Canon 5D with full frame sensor

How does the picture quality for this camera differ from other DSLR
with smaller size sensor?
I notice that Canon boasts this as the only full frame sensor (size of
sensor - 36 mmx 24mm) in their camera line.
Canon 1D has smaller size sensor (29x19mm). Other Canon DSLR (XT, XTi,
20D, 30D), as well as other DSLR cameras such as Nikon, Pentax and
Sony all has smaller size sensor (typically 22x15mm). High end point
and shoot cameras (such as Canon G7, Nikon P5000,etc) have much
smaller size sensor (7x5mm)
Is larger sensor a definite plus to produce much better quality
pictures, considering the picture qualities of these cameras are
generally close together?
Thanks for info.

 

Not true: the 1Ds and 1Ds II also have FF sensors.

The FF sensor allows for larger photo sites at equivilant resolutions, which
in turn allows for wider dynamic range and lower noise at high ISOs.
However, please keep in mind that a talented pro will usually produce
superior images using a Rebel XTi than I can with my 5D.

 

Yes.

But how much "better", what defines that, and is it worth the price
increase over a smaller sensor are questions only you can answer.

It's not the only Canon with a full sensor; there's one in the 1D series.

 

Canon eos 1d mk111 has a 1.3 'crop' size sensor so that really it is one
of the larger sensors.

 

wrote in @p77g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

A 5D is basically a 20D/30D with less pixels per unit of area in the
focal plane, but with more area and also, more pixels.

The great dividing point on which is better for a given situation, image-
quality-wise, is whether or not you have a good lens to fill your frame
with the subject the way you'd like to. If you have such a lens, then
the 5D is going to have a more detailed capture of the subject. If you
use the same lens, however, then the 5D is only better in that it has a
wider FOV; the capture of any area of the subject is going to be slightly
more detailed on the 20D/30D (and even further still, with the XTi), if
the lens is sharp enough and focus and diffraction allow.

At the pixel level (zoomed in to 100% pixel view), the 20D/30D and 5D are
nearly identical, noise-wise, except that the 5D is a little cleaner
around ISO 400, and the 5D has slightly more banding (line) noise at the
higher ISOs.

--

 

Consider the difference between a point and shoot and an APS-C sensor size.
Now consider the difference between APS-C and 35mm. You gain a LOT going from
point and shoot to APS-C and not nearly as much going from APS-C to 35mm
[although still substantial].

 

I'd say that Kinon O'Cann is absolutely right. A more aesthetic way of
observing the difference between APS-C and full-frame sensors is to
look at the performance of a very wide lens with both types.

Here is a photo I made in Death Valley with the 5D and 15mm fisheye:
http://www.fisheyegallery.com/Places/DeathValley/BadwaterBasin.jpg.html

The difference between the 10D (APS-C, 1.6x crop) and the 5D
(full-frame) is like night and day when viewed through the 15mm
fisheye lens. I was practically *startled* by how much more I could
see.