Full-Frame Sensor
A full-frame sensor measures about 36 by 24 millimetres, the size of a frame of 35 mm film, and is one of the larger sizes used in consumer cameras.
On this page 3 sections
A full-frame sensor measures about 36 by 24 millimetres. The name comes from 35 mm film, whose frame had the same size. It is about twice the area of an APS-C sensor and many times the area of a phone camera sensor.
How it works
The sensor turns light into the picture. Its larger area lets each pixel be bigger for a given pixel count, so each pixel can collect more light. This usually means less noise at high ISO settings and a wider range between the darkest and brightest parts of a scene. At the same framing and aperture, it also gives a shallower depth of field than a smaller sensor.
What the numbers mean
- Crop factor: a full-frame sensor has a crop factor of 1.0, and it is the reference that other sensor sizes are measured against.
- Lens size: lenses that cover this area are usually larger and heavier than lenses for smaller sensors.
What it does not promise
Full-frame is not the largest size, because medium-format sensors are bigger. A larger sensor does not guarantee a better picture, since lens quality, processing and pixel count also matter. Size does not decide autofocus speed or video features either.