Camera Sensor Sizes Compared
Exact dimensions, crop factors, and what actually changes when you move between formats.
The formats, side by side
| Format | Width × height (mm) | Diagonal (mm) | Crop factor | Area vs full frame | Typical cameras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 36 × 24 | 43.3 | 1.0× | 100% | Sony A7 IV, Canon R5 II, Nikon Z8, Panasonic S5 II |
| APS-C (Sony/Nikon/Fuji) | 23.5 × 15.6 | 28.2 | 1.5× | ~42% | Sony A6700, Fujifilm X-T5, Nikon Z50 II |
| APS-C (Canon) | 22.3 × 14.9 | 26.8 | 1.6× | ~39% | Canon EOS R7, R10 |
| Micro 4/3 | 17.3 × 13 | 21.6 | 2.0× | ~26% | Panasonic G9 II / GH7, OM System OM-1 II |
| 1-inch | 13.2 × 8.8 | 15.9 | 2.7× | ~13% | Compact cameras, some drones |
| Phone main (~1/1.28″) | 9.8 × 7.3 | 12.2 | ~3.5× | ~8% | iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S25 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro |
What the crop factor actually means
The 35 mm equivalent focal length is the focal length that gives the same framing on full frame. A 24 mm lens on APS-C (1.5×) frames like 36 mm on full frame; a 25 mm on Micro 4/3 (2×) frames like 50 mm. Our field of view calculator shows this for any combination.
Equivalent framing is not the same as equivalent look: at the same framing and aperture, the larger sensor gives shallower depth of field (see the portrait guide) and gathers more total light.
Real differences that matter
- Depth of field: for the same framing and f-stop, full frame has the shallowest DoF — that's the classic "full frame bokeh" advantage. Check the numbers with the DoF calculator.
- Low light: at the same exposure settings, the larger sensor collects more light overall, which typically means less noise when you normalize for print size.
- Size and reach: crop sensors give extra telephoto reach (a 400 mm lens on APS-C frames like 600 mm) in a smaller, lighter kit — one reason wildlife shooters choose APS-C and Micro 4/3.
- Hyperfocal distance: smaller sensors have shorter hyperfocal distances, making "everything sharp" landscapes easier (see the hyperfocal chart).
Related tools
Field of View Calculator
See the exact angle of view and 35 mm equivalent for your sensor + lens.
Open →Depth of Field Calculator
Compare the same lens on different sensors, side by side.
Open →Circle of Confusion Guide
The CoC values behind these formats, explained.
Read →Sensor size FAQ
Is a full-frame sensor always better?
Better for low light and shallow DoF, yes — but it costs more, weighs more, and needs bigger lenses. APS-C and Micro 4/3 win on reach, size, and price. "Better" depends on what you shoot.
What does "crop factor 1.5×" mean for my 50 mm lens?
It frames like a 75 mm lens on full frame. The lens itself doesn't change — the smaller sensor just captures a narrower part of its image circle.
Do phone cameras really have 1/1.28-inch sensors?
Yes — the main cameras in current flagships use sensors around 9.8 × 7.3 mm (about 8% of a full-frame area). The "1/1.28″" naming is an old vidicon-tube convention, which is why the actual dimensions look surprising.