Compare camera sensor sizes visually. See the actual size differences between Full Frame, APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, and smartphone sensors side by side.
Camera sensor comparison helps photographers visualize the real physical size differences between popular camera sensors. Compare Full Frame, APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, 1-inch, and smartphone sensors side by side to understand how sensor size affects image quality, depth of field, and low-light performance. The visual overlay shows actual scale differences between sensor formats.
Larger sensors capture more light and provide better image quality, especially in low-light situations. Full Frame sensors (36×24mm) offer the largest area for professional photography, while APS-C sensors (1.5x-1.6x crop factor) balance quality and portability. Micro Four Thirds sensors (2.0x crop) excel in compact camera systems, and 1-inch sensors are popular in premium compact cameras. Smartphone sensors like the iPhone 14 Pro use tiny sensors but compensate with computational photography.
Crop factor determines how a lens's field of view changes on different sensor sizes. A 50mm lens on Full Frame becomes equivalent to 80mm on APS-C Canon (1.6x crop) or 75mm on APS-C Nikon/Sony (1.5x crop). On Micro Four Thirds (2.0x crop), the same 50mm lens behaves like a 100mm telephoto. This comparison tool shows crop factors for all popular sensor formats including Medium Format (0.79x), which is larger than Full Frame.
Full Frame sensors (36×24mm) are the gold standard for professional photography, offering maximum image quality and shallow depth of field control. APS-C sensors are 1.5-1.6 times smaller, making cameras more compact while maintaining excellent image quality - perfect for wildlife and sports photography where the crop factor extends telephoto reach. Micro Four Thirds sensors (17.3×13mm) enable the smallest interchangeable lens cameras with a 2x crop factor that doubles effective focal length.
Modern smartphone sensors like the iPhone 14 Pro (9.8×7.3mm) are significantly smaller than even 1-inch sensors used in premium compact cameras. The 1/2.3" sensor (6.17×4.55mm) found in action cameras and budget compacts is even smaller. While these tiny sensors limit light gathering and depth of field control, computational photography and multi-camera systems help smartphones produce impressive results in good lighting conditions. For serious low-light photography, manual control, and professional image quality, larger APS-C or Full Frame sensors remain essential.