The Field Of View, FoV, is one of the obvious differences when considering between sensors of different sizes.Īs a rule of thumb, for a given focal length and distance to the subject, the smaller the sensor, the smaller the FoV. High-quality sensors are expensive to make, and larger they are, more they cost: if you want a FF camera, be prepared to pay a rather steep price. Sensor Size And Real Life Photography: What Changes? CostsĪs I said, when it comes to choosing a sensor format, the larger the better. Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Sigma APS-C: CF = 1.5įinally, the ratio between sensors areas is equal to the CF squared.In the same way we can calculate the CF for the most common sensor types: An MFT sensor measures 17.3 (A) x 13 (B) mm, and its diagonal D MFT is 21.65 mm.īy definition, the MFT sensor has a CF = D FF / D MFT = 2.
The diagonal, D FF, is therefore 43.27 mm. As digital sensors are rectangular in shape, with sides named A and B, it is easy to calculate the diagonal, D:įor the FF sensor, A and B measure 36 and 24 mm, respectively. To clarify this concept, let’s do an example.
Full frame sensor size versus four thirds full#
One way to compare the relative dimensions of different sensors is with the Crop Factor, CF.Ĭommonly, the CF is defined as the ratio between the diagonal of a 35mm frame (the Full Frame) and that of the sensor you are considering: With the exception of digital medium format sensors, all other digital sensors on the market are smaller than Full Frame. This sensor has the same size as the frame of 35mm roll film, and measures 36 x 24 mm. The sensor of reference is the Full Frame. These were the largest sensors on the market until the rising of the digital medium format, but costs are prohibitive for the general public as well as many pros. Large Sensors: APS-C And Full Frame FormatsĭSLR cameras traditionally aim at professionals, and so they have always used some of the largest sensors, namely the APS-C and the Full Frame (FF) formats. Note that the MFT sensor has the same size as the FT.Īnd now, once again, with Panasonic moving towards full-frame mirrorless cameras, Olympus will likely return to play in the game as the outsider, sticking to their MFT standard. More recently, together with Panasonic, Olympus developed a new standard, called Micro Four Thirds (MFT), for their new mirrorless cameras. While competitors like Canon and Nikon were using large sensors for their DSLR cameras, Olympus set with the four thirds (FT) format, which is larger than 1”-type sensors but slightly smaller than APS-C sensors. In the game of “the larger, the better,” Olympus was playing the role of the outsider. (Image credit: Sony) Medium size sensors: Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds Formats
The Sony RX10 has a 1”-type sensor capable of delivering great images. Prosumer compact and bridge cameras, such as the Sony RX100 and RX10 series, often use a 1”-type sensor or larger, which ensures higher image quality, better low light performances and lower digital noise than the smaller sensors. Sensors smaller than a 1”-type sensor, are usually reserved for camera phones and entry-level compact cameras. Luckily, the rule of thumb when considering sensors of different formats is rather simple: the larger, the better. Some of the different sensors available on the market and their sizes. Since digital sensors became the standard in photography, a plethora of formats were developed, and nowadays, there are many different sensors to choose from. 5) Conclusion Overview Of the Different Sensors: Full Frame, APS-C, Micro 4/3 And smaller Sensor Size
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