Camera Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor size is one of the most important factors in image quality. A larger sensor captures more light, produces less noise, and offers shallower depth of field. This reference compares every common sensor format, from smartphones to medium format, with exact dimensions, crop factors, and typical megapixel counts.
Sensor Sizes at a Glance
| Sensor Format | Width × Height (mm) | Diagonal (mm) | Area (mm²) | Crop Factor | Typical MP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2.3″ (smartphone / compact) | 6.17 × 4.55 | 7.66 | 28.1 | 5.64× | 12–20 |
| 1/1.7″ | 7.60 × 5.70 | 9.50 | 43.3 | 4.55× | 12–20 |
| 1″ (premium compact) | 13.20 × 8.80 | 15.86 | 116.2 | 2.73× | 20–21 |
| Micro Four Thirds (MFT) | 17.30 × 13.00 | 21.64 | 224.9 | 2.00× | 16–25 |
| APS-C (Canon) | 22.30 × 14.90 | 26.82 | 332.3 | 1.62× | 24–33 |
| APS-C (Nikon/Sony/Fujifilm) | 23.50 × 15.60 | 28.21 | 366.6 | 1.53× | 24–40 |
| Full Frame (35 mm) | 36.00 × 24.00 | 43.27 | 864.0 | 1.00× | 24–61 |
| Medium Format (Fujifilm GFX) | 43.80 × 32.90 | 54.78 | 1441.0 | 0.79× | 51–102 |
| Medium Format (Hasselblad) | 43.80 × 32.90 | 54.78 | 1441.0 | 0.79× | 50–100 |
| Medium Format (Phase One) | 53.40 × 40.00 | 66.73 | 2136.0 | 0.65× | 100–151 |
Crop factor is relative to 35 mm full frame (36 × 24 mm). Actual dimensions may vary slightly between manufacturers.
What Crop Factor Means in Practice
The crop factor tells you how a lens's field of view changes on a smaller sensor compared to full frame. A 50 mm lens on an APS-C camera (1.5× crop) gives the same field of view as a 75 mm lens on full frame. This affects your effective focal length and the apparent compression of your images.
A larger sensor also means shallower depth of field at any given aperture and field of view, which is why full frame cameras are preferred for portraiture. Conversely, smaller sensors provide greater depth of field, which can be an advantage for macro and landscape work.
Calculate Your Equivalent Focal Length
Use our crop factor calculator to work out the full-frame equivalent of any lens on your camera:
- Crop Factor Calculator — convert focal lengths between sensor formats and find equivalent apertures
Sensor dimensions are based on manufacturers' published specifications. The “inch” measurements for smaller sensors (1/2.3″, 1″, etc.) are historical designations from the vacuum tube era and do not correspond to the actual sensor diagonal. Megapixel ranges reflect models available as of 2025.