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 & guides
Crop Factor Explained
Full frame, APS-C and M4/3 equivalences.
Open →Field of View Calculator
Angle of view for any sensor + lens.
Open →Print Resolution Calculator
What resolution you need for each print size.
Open →ND Filter Long Exposure Chart
Base exposure → shutter time for every filter.
Open →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.