View source for Image sensor format

{{Short description|Shape and size of a digital camera's image sensor}}
[[File:Sensor sizes overlaid inside.svg|thumb|300px|right|Comparative dimensions of sensor sizes]]

{{For|a quick understanding of numbers like 1/2.3"|#Table of sensor formats and sizes}}
{{broader|Image sensor}}

In digital photography, the '''image sensor format''' is the shape and size of the [[image sensor]].

The image sensor format of a digital camera determines the angle of view of a particular lens when used with a particular sensor.  Because the image sensors in many digital cameras are smaller than the 24&nbsp;mm × 36&nbsp;mm image area of full-frame [[35 mm format|35&nbsp;mm]] cameras, a lens of a given focal length gives a narrower field of view in such cameras.

Sensor size is often expressed as [[optical format]] in inches. Other measures are also used; see table of sensor formats and sizes below.

Lenses produced for 35&nbsp;mm film cameras may mount well on the digital bodies, but the larger image circle of the 35&nbsp;mm system lens allows unwanted light into the camera body, and the smaller size of the image sensor compared to 35&nbsp;mm film format results in cropping of the image. This latter effect is known as field-of-view crop. The format size ratio (relative to the 35&nbsp;mm film format) is known as the field-of-view crop factor, crop factor, lens factor, focal-length conversion factor, focal-length multiplier, or lens multiplier.

== Sensor size and depth of field ==

Three possible depth-of-field comparisons between formats are discussed, applying the formulae derived in the article on [[Depth of field#DOF vs. format size 2|depth of field]]. The depths of field of the three cameras may be the same, or different in either order, depending on what is held constant in the comparison.

Considering a picture with the same subject distance and angle of view for two different formats:
:<math> \frac {\mathrm{DOF}_2} {\mathrm{DOF}_1} \approx  \frac {d_1} {d_2}</math>
so the DOFs are in inverse proportion to the absolute [[Aperture#In photography|aperture diameters]] <math>d_1</math> and <math>d_2</math>.

Using the same absolute aperture diameter for both formats with the "same picture" criterion (equal angle of view, magnified to same final size) yields the same depth of field. It is equivalent to adjusting the [[f-number]] inversely in proportion to [[crop factor]] – a smaller f-number for smaller sensors (this also means that, when holding the shutter speed fixed, the exposure is changed by the adjustment of the f-number required to equalise depth of field. But the aperture area is held constant, so sensors of all sizes receive the same total amount of light energy from the subject.  The smaller sensor is then operating at a lower [[film speed|ISO setting]], by the square of the crop factor).  This condition of equal field of view, equal depth of field, equal aperture diameter, and equal exposure time is known as "equivalence".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.dpreview.com/articles/2666934640/what-is-equivalence-and-why-should-i-care | title = What is equivalence and why should I care? | work = DP Review | access-date = 2017-05-03 | date = 2014-07-07}}</ref>

And, we might compare the depth of field of sensors receiving the same [[Luminous exposure#Photometric and radiometric exposure|photometric exposure]] – the f-number is fixed instead of the aperture diameter – the sensors are operating at the same ISO setting in that case, but the smaller sensor is receiving less total light, by the area ratio. The ratio of depths of field is then
:<math> \frac {\mathrm{DOF}_2} {\mathrm{DOF}_1} \approx \frac {l_1} {l_2}</math>
where <math> l_1</math> and <math>l_2</math> are the characteristic dimensions of the format, and thus <math>l_1/l_2</math> is the relative crop factor between the sensors. It is this result that gives rise to the common opinion that small sensors yield greater depth of field than large ones.

An alternative is to consider the depth of field given by the same lens in conjunction with different sized sensors (changing the angle of view). The change in depth of field is brought about by the requirement for a different degree of enlargement to achieve the same final image size. In this case the ratio of depths of field becomes
:<math> \frac {\mathrm{DOF}_2} {\mathrm{DOF}_1} \approx \frac {l_2} {l_1} </math>.

In practice, if applying a lens with a fixed focal length and a fixed aperture and made for an image circle to meet the requirements for a large sensor is to be adapted, without changing its physical properties, to smaller sensor sizes neither the depth of field nor the light gathering <math>\mathrm{lx = \, \frac{lm}{m^2}}</math> will change.

== Sensor size, noise and dynamic range ==

Discounting [[photo response non-uniformity]] (PRNU) and dark noise variation, which are not intrinsically sensor-size dependent, the noises in an image sensor are [[#Shot noise|shot noise]], [[#Read noise|read noise]], and [[#Dark noise|dark noise]]. The overall [[Signal-to-noise ratio|signal to noise ratio]] of a sensor (SNR), expressed as signal electrons relative to rms noise in electrons, observed at the scale of a single pixel, assuming shot noise from Poisson distribution of signal electrons and dark electrons, is
 
:<math> \mathrm{SNR} = \frac{P Q_e t}{\sqrt{\left(\sqrt{P Q_e t}\right)^2 + \left(\sqrt{D t}\right)^2 + N_r^2}} = \frac{P Q_e t}{\sqrt{P Q_e t + D t + N_r^2}} </math>

where <math>P</math> is the incident photon flux (photons per second in the area of a pixel), <math>Q_e</math> is the [[quantum efficiency]], <math>t</math> is the exposure time, <math>D</math> is the pixel dark current in electrons per second and <math>N_r</math> is the pixel read noise in electrons rms.<ref name="noise">{{cite web|last=Fellers|first=Thomas J.|title=CCD Noise Sources and Signal-to-Noise Ratio|url=http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/digitalimaging/concepts/ccdsnr.html|publisher=Hamamatsu Corporation|access-date=20 November 2013|author2=Davidson, Michael W.}}</ref>

Each of these noises has a different dependency on sensor size.

===Exposure and photon flux===

Image [[sensor noise]] can be compared across formats for a given fixed photon flux per pixel area (the ''P'' in the formulas); this analysis is useful for a fixed number of pixels with pixel area proportional to sensor area, and fixed absolute aperture diameter for a fixed imaging situation in terms of depth of field, [[diffraction limit]] at the subject, etc.  Or it can be compared for a fixed focal-plane illuminance, corresponding to a fixed [[f-number]], in which case ''P'' is proportional to pixel area, independent of sensor area.  The formulas above and below can be evaluated for either case.

===Shot noise===

In the above equation, the [[shot noise]] SNR is given by 
:<math>\frac{P Q_e t}{\sqrt{P Q_e t}} = \sqrt{P Q_e t}</math>.

Apart from the quantum efficiency it depends on the incident photon flux and the exposure time, which is equivalent to the [[Exposure (photography)|exposure]] and the sensor area; since the exposure is the integration time multiplied with the image plane [[illuminance]], and illuminance is the [[luminous flux]] per unit area. Thus for equal exposures, the signal to noise ratios of two different size sensors of equal quantum efficiency and pixel count will (for a given final image size) be in proportion to the square root of the sensor area (or the linear scale factor of the sensor). If the exposure is constrained by the need to achieve some required [[depth of field]] (with the same shutter speed) then the exposures will be in inverse relation to the sensor area, producing the interesting result that if depth of field is a constraint, image shot noise is not dependent on sensor area. For identical f-number lenses the signal to noise ratio increases as square root of the pixel area, or linearly with pixel pitch. As typical f-numbers for lenses for cell phones and DSLR are in the same range {{f/|1.5|2}} it is interesting to compare performance of cameras with small and big sensors. A good cell phone camera with typical pixel size 1.1 μm (Samsung A8) would have about 3 times worse SNR due to shot noise than a 3.7 μm pixel interchangeable lens camera (Panasonic G85) and 5 times worse than a 6 μm full frame camera (Sony A7 III). Taking into consideration the dynamic range makes the difference even more prominent. As such the trend of increasing the number of "megapixels" in cell phone cameras during last 10 years was caused rather by marketing strategy to sell "more megapixels" than by attempts to improve image quality.

===Read noise===

The read noise is the total of all the electronic noises in the conversion chain for the pixels in the sensor array. To compare it with photon noise, it must be referred back to its equivalent in photoelectrons, which requires the division of the noise measured in volts by the conversion gain of the pixel. This is given, for an [[active pixel sensor]], by the voltage at the input (gate) of the read transistor divided by the charge which generates that voltage, <math>CG = V_{rt}/Q_{rt}</math>. This is the inverse of the capacitance of the read transistor gate (and the attached floating diffusion) since capacitance <math>C = Q/V</math>.<ref>{{cite web|last=Aptina Imaging Corporation|title=Leveraging Dynamic Response Pixel Technology to Optimize Inter-scene Dynamic Range|url=http://www.aptina.com/products/technology/DR-Pix_WhitePaper.pdf|publisher=Aptina Imaging Corporation|access-date=17 December 2011}}</ref> Thus <math>CG = 1/C_{rt}</math>.

In general for a planar structure such as a pixel, capacitance is proportional to area, therefore the read noise scales down with sensor area, as long as pixel area scales with sensor area, and that scaling is performed by uniformly scaling the pixel.

Considering the signal to noise ratio due to read noise at a given exposure, the signal will scale as the sensor area along with the read noise and therefore read noise SNR will be unaffected by sensor area. In a depth of field constrained situation, the exposure of the larger sensor will be reduced in proportion to the sensor area, and therefore the read noise SNR will reduce likewise.

===Dark noise===

[[Dark current (physics)|Dark current]] contributes two kinds of noise: dark offset, which is only partly correlated between pixels, and the [[shot noise]] associated with dark offset, which is uncorrelated between pixels. Only the shot-noise component ''Dt'' is included in the formula above, since the uncorrelated part of the dark offset is hard to predict, and the correlated or mean part is relatively easy to subtract off. The mean dark current contains contributions proportional both to the area and the linear dimension of the photodiode, with the relative proportions and scale factors depending on the design of the photodiode.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Loukianova|first=Natalia V.|author2=Folkerts, Hein Otto|author3=Maas, Joris P. V.|author4=Verbugt, Joris P. V.|author5=Daniël W. E. Mierop, Adri J.|author6=Hoekstra, Willem|author7= Roks, Edwin and Theuwissen, Albert J. P.|title=Leakage Current Modeling of Test Structures for Characterization of Dark Current in CMOS Image Sensors|journal=IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices|date=January 2003|volume=50|issue=1|pages=77–83|doi=10.1109/TED.2002.807249|bibcode=2003ITED...50...77L|url=http://www.harvestimaging.com/pubdocs/073_2003_jan_TED_leakage_current.pdf|access-date=17 December 2011}}</ref> Thus in general the dark noise of a sensor may be expected to rise as the size of the sensor increases. However, in most sensors the mean pixel dark current at normal temperatures is small, lower than 50 e- per second,<ref>{{cite web|title=Dark Count|url=http://www.ccd.com/ccd109.html|publisher=Apogee Imaging Systems|access-date=17 December 2011}}</ref> thus for typical photographic exposure times dark current and its associated noises may be discounted.  At very long exposure times, however, it may be a limiting factor.  And even at short or medium exposure times, a few outliers in the dark-current distribution may show up as "hot pixels". Typically, for astrophotography applications sensors are cooled to reduce dark current in situations where exposures may be measured in several hundreds of seconds.

===Dynamic range===

Dynamic range is the ratio of the largest and smallest recordable signal, the smallest being typically defined by the 'noise floor'. In the image sensor literature, the noise floor is taken as the readout noise, so <math> DR = Q_\text{max} / \sigma_\text{readout}</math><ref>{{cite book|last=Kavusi|first=Sam|author2=El Gamal, Abbas|title=Sensors and Camera Systems for Scientific, Industrial, and Digital Photography Applications V |chapter=Quantitative study of high-dynamic-range image sensor architectures |editor3-first=Ricardo J|editor3-last=Motta|editor2-first=Nitin|editor2-last=Sampat|editor1-first=Morley M|editor1-last=Blouke |year=2004|volume=5301|pages=264–275|doi=10.1117/12.544517|bibcode=2004SPIE.5301..264K|s2cid=14550103|chapter-url=http://www-isl.stanford.edu/groups/elgamal/abbas_publications/C099.pdf|access-date=17 December 2011}}</ref> (note, the read noise <math>\sigma_{readout}</math> is the same quantity as <math>N_r</math> referred to in the SNR calculation<ref name="noise" />).

== Sensor size and diffraction ==

The resolution of all optical systems is limited by [[diffraction]]. One way of considering the effect that diffraction has on cameras using different sized sensors is to consider the [[Optical transfer function|modulation transfer function]] (MTF). Diffraction is one of the factors that contribute to the overall system MTF. Other factors are typically the MTFs of the lens, anti-aliasing filter and sensor sampling window.<ref name=LLResolution>{{cite web|author1=Osuna, Rubén|author2=García, Efraín|title=Do Sensors "Outresolve" Lenses?|url=http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/resolution.shtml|publisher=The Luminous Landscape|access-date=21 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102070908/http://luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/resolution.shtml|archive-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The spatial cut-off frequency due to diffraction through a lens aperture is
:<math>\xi_\mathrm{cutoff}=\frac{1}{\lambda N}</math>
where λ is the wavelength of the light passing through the system and N is the [[f-number]] of the lens. If that aperture is circular, as are (approximately) most photographic apertures, then the MTF is given by
:<math>\mathrm{MTF}\left(\frac{\xi}{\xi_\mathrm{cutoff}}\right) = \frac{2}{\pi} \left\{ \cos^{-1}\left(\frac{\xi}{\xi_\mathrm{cutoff}}\right) - \left(\frac{\xi}{\xi_\mathrm{cutoff}}\right) \left[ 1 - \left(\frac{\xi}{\xi_\mathrm{cutoff}}\right)^2 \right]^\frac{1}{2} \right\}</math>

for <math> \xi < \xi_\mathrm{cutoff} </math> and <math> 0 </math> for <math> \xi \ge \xi_\mathrm{cutoff} </math><ref name=DiffractionMTF>{{cite book|last=Boreman|first=Glenn D.|title=Modulation Transfer Function in Optical and Electro-Optical Systems|year=2001|publisher=SPIE Press|isbn=978-0-8194-4143-0|pages=120|url=http://spie.org/x34304.xml}}</ref>
The diffraction based factor of the system MTF will therefore scale according to <math>\xi_\mathrm{cutoff}</math> and in turn according to <math> 1/N </math> (for the same light wavelength).

In considering the effect of sensor size, and its effect on the final image, the different magnification required to obtain the same size image for viewing must be accounted for, resulting in an additional scale factor of <math>1/{C}</math> where <math>{C}</math> is the relative crop factor, making the overall scale factor <math>1 / (N C)</math>. Considering the three cases above:

For the 'same picture' conditions, same angle of view, subject distance and depth of field, then the f-numbers are in the ratio <math>1/C</math>, so the scale factor for the diffraction MTF is 1, leading to the conclusion that the diffraction MTF at a given depth of field is independent of sensor size.

In both the 'same photometric exposure' and 'same lens' conditions, the f-number is not changed, and thus the spatial cutoff and resultant MTF on the sensor is unchanged, leaving the MTF in the viewed image to be scaled as the magnification, or inversely as the crop factor.

== Sensor format and lens size ==

It might be expected that lenses appropriate for a range of sensor sizes could be produced by simply scaling the same designs in proportion to the crop factor.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ozaktas|first=Haldun M|author2=Urey, Hakan|author3=Lohmann, Adolf W.|title=Scaling of diffractive and refractive lenses for optical computing and interconnections|journal=Applied Optics|year=1994|volume=33|issue=17|pages=3782–3789|doi=10.1364/AO.33.003782|pmid=20885771|bibcode=1994ApOpt..33.3782O|hdl=11693/13640|s2cid=1384331 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> Such an exercise would in theory produce a lens with the same f-number and angle of view, with a size proportional to the sensor crop factor. In practice, simple scaling of lens designs is not always achievable, due to factors such as the non-scalability of [[manufacturing tolerance]], structural integrity of glass lenses of different sizes and available manufacturing techniques and costs.  Moreover, to maintain the same absolute amount of information in an image (which can be measured as the [[space-bandwidth product]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Goodman|first=Joseph W|title=Introduction to Fourier optics, 3rd edition|year=2005|publisher=Roberts and Company|location=Greenwood Village, Colorado|isbn=978-0-9747077-2-3|pages=26}}</ref>) the lens for a smaller sensor requires a greater resolving power. The development of the '[[Tessar]]' lens is discussed by Nasse,<ref>{{cite web|last=Nasse |first=H. H. |title=From the Series of Articles on Lens Names: Tessar |url=http://www.zeiss.com/C12578620052CA69/0/58D501E36518AFC9C12578D2004104E1/$file/cln_39_en_tessar.pdf |publisher=Carl Zeiss AG. |access-date=19 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513162446/http://www.zeiss.com/C12578620052CA69/0/58D501E36518AFC9C12578D2004104E1/%24file/cln_39_en_tessar.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2012 }}</ref> and shows its transformation from an {{f/|6.3}} lens for [[plate camera]]s using the original three-group configuration through to an {{f/|2.8}} 5.2&nbsp;mm four-element optic with eight extremely aspheric surfaces, economically manufacturable because of its small size. Its performance is 'better than the best 35&nbsp;mm lenses – but only for a very small image'.

In summary, as sensor size reduces, the accompanying lens designs will change, often quite radically, to take advantage of manufacturing techniques made available due to the reduced size. The functionality of such lenses can also take advantage of these, with extreme zoom ranges becoming possible. These lenses are often very large in relation to sensor size, but with a small sensor can be fitted into a compact package.

Small body means small lens and means small sensor, so to keep [[smartphone]]s slim and light, the smartphone manufacturers use a tiny sensor usually less than the 1/2.3" used in most [[bridge camera]]s.  At one time only [[Nokia 808 PureView]] used a 1/1.2" sensor, almost twice the size of a 1/2.3" sensor.  Bigger sensors have the advantage of better image quality, but with improvements in sensor technology, smaller sensors can achieve the feats of earlier larger sensors.  These improvements in sensor technology allow smartphone manufacturers to use image sensors as small as 1/4" without sacrificing too much image quality compared to budget point & shoot cameras.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gizmag.com/camera-sensor-size-guide/26684/ |title=Camera sensor size: Why does it matter and exactly how big are they? |author=Simon Crisp |date=21 March 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref>

== Active area of the sensor ==

For calculating camera [[angle of view]] one should use the size of active area of the sensor.
Active area of the sensor implies an area of the sensor on which image is formed in a given mode of the camera. The active area may be smaller than the image sensor, and active area can differ in different modes of operation of the same camera.
Active area size depends on the aspect ratio of the sensor and aspect ratio of the output image of the camera. The active area size can depend on number of pixels in given mode of the camera. 
The active area size and lens focal length determines angles of view.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cctvcad.com/videocad_help/prim_sensor_size.htm |title=Specifying active area size of the image sensor |author=Stanislav Utochkin |access-date=May 21, 2015}}</ref>

== Sensor size and shading effects ==

Semiconductor image sensors can suffer from shading effects at large apertures and at the periphery of the image field, due to the geometry of the light cone projected from the exit pupil of the lens to a point, or pixel, on the sensor surface. The effects are discussed in detail by Catrysse and Wandell.<ref name=Catrysse>{{cite book|last=Catrysse |first=Peter B. |author2=Wandell, Brian A. |editor-first1=Nitin |editor-first2=Jeffrey M. |editor-first3=Ricardo J. |editor-last1=Sampat |editor-last2=Dicarlo |editor-last3=Motta |title=Digital Photography |chapter=Roadmap for CMOS image sensors: Moore meets Planck and Sommerfeld |volume=5678 |issue=1 |pages=1 |doi=10.1117/12.592483 |year=2005 |chapter-url=http://www.imageval.com/public/Papers/EI%205678-01%20Peter%20Catrysse.pdf |access-date=29 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113004959/http://www.imageval.com/public/Papers/EI%205678-01%20Peter%20Catrysse.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2015 |bibcode=2005SPIE.5678....1C |citeseerx=10.1.1.80.1320 |s2cid=7068027 }}</ref>
In the context of this discussion the most important result from the above is that to ensure a full transfer of light energy between two coupled optical systems such as the lens' exit pupil to a pixel's photoreceptor the [[Etendue|geometrical extent]] (also known as etendue or light throughput) of the objective lens / pixel system must be smaller than or equal to the geometrical extent of the microlens / photoreceptor system. The geometrical extent of the objective lens / pixel system is given by
<math display="block"> G_\mathrm{objective} \simeq \frac{w_\mathrm{pixel}}{2{(f/\#)}_\mathrm{objective}}\,, </math>
where {{math|''w''<sub>pixel</sub>}} is the width of the pixel and {{math|(''f''/#)<sub>objective</sub>}} is the f-number of the objective lens. The geometrical extent of the microlens / photoreceptor system is given by
<math display="block"> G_\mathrm{pixel} \simeq \frac{w_\mathrm{photoreceptor}}{2{(f/\#)}_\mathrm{microlens}}\,, </math>
where {{math|''w''<sub>photoreceptor</sub>}} is the width of the photoreceptor and {{math|(''f''/#)<sub>microlens</sub>}} is the f-number of the microlens.

In order to avoid shading, <math display="inline"> G_\mathrm{pixel} \ge  G_\mathrm{objective},</math> therefore
<math display="block"> \frac{w_\mathrm{photoreceptor}}{{(f/\#)}_\mathrm{microlens}} \ge \frac{w_\mathrm{pixel}}{{(f/\#)}_\mathrm{objective}}.</math>

If {{math|1= ''w''<sub>photoreceptor</sub> / ''w''<sub>pixel</sub> {{=}} ''ff''}}, the linear fill factor of the lens, then the condition becomes
<math display="block"> {(f/\#)}_\mathrm{microlens} \le {(f/\#)}_\mathrm{objective} \times \mathit{ff}\,.</math>

Thus if shading is to be avoided the f-number of the microlens must be smaller than the f-number of the taking lens by at least a factor equal to the linear fill factor of the pixel. The f-number of the microlens is determined ultimately by the width of the pixel and its height above the silicon, which determines its focal length. In turn, this is determined by the height of the metallisation layers, also known as the 'stack height'. For a given stack height, the f-number of the microlenses will increase as pixel size reduces, and thus the objective lens f-number at which shading occurs will tend to increase.{{efn|This effect has been observed in practice, as recorded in the DxOmark article 'F-stop blues'<ref>{{cite web|last=DxOmark|title=F-stop blues|url=http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Insights/F-stop-blues|work=DxOMark Insights|access-date=29 January 2012|archive-date=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061948/http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Insights/F-stop-blues|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

In order to maintain pixel counts smaller sensors will tend to have smaller pixels, while at the same time smaller objective lens f-numbers are required to maximise the amount of light projected on the sensor. To combat the effect discussed above, smaller format pixels include engineering design features to allow the reduction in f-number of their microlenses. These may include simplified pixel designs which require less metallisation, 'light pipes' built within the pixel to bring its apparent surface closer to the microlens and '[[Back-illuminated sensor|back side illumination]]' in which the wafer is thinned to expose the rear of the photodetectors and the microlens layer is placed directly on that surface, rather than the front side with its wiring layers.{{efn|The relative effectiveness of these stratagems is discussed by [[Aptina]] in some detail.<ref>{{cite web|last=Aptina Imaging Corporation|title=An Objective Look at FSI and BSI|url=http://www.eetrend.com/files-eetrend/newproduct/201101/100029156-17249-fsi-bsi-whitepaper.pdf|work=Aptina Technology White Paper|access-date=29 January 2012}}</ref>}}

==Common image sensor formats==

[[File:SensorSizes.svg|thumb|300px|right|Sizes of sensors used in most current digital cameras relative to a standard 35&nbsp;mm frame.]]

=== For interchangeable-lens cameras ===

Some professional DSLRs, [[Sony SLT camera|SLTs]] and [[mirrorless camera]]s use ''[[full-frame DSLR|full-frame]]'' sensors, equivalent to the size of a frame of 35&nbsp;mm film.

Most consumer-level DSLRs, SLTs and mirrorless cameras use relatively large sensors, either somewhat under the size of a frame of [[Advanced Photo System|APS]]-C film, with a [[crop factor]] of 1.5–1.6; or 30% smaller than that, with a crop factor of 2.0 (this is the [[Four Thirds System]], adopted by [[OM System]] (formerly [[Olympus Corporation|Olympus]]) and [[Panasonic Corporation|Panasonic]]).

{{As of|2013|11}}, there was only one mirrorless model equipped with a very small sensor, more typical of compact cameras: the [[Pentax Q#Pentax Q7|Pentax Q7]], with a 1/1.7" sensor (4.55 crop factor). See section [[Image sensor format#Smaller sensors|§ Smaller sensors]] section below.

Many different terms are used in marketing to describe DSLR/SLT/mirrorless sensor formats, including the following:
* {{val|860|u=mm2}} area [[Full-frame digital SLR]] format, with sensor dimensions nearly equal to those of [[135 film|35 mm film]] (36×24&nbsp;mm) from [[Pentax_K-1|Pentax]], [[Panasonic Corporation|Panasonic]], [[Leica Camera|Leica]], [[Nikon]], [[Canon (company)|Canon]], [[Sony]] and [[Sigma Corporation|Sigma]]. 
* {{val|370|u=mm2}} area [[APS-C]] standard format from [[Nikon]], [[Pentax]], [[Sony]], [[Fujifilm]], Sigma (crop factor 1.5) (actual APS-C film is bigger, however)
* {{val|330|u=mm2}} area [[APS-C]] smaller format from [[Canon Inc.|Canon]] (crop factor 1.6)
* {{val|225|u=mm2}} area [[Micro Four Thirds System]] format from Panasonic, OM System, Blackmagic Design, and Polaroid (crop factor 2.0)

Obsolescent and out-of-production sensor sizes include:
* {{val|548|u=mm2}} area [[Leica Camera|Leica]]'s [[Leica M8|M8 and M8.2]] sensor (crop factor 1.33).  ''Current M-series sensors are effectively full-frame (crop factor 1.0).''
* {{val|548|u=mm2}} area [[Canon (company)|Canon]]'s [[Advanced Photo System|APS-H]] format for high-speed pro-level DSLRs (crop factor 1.3).  ''Current 1D/5D-series sensors are effectively full-frame (crop factor 1.0).''
* {{val|548|u=mm2}} area [[APS-H]] format for the high-end mirrorless SD Quattro H from [[Sigma Corporation|Sigma]] (crop factor 1.35)
* {{val|370|u=mm2}} area APS-C crop factor 1.5 format from [[Epson R-D1|Epson]], [[Samsung]] NX, [[Konica Minolta]].
* {{val|286|u=mm2}} area [[Foveon X3]] format used in [[Sigma Corporation|Sigma]] SD-series DSLRs and DP-series mirrorless (crop factor 1.7).  ''Later models such as the [[Sigma SD1|SD1]], [[Sigma DP2 Merrill|DP2 Merrill]] and most of the Quattro series use a crop factor 1.5 Foveon sensor; the even more recent Quattro H mirrorless uses an APS-H Foveon sensor with a 1.35 crop factor.''
* {{val|225|u=mm2}} area [[Four Thirds System]] format from Olympus (crop factor 2.0)
* {{val|116|u=mm2}} area 1" [[Nikon CX format]] used in [[Nikon 1 series]]<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.dpreview.com/news/1109/11092119nikonJ1.asp#press | title = Nikon unveils J1 small sensor mirrorless camera as part of Nikon 1 system | newspaper = Digital Photography Review}}.</ref> and [[Samsung]] mini-NX series (crop factor 2.7)
* {{val|43|u=mm2}} area 1/1.7" [[Pentax Q#Pentax Q7|Pentax Q7]] (4.55 crop factor)
* {{val|30|u=mm2}} area 1/2.3" original [[Pentax Q]] (5.6 crop factor).  ''Current Q-series cameras have a crop factor of 4.55.''

When [[full-frame digital SLR|full-frame]] sensors were first introduced, production costs could exceed twenty times the cost of an APS-C sensor.  Only twenty full-frame sensors can be produced on an {{convert|8|in|cm}} [[silicon wafer]], which would fit 100 or more APS-C sensors, and there is a significant reduction in [[Semiconductor device fabrication|yield]] due to the large area for contaminants per component.  Additionally, full frame sensor fabrication originally required three separate exposures during each step of the [[photolithography]] process, which requires separate masks and quality control steps.  Canon selected the intermediate [[APS-H]] size, since it was at the time the largest that could be patterned with a single mask, helping to control production costs and manage yields.<ref name=canon-wp>{{cite press release
 |url=http://www.robgalbraith.com/public_files/Canon_Full-Frame_CMOS_White_Paper.pdf 
 |title=Canon's Full Frame CMOS Sensors 
 |date=2006 
 |access-date=2013-05-02 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028001406/http://www.robgalbraith.com/public_files/Canon_Full-Frame_CMOS_White_Paper.pdf 
 |archive-date=2012-10-28 
}}</ref> Newer photolithography equipment now allows single-pass exposures for full-frame sensors, although other size-related production constraints remain much the same.

Due to the ever-changing constraints of [[semiconductor fabrication]] and processing, and because camera manufacturers often source sensors from third-party [[semiconductor foundry|foundries]], it is common for sensor dimensions to vary slightly within the same nominal format.  For example, the [[Nikon]] [[Nikon D3|D3]] and [[Nikon D700|D700]] cameras' nominally full-frame sensors actually measure 36 × 23.9&nbsp;mm, slightly smaller than a 36 × 24&nbsp;mm frame of 35&nbsp;mm film.  As another example, the [[Pentax]] [[Pentax K200D|K200D]]'s sensor (made by [[Sony]]) measures 23.5 × 15.7&nbsp;mm, while the contemporaneous [[Pentax K20D|K20D]]'s sensor (made by [[Samsung Techwin|Samsung]]) measures 23.4 × 15.6&nbsp;mm.

Most of these image sensor formats approximate the 3:2 [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]] of 35&nbsp;mm film.  Again, the [[Four Thirds System]] is a notable exception, with an aspect ratio of 4:3 as seen in most compact digital cameras (see below).

=== Smaller sensors ===
Most sensors are made for camera phones, compact digital cameras, and bridge cameras. Most image sensors equipping compact cameras have an [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]] of 4:3.  This matches the aspect ratio of the popular [[SVGA]], [[XGA]], and [[SXGA]] display resolutions at the time of the first digital cameras, allowing images to be displayed on usual [[computer monitor|monitor]]s without cropping.

{{As of|2010|12}} most compact digital cameras used small 1/2.3" sensors. Such cameras include Canon PowerShot SX230 IS, Fujifilm Finepix Z90 and Nikon Coolpix S9100. Some older [[digital camera]]s (mostly from 2005–2010) used even smaller 1/2.5" sensors: these include Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS62, Canon PowerShot SX120 IS, [[Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700]], and Casio Exilim EX-Z80.

As of 2018 high-end compact cameras using one inch sensors that have nearly four times the area of those equipping common compacts include Canon PowerShot G-series (G3 X to G9 X), Sony DSC-RX100 series, Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 and Panasonic DMC-LX15. Canon has an APS-C sensor on its top model PowerShot G1 X Mark III.

[[File:Sensor sizes area.svg|thumb|400px|right|For many years until Sep. 2011 a gap existed between compact digital and DSLR camera sensor sizes. The x axis is a discrete set of sensor format sizes used in digital cameras, not a linear measurement axis.]] Finally, Sony has the DSC-RX1 and DSC-RX1R cameras in their lineup, which have a full-frame sensor usually only used in professional DSLRs, SLTs and MILCs.

Due to the size constraints of powerful zoom objectives, most current [[bridge camera]]s have 1/2.3" sensors, as small as those used in common more compact cameras. As lens sizes are proportional to the image sensor size, smaller sensors enable large zoom amounts with moderate size lenses. In 2011 the high-end [[Fujifilm X-S1]] was equipped with a much larger 2/3" sensor. In 2013–2014, both Sony ([[Cyber-shot DSC-RX10]]) and Panasonic ([[Lumix DMC-FZ1000]]) produced bridge cameras with 1" sensors.

Since the [[2020]]s sensors of many [[camera phone]]s has surpassed the size of typical compact cameras. The iPhone 13 released in 2021 has a main camera sensor size of 1/1.9".<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_13-11103.php</ref>  The [[Nokia N8]] (2010)'s 1/1.83" sensor was the largest in a phone in late 2011. The [[Nokia 808]] (2012) surpasses compact cameras with its 41 million pixels, 1/1.2" sensor.<ref>http://europe.nokia.com/PRODUCT_METADATA_0/Products/Phones/8000-series/808/Nokia808PureView_Whitepaper.pdf Nokia PureView imaging technology whitepaper</ref> Sensor sizes of 1/2.3" and smaller are common in [[webcam]]s, [[digital camcorder]]s and most other small devices.

=== Medium-format digital sensors ===

The largest digital sensors in commercially available cameras are described as "[[medium format]]", in reference to [[Film format|film formats]] of similar dimensions. Although the most common medium format film, the [[120 film|120 roll]], is {{Convert|6|cm|abbr=on}} wide, and is most commonly shot square, the most common "medium-format" digital sensor sizes are approximately {{convert|48|x|36|mm|abbr=on}}, which is roughly twice the size of a [[full-frame DSLR]] sensor format.

Available [[CCD sensor]]s include [[Phase One (company)|Phase One]]'s P65+ digital back with [[Dalsa]]'s {{convert|53.9|x|40.4|mm|abbr=on}} sensor containing 60.5 megapixels<ref>{{cite web
 |publisher=PHASE ONE 
 |title=The Phase One P+ Product Range 
 |access-date=2010-06-07 
 |url=http://www.phaseone.com/en/Digital-Backs/P65/~/media/Phase%20One/Products/Documents/Phase-One-digital-back-overview.ashx 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812233952/http://www.phaseone.com/en/Digital-Backs/P65/~/media/Phase%20One/Products/Documents/Phase-One-digital-back-overview.ashx 
 |archive-date=2010-08-12 
}}</ref>
and [[Leica Camera|Leica]]'s "S-System" DSLR with a {{convert|45|x|30|mm|abbr=on}} sensor containing 37-megapixels.<ref>{{cite press release
| url = http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08092301_leica_s2.asp
| title = Leica S2 with 56% larger sensor than full frame
| publisher = Leica
| date = 2008-09-23
| access-date = 2010-06-07
}}</ref> In 2010, [[Pentax]] released the 40MP 645D medium format DSLR with a {{convert|44|x|33|mm|abbr=on}} CCD sensor;<ref>{{cite press release
| url = http://www.dpreview.com/news/1003/10031002pentax645d.asp
| title = Pentax unveils 40MP 645D medium format DSLR
| publisher = Pentax
| date = 2010-03-10
| access-date = 2010-12-21
}}</ref> later models of the 645 series kept the same sensor size but replaced the CCD with a CMOS sensor. In 2016, [[Hasselblad]] announced the X1D, a 50MP medium-format [[Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera|mirrorless]] camera, with a {{convert|44|x|33|mm|abbr=on}} CMOS sensor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/1988725790/medium-format-mirrorless-hasselblad-unveils-x1d |title=Medium-format mirrorless: Hasselblad unveils X1D |first=Allison |last=Johnson |publisher=[[Digital Photography Review]] |date=2016-06-22 |access-date=2016-06-26}}</ref>
In late 2016, [[Fujifilm]] also announced its new [[Fujifilm GFX 50S]] medium format, [[Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera|mirrorless]] entry into the market, with a {{convert|43.8|x|32.9|mm|abbr=on}} CMOS sensor and 51.4MP.
<ref>{{cite press release | title=Fujifilm announces development of new medium format "GFX" mirroless camera system | publisher=[[Fujifilm]] | date=2016-09-19 | url=http://www.fujifilmusa.com/press/news/display_news?newsID=881070 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | title = Fujifilm's Medium Format GFX 50S to Ship in February for $6,500 | url = https://petapixel.com/2017/01/19/fujifilms-medium-format-gfx-50s-ship-february-6500 | date = 2017-01-19}}</ref>

=== {{anchor|Table of sensor sizes}}Table of sensor formats and sizes ===
[[File:Ov6920-01.jpg|thumb|Different sizes of [[Omnivision]] CMOS sensors An OV7910 (1/3") and three OV6920 (1/18") sensors, both types with [[composite video]] ([[NTSC]]) outputs.]]
Sensor sizes are expressed in inches notation because at the time of the popularization of digital image sensors they were used to replace [[video camera tube]]s. The common 1" outside diameter circular video camera tubes have a rectangular photo sensitive area about {{val|16|u=mm}} on the diagonal, so a digital sensor with a {{val|16|u=mm}} diagonal size is a 1" video tube equivalent. The name of a 1" digital sensor should more accurately be read as "one inch video camera tube equivalent" sensor. Current digital image sensor size descriptors are the video camera tube equivalency size, not the actual size of the sensor. For example, a 1" sensor has a diagonal measurement of {{val|16|u=mm}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Making (some) sense out of sensor sizes|url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2002/10/7/sensorsizes|work=Digital Photography Review|access-date=29 June 2012|author=Staff|date=7 October 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Image Sensor Format |url=http://www.spotimaging.com/resources/glossary/image-sensor-format.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326051941/http://www.spotimaging.com/resources/glossary/image-sensor-format.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 March 2015 |work=Imaging Glossary Terms and Definitions |publisher=SPOT IMAGING SOLUTIONS |access-date=3 June 2015 |author=Staff }}</ref>
[[File:Apple and Samsung image sensor sizes.png|alt=The increasing image sensor sizes used in smartphones plotted|thumb|The development of different format image sensors in the main cameras of smartphones]]
Sizes are often expressed as a fraction of an inch, with a one in the numerator, and a decimal number in the denominator.  For example, 1/2.5 converts to 2/5 as a [[Fraction (mathematics)#Simple fraction|simple fraction]], or 0.4 as a decimal number. This "inch" system gives a result approximately 1.5 times the length of the diagonal of the sensor. This "[[optical format]]" measure goes back to the way image sizes of video cameras used until the late 1980s were expressed, referring to the outside diameter of the glass envelope of the [[video camera tube]]. [[David Pogue]] of ''The New York Times'' states that "the actual sensor size is much smaller than what the camera companies publish – about one-third smaller." For example, a camera advertising a 1/2.7" sensor does not have a sensor with a diagonal of {{cvt|0.37|in|mm}}; instead, the diagonal is closer to {{cvt|0.26|in|mm}}.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/technology/personaltech/23pogue.html?ref=technology | work=The New York Times | first=David | last=Pogue | title=Small Cameras With Big Sensors, and How to Compare Them | date=2010-12-22}}</ref><ref name="dpreview-sensor-sizes" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/articles/8095816568/sensorsizes|title=Making (Some) sense out of sensor sizes}}</ref> Instead of "formats", these sensor sizes are often called ''types'', as in "1/2-inch-type CCD."

Due to inch-based sensor formats not being standardized, their exact dimensions may vary, but those listed are typical.<ref name="dpreview-sensor-sizes">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.dpreview.com/glossary/camera-system/sensor-sizes 
 |title=Sensor Sizes: Camera System: Glossary: Learn 
 |first=Vincent 
 |last=Bockaert 
 |publisher=[[Digital Photography Review]] 
 |access-date=2012-04-09 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125090640/http://www.dpreview.com/glossary/camera-system/sensor-sizes 
 |archive-date=2013-01-25 
}}</ref> <!-- Every word or number of the following two sentences is VERY carefully selected. PLEASE see talk page, think twice about the physics of optics before you change anything. Thank you very much. -->The listed sensor areas span more than a factor of 1000 and are [[Proportionality (mathematics)|proportional]] to the maximum possible collection of light and [[image resolution]] (same [[lens speed]], i.e., minimum [[f-number]]), but in practice are not directly proportional to [[image noise]] or resolution due to other limitations. See comparisons.<ref name="dxoa">[http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Ratings Camera Sensor Ratings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321161023/http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Ratings |date=2012-03-21 }} DxOMark</ref><ref name="imac">[http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM Imaging-resource: Sample images Comparometer] Imaging-resource</ref><!-- PLEASE see above. Thank you. --> Film format sizes are also included, for comparison. The application examples of phone or camera may not show the exact sensor sizes.
<!-- To recompute these with Scientific Python:

w = array of widths
l = array of lengths

d = sqrt(w**2+l**2)
cf = sqrt(36**2+24**2) / d
area = w*l

print ' || '.join(str(x) for x in around(d, 1)) # print diagonals in wikitable format
print ' || '.join(str(x) for x in around(cf, 2)) # print crop factors in wikitable format
print ' || '.join(str(x) for x in around(area, 2)) # print areas in wikitable format
-->

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Sensor format types and dimensions
|-
! scope="col" | Type
! scope="col" | Diagonal (mm)
! scope="col" | Width (mm)
! scope="col" | Height (mm)
! scope="col" | Aspect Ratio
! scope="col" | Area (mm{{sup|2}})
! scope="col" | [[f-number#Stops, f-stop conventions, and exposure|Stops]] (area){{efn-ua|Defined here as the equivalent number of stops lost (or gained, if positive) due to the area of the sensor relative to a full {{val|35|u=mm}} frame ({{val|36|x|24|u=mm}}). Computed as <math display="inline">\mathrm{Stops}=\log_{2} \left(\frac{\mathrm{Area_{sensor}}}{\mathrm{Area_{35\  mm}}} \right)\,.</math>}}
! scope="col" | [[Crop factor]]{{efn-ua|Defined here as the ratio of the diagonal of a full {{val|35|u=mm}} frame to that of the sensor format, that is <math display="inline">\mathrm{CF} = \frac{\mathrm{diag_{35\ mm}}}{\mathrm{diag_{sensor}}}\,.</math>}}
|-
! scope="row" | 1/10"
|1.60||1.28||0.96||4:3||1.23||{{val|-9.46}}||27.04
|-
! scope="row" | 1/8" (Sony DCR-SR68, DCR-DVD110E)
|2.00||1.60||1.20||4:3||1.92||{{val|-8.81}}||21.65
|-
! scope="row" | 1/6" (Panasonic SDR-H20, SDR-H200)
|3.00||2.40||1.80||4:3||4.32||{{val|-7.64}}||14.14
|-
! scope="row" | 1/4"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.photoreview.com.au/tips/buying/unravelling-sensor-sizes|title=Unravelling Sensor Sizes – Photo Review|website=www.photoreview.com.au|access-date=2016-09-22}}</ref>
|4.50||3.60||2.70||4:3||9.72||{{val|-6.47}}||10.81
|-
! scope="row" | 1/3.6" ([[Nokia Lumia 720]])<ref>{{Citation
  | publisher = GSMArena.com
  | title = Nokia Lumia 720 – Full phone specifications
  | date = February 25, 2013
  | access-date=2013-09-21
  | url = http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_720-5321.php}}</ref>
|5.00||4.00||3.00||4:3||12.0||{{val|-6.17}}||8.65
|-
! scope="row" | 1/3.2" ([[iPhone 5]])<ref>{{Citation
  | publisher = Gizmag
  | title = Camera sensor size: Why does it matter and exactly how big are they?
  | date = March 21, 2013
  | access-date=2013-06-19
  | url = http://www.gizmag.com/camera-sensor-size-guide/26684/}}</ref>
|5.68||4.54||3.42||4:3||15.50||{{val|-5.80}}||7.61
|-
! scope="row" | 1/3.09" Sony [[EXMOR]] IMX351<ref name=Sony-IMX351>{{cite web |url=https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products/common/pdf/ProductBrief_IMX351_20171109.pdf |title=Diagonal 5.822 mm (Type 1/3.09) 16Mega-Pixel CMOS Image Sensor with Square Pixel for Color Cameras |publisher=Sony |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016162110/https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products/common/pdf/ProductBrief_IMX351_20171109.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|5.82||4.66||3.5||4:3||16.3||{{val|-5.73}}||7.43
|-
! scope="row" | ''Standard [[8 mm film#Standard 8|8 mm film]] frame''
|5.94||4.8||3.5||11:8||16.8||{{val|-5.68}}||7.28
|-
! scope="row" | 1/3" ([[iPhone 5S]], [[iPhone 6]], [[LG G3]]<ref>{{Citation | publisher = PhoneArena | url = http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compare/Apple-iPhone-6,Apple-iPhone-5,Apple%20iPhone%206%20Plus/phones/8346,7378,8908 | title = Comparison of iPhone Specs }}</ref>)
|6.00||4.80||3.60||4:3||17.30||{{val|-5.64}}||7.21
|-
! scope="row" | 1/2.9" Sony [[EXMOR]] IMX322<ref name="Sony-IMX322">{{cite web 
  |url=https://dashcamtalk.com/cams/lk-7950-wd/Sony_IMX322.pdf
  |title=Diagonal 6.23 mm (Type 1/2.9) CMOS Image Sensor with Square Pixel for Color Cameras
  |publisher=Sony
  |date=2015
  |access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>
|6.23||4.98||3.74||4:3||18.63||{{val|-5.54}}||6.92
|-
! scope="row" | 1/2.7" Fujifilm 2800 Zoom
|6.72||5.37||4.04||4:3||21.70||{{val|-5.32}}||6.44
|-
! scope="row" | [[Super 8 film|''Super 8 mm film'']]'' frame''
|7.04||5.79||4.01||13:9||23.22||{{val|-5.22}}||6.15
|-
! scope="row" | 1/2.5" ([[Nokia Lumia 1520]], [[Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T5]], [[iPhone XS]]<ref name="iPhoneXSMax">{{cite web 
  |url=https://www.dpreview.com/news/1564509739/iphone-xs-max-teardown-reveals-new-sensor-with-more-focus-pixels
  |title=iPhone XS Max teardown reveals new sensor with more focus pixels
  |publisher=Digital Photography Review
  |date=27 September 2018
  |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref>)
|7.18||5.76||4.29||4:3||24.70||{{val|-5.13}}||6.02
|-
! scope="row" | 1/2.3" ([[Pentax Q]], Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330, [[GoPro]] HERO3, Panasonic HX-A500, Google Pixel/Pixel+, DJI Phantom 3<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dji.com/phantom-3-pro|title=Phantom 3 Professional - Let your creativity fly with a 4K camera in the sky. - DJI|website=DJI Official|access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref>/Mavic 2 Zoom<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dji.com/support/product/mavic-2|title=DJI - The World Leader in Camera Drones/Quadcopters for Aerial Photography|website=DJI Official|access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref>), Nikon [[Nikon Coolpix P1000|P1000]]/[[Nikon Coolpix P900|P900]]
|7.66||6.17||4.55||4:3||28.50||{{val|-4.94}}||5.64
|-
! scope="row" | 1/2.3" Sony Exmor IMX220<ref name="Sony-IMX220">{{cite web
  |url=https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products_en/IS/sensor1/img/products/ProductBrief_IMX220_20140910.pdf
  |title=Diagonal 7.87mm (Type 1/2.3) 20.7M Pixel CMOS Image Sensor with Square Pixel for Color Cameras
  |publisher=Sony
  |date=September 2014
  |access-date=3 April 2019
  |archive-date=3 April 2019
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403181849/https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products_en/IS/sensor1/img/products/ProductBrief_IMX220_20140910.pdf
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> 
|7.87||6.30||4.72||4:3||29.73||{{val|-4.86}}||5.49
|-
! scope="row" | 1/2"  ([[Fujifilm HS30EXR]], [[Xiaomi Mi 9]], [[OnePlus 7]], Espros EPC 660, DJI Mavic Air 2)
|8.00||6.40||4.80||4:3||30.70||{{val|-4.81}}||5.41
|-
! scope="row" | 1/1.8" ([[Nokia N8]]) (Olympus C-5050, C-5060, C-7070)
|8.93||7.18||5.32||4:3||38.20||{{val|-4.50}}||4.84
|-
! scope="row" | 1/1.7" ([[Pentax Q7]], Canon G10, G15, [[Huawei P20 Pro]], [[Huawei P30 Pro]], [[Huawei Mate 20 Pro]])
|9.50||7.60||5.70||4:3||43.30||{{val|-4.32}}||4.55
|-
! scope="row" | 1/1.6" (Fujifilm f200exr [https://www.digicamdb.com/specs/fujifilm_finepix-f200exr/])
|10.07||8.08||6.01||4:3||48.56||{{val|-4.15}}||4.30
|-
! scope="row" | 2/3" ([[Lumia 1020|Nokia Lumia 1020]], [http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/XS1/XS1A.HTM Fujifilm X10], X20, XF1)
|11.00||8.80||6.60||4:3||58.10||{{val|-3.89}}||3.93
|-
! scope="row" | 1/1.33" ([[Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra]])<ref>{{cite web 
  |url=https://www.dpreview.com/news/0799990809/samsung-officially-unveils-108mp-isocell-bright-hmx-mobile-camera-sensor
  |title=Samsung officially unveils 108MP ISOCELL Bright HMX mobile camera sensor
  |publisher=Digital Photography Review
  |date=Aug 12, 2019
  |access-date=16 Feb 2021
}}</ref>
|12||9.6||7.2||4:3||69.12||{{val|-3.64}}||3.58
|-
! scope="row" | ''Standard [[16 mm film#Standard 16 mm|16 mm film]] frame''
|12.70||10.26||7.49||11:8||76.85||{{val|-3.49}}||3.41
|- 
! scope="row" | 1/1.2" ([[Nokia 808 PureView]])
|13.33||10.67||8.00||4:3||85.33||{{val|-3.34}}||3.24
|- 
! scope="row" | 1/1.12" ([[Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra]])
|14.29||11.43||8.57||4:3||97.96|| ||3.03
|-
! scope="row" | [[Blackmagic Cinema Camera|Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera]] & Blackmagic Studio Camera
|14.32||12.48||7.02||16:9||87.6||{{val|-3.30}}||3.02
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[16 mm film#Super 16 mm|Super 16 mm film]] frame''
|14.54||12.52||7.41||5:3||92.80||{{val|-3.22}}||2.97
|-
! scope="row" | 1" ([[Nikon CX format|Nikon CX]], [[Sony RX100]], [[RX10|Sony RX10]], [[ZV-1|Sony ZV-1]], [[Samsung NX mini|Samsung NX Mini]])
|15.86||13.20||8.80||3:2||116||{{val|-2.89}}||2.72
|-
! scope="row" | 1" [[Digital Bolex]] d16
|16.00||12.80||9.60||4:3||123||{{val|-2.81}}||2.70
|-
! scope="row" | 1" [[Kodak DCS]]-200 
|16.81||14.00||9.30||3:2||130.2||{{val|-2.73}}||2.57
|-
! scope="row" | 1.1" Sony IMX253<ref name="Sony-IMX253">{{cite web
  |url=https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products_en/IS/sensor0/img/product/cmos/IMX253_255LLR_LQR_Flyer.pdf
  |title=Diagonal 17.6 mm (Type 1.1) Approx. 12.37M-Effective Pixel Monochrome and Color CMOS Image Sensor
  |publisher=Sony
  |date=March 2016
  |access-date=3 April 2019
  |archive-date=15 December 2017
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215090129/http://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products_en/IS/sensor0/img/product/cmos/IMX253_255LLR_LQR_Flyer.pdf
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>
|17.46||14.10||10.30||11:8||145||{{val|-2.57}}||2.47
|-
! scope="row" | [[Blackmagic Cinema Camera|Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF]]
|18.13||15.81||8.88||16:9||140||{{val|-2.62}}||2.38
|-
! scope="row" | [[Blackmagic Cinema Camera|Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K]]
|21.44||18.96||10||19:10||190||{{val|-2.19}}||2.01
|-
! scope="row" | [[Four Thirds system|Four Thirds]], [[Micro Four Thirds system|Micro Four Thirds]] ("4/3", "m4/3")
|21.60||17.30||13||4:3||225||{{val|-1.94}}||2.00
|-
! scope="row" | [[Blackmagic Cinema Camera|Blackmagic Production Camera/URSA/URSA Mini 4K]]
|24.23||21.12||11.88||16:9||251||{{val|-1.78}}||1.79
|-
! scope="row" | 1.5" [[Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II]]
|23.36||18.70||14||4:3||262||{{val|-1.72}}||1.85
|-
! scope="row" | "35mm" [[Techniscope|2 Perf Techniscope]]
|23.85||21.95||9.35||7:3||205.23||{{val|-2.07}}||1.81
|-
! scope="row" | original [[Foveon X3 sensor|Sigma Foveon X3]]
|24.90||20.70||13.80||3:2||286||{{val|-1.60}}||1.74
|-
! scope="row" | [[Red Digital Cinema Camera Company|RED]] DRAGON 4.5K (RAVEN)
|25.50||23.00||10.80||19:9||248.4||{{val|-1.80}}||1.66
|-
! scope="row" | "Super 35mm" [[Techniscope|2 Perf]]
|26.58||24.89||9.35||8:3||232.7||{{val|-1.89}}||1.62
|-
! scope="row" | Canon [[EF-S]], [[APS-C]]
|26.82||22.30||14.90||3:2||332||{{val|-1.38}}||1.61
|-
! scope="row" | ''Standard [[35mm movie film|35 mm film]] frame (movie)''
|27.20||22.0||16.0||11:8||352||{{val|-1.30}}||1.59
|-
! scope="row" | [[Blackmagic Cinema Camera|Blackmagic URSA Mini/Pro 4.6K]]
|29||25.34||14.25||16:9||361||{{val|-1.26}}||1.49
|-
! scope="row" | [[APS-C]] ([[Sony A-mount|Sony &alpha;]], [[Sony E-mount|Sony E]], [[Nikon DX format|Nikon DX]], [[Pentax K mount|Pentax K]], [[Samsung NX-mount|Samsung NX]], [[Fujifilm X-mount|Fuji X]])
|28.2–28.4||23.6–23.7||15.60||3:2||368–370||{{val|-1.23}} to {{val|-1.22}}||1.52–1.54
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Super 35]] mm film 3 perf''
|28.48||24.89||13.86||9:5||344.97||{{val|-1.32}}||1.51
|-
! scope="row" | [[Red Digital Cinema Camera Company|RED]] DRAGON 5K S35
|28.9||25.6||13.5||17:9||345.6||{{val|-1.32}}||1.49
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Super 35]]mm film 4 perf''
|31.11||24.89||18.66||4:3||464||{{val|-0.90}}||1.39
|-
! scope="row" | Canon [[APS-H]]
|33.50||27.90||18.60||3:2||519||{{val|-0.74}}||1.29
|-
! scope="row" | ARRI ALEV III ([[Arri Alexa|ALEXA SXT]], [[Arri Alexa|ALEXA MINI]], AMIRA), RED HELIUM 8K S35 
|33.80||29.90||15.77||17:9||471.52||{{val|-0.87}}||1.28
|-
! scope="row" | [[Red Digital Cinema Camera Company|RED]] DRAGON 6K S35
|34.50||30.7||15.8||35:18||485.06||{{val|-0.83}}||1.25
|-scope=row style="background:#ddd;"
! scope="row" style="background:#ddd;" | '''[[Full-frame digital SLR|35 mm film full-frame]]'''
|43.1–43.3||35.8–36||23.9–24||3:2||856–864||style="font-weight:bold;" data-sort-value=0.0|0||style="font-weight:bold;" data-sort-value=1.0|1.0
|-
! scope="row" | [[Arri Alexa|ARRI ALEXA]] LF
|44.71||36.70||25.54||13:9||937.32||0.12||0.96
|-
! scope="row" | [[Red Digital Cinema Camera Company|RED]] MONSTRO 8K VV, [[Panavision]] Millenium DXL2
|46.31||40.96||21.60||17:9||884.74||0.03||0.93
|-
! scope="row" | [[Leica S-System|Leica S]]
|54||45||30||3:2||1350||0.64||0.80
|-
! scope="row" | [[Pentax 645D]], Hasselblad X1D-50c, Hasselblad H6D-50c, CFV-50c, Fuji GFX 50S 
<ref>
{{cite web 
  |url=https://cdn.hasselblad.com/datasheets/x1d-II-50c/x1D-ii-50c-data-sheet.pdf
  |title=Hasselblad X1D-II 50c Datasheet
  |publisher=Hasselblad
  |date=2019-06-01
  |access-date=2022-04-09}}
</ref> 
<ref>
{{cite web 
  |url=https://fujifilm-x.com/global/products/cameras/gfx-50s/specifications/
  |title=GFX 50s Specifications
  |publisher=Fujifilm
  |date= January 17, 2019
  |access-date=2022-04-09}}</ref>
|55||43.8||32.9||4:3||1452||0.75||0.79
|-
! scope="row" | [[70 mm film#Technical specifications|''Standard 65/70 mm'']]'' film frame''
|57.30||52.48||23.01||7:3||1208||0.48||0.76
|-
! scope="row" | [[Arri Alexa|ARRI ALEXA]] 65
|59.86||54.12||25.58||19:9||1384.39||0.68||0.72
|-
! scope="row" | Kodak KAF 39000 CCD<ref>{{Citation
  | publisher = KODAK
  | title = KODAK KAF-39000 IMAGE SENSOR, DEVICE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION
  | date = April 30, 2010
  | access-date=2014-02-09
  | url = http://www.kodak.com/ek/uploadedFiles/Content/Small_Business/Images_Sensor_Solutions/Datasheets(pdfs)/KAF-39000LongSpec.pdf}}</ref>
| 61.30 || 49 || 36.80 || 4:3 || 1803 || 1.06 || 0.71
|-
! scope="row" | Leaf AFi 10
| 66.57 || 56 || 36 || 14:9 || 2016 || 1.22 || 0.65
|-
! scope="row" | [[Medium format (film)|Medium-format]] ([[Hasselblad]] H5D-60c, Hasselblad H6D-100c)<ref>{{Citation
  | publisher = B&H PHOTO VIDEO
  | title = Hasselblad H5D-60 medium-format DSLR camera
  | access-date=2013-06-19
  | url = http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/893195-REG/Hasselblad_H5D_60_DSLR_Camera_With.html}}</ref>
| 67.08 || 53.7 || 40.2 || 4:3 || 2159 || 1.32 || 0.65
|-
! scope="row" | Phase One [[Phase One (company)|P 65+]], IQ160, IQ180
| 67.40 || 53.90 || 40.40 || 4:3 || 2178 || 1.33 || 0.64
|-
! scope="row" | Medium-format 6×4.5 cm (also called ''645 format'')
| 70 || 42 || 56 || 3:4 || 2352 || 1.44 || 0.614
|-
! scope="row" | Medium-format 6×6 cm
| 79 || 56 || 56  || 1:1|| 3136 || 1.86 || 0.538
|-
! scope="row" | [[70 mm film#IMAX .2815.2F70.29|''IMAX'']]'' film frame''
|87.91||70.41||52.63||4:3||3706||2.10||0.49
|-
! scope="row" | Medium-format 6×7 cm
| 89.6 || 70 || 56 || 5:4 || 3920 || 2.18 || 0.469
|-
! scope="row" | Medium-format 6×8 cm
| 94.4 || 76 || 56 || 3:4 || 4256 || 2.30 || 0.458
|-
! scope="row" | Medium-format 6×9 cm
| 101 || 84 || 56 || 3:2 || 4704 || 2.44 || 0.43
|-
! scope="row" | Large-format film 4×5 inch
| 150 || 121 || 97 || 5:4 || 11737 || 3.76 || 0.29
|-
! scope="row" | Large-format film 5×7 inch
| 210 || 178 || 127 || 7:5 || 22606 || 4.71 || 0.238
|-
! scope="row" | Large-format film 8×10 inch
| 300 || 254 || 203 || 5:4 || 51562 || 5.90 || 0.143
|}
{{notelist-ua}}

==See also==

* [[Full-frame digital SLR]]
* [[Digital camera#Sensor size and angle of view|Sensor size and angle of view]]
* [[35 mm equivalent focal length]]
* [[Film format]]
* [[Digital versus film photography]]
* [[List of large sensor interchangeable-lens video cameras]]
* [[List of sensors used in digital cameras]]
* [[Angle of view]]
* [[Crop factor]]
* [[Field of view]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Footnotes and references==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* Eric Fossum: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkBh71zZKrM Photons to Bits and Beyond: The Science & Technology of Digital], Oct. 13, 2011 (YouTube Video of lecture)
* Joseph James: [http://www.josephjamesphotography.com/equivalence/ Equivalence] at Joseph James Photography
* Simon Tindemans: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120119113015/http://www.21stcenturyshoebox.com/essays/formatindependence/ Alternative photographic parameters: a format-independent approach] at 21stcenturyshoebox
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110605233923/http://www.dpreview.com/articles/compactcamerahighiso/ Compact Camera High ISO modes: Separating the facts from the hype] at dpreview.com, May 2007
* [http://6mpixel.org/en/ The best compromise for a compact camera is a sensor with 6 million pixels or better a sensor with a pixel size of >3μm] at 6mpixel.org
* [https://cdn.hasselblad.com/datasheets/x1d-II-50c/x1D-ii-50c-data-sheet.pdf] at hasselblad.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Image Sensor Format}}
[[Category:Digital photography]]
[[Category:Image sensors]]