm TS-E Mk1.
Personally I would not get the 5Dc as it does not have live view and exposure simulation

I thought live preview was for amateurs and wannabee's? And it doesnt help with flashes/strobes.

Once you take a picture, you have a more accurate reading of the exposure with ambient and strobes. But I guess with some of the newer canons you get hdr built in which if works good could save you some time.

[QUOTE=GerryDavid;1568​3506]I thought live preview was for amateurs and wannabee's? And it doesnt help with flashes/strobes.

It makes focussing when using a TS-E lens a lot easier than the viewfinder,its even easier using DSLR Controller then you can focus using you phone or tablet.
You are quite right about flash/strobes