Camera sensor sizes,
explained — 65mm to Super 16
▸ Browse every sensor
Sensor size is the foundation everything else sits on. It sets your field of view for a given lens, how shallow your depth of field can go, and how the camera handles low light. Bigger isn't automatically better — but it always changes the look. Here's every format that matters, to scale, with a real camera you can see it on.
| Format | Typical size | Crop | See it on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium format | 43.8 × 32.9 mm | 0.79× | Fujifilm GFX 100 II → |
| Full frame | 36 × 24 mm | 1.0× | Sony FX3 → |
| Super 35 | ~24.9 × 14 mm | ~1.5× | BMPCC 6K → |
| APS-C | ~23.5 × 15.6 mm | ~1.5× | Sony FX30 → |
| Micro Four Thirds | 17.3 × 13 mm | 2.0× | Panasonic GH5 → |
| Super 16 | ~12.5 × 7 mm | ~3.0× | BMPCC OG → |
Every camera's exact sensor size and crop factor lives in the camera database — 211 bodies, each with its numbers derived from the real dimensions.
Field of view. The same lens frames wider on a bigger sensor. That's crop factor — the single biggest practical difference.
Depth of field. For the same framing and aperture, a larger sensor gives shallower focus — the "cinematic" background blur.
Low light. Bigger sensors (or bigger photosites) generally gather more light, so they're cleaner at high ISO.
Lens choice & size. Smaller formats mean smaller, cheaper lenses — and let you speed-boost larger glass to reclaim width and light.
The clearest way to understand sensor size is to watch the same lens frame across formats. The simulator does exactly that on one fixed scene.
Is full frame always better than Super 35?
No. Super 35 has been the cinema standard for a century — it balances depth of field, lens availability and cost. Full frame gives a shallower look and better low light, but needs bigger, pricier glass.
What's the difference between APS-C and Super 35?
Practically none — they're within a hair of each other in size (both ~1.5× crop). "Super 35" is the cinema term, "APS-C" the stills term, for essentially the same sensor.
How do I pick a sensor size?
Start from budget and the look you want: shallow, low-light-heavy → full frame; balanced and lens-rich → Super 35/APS-C; compact and flexible → Micro Four Thirds. Then browse bodies in that class.