Sensor Format
Sensor format refers to a camera's physical sensor size and shape — full frame (36x24mm), APS-C (roughly 22-23.5mm wide, varying slightly by brand), Micro Four Thirds (17.3x13.0mm), medium format (several distinct sizes larger than full frame), and various smaller formats used in compacts and drones. Every other format-dependent calculation on this site — crop factor, circle of confusion, pixel pitch — derives from this one real physical measurement.
Sensor format is independent of resolution: two cameras can share the identical sensor format while differing enormously in megapixel count, and they'll compute identical depth-of-field and crop-factor figures despite that resolution difference, since those calculations depend on physical size, not pixel count.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sensor formats does this site cover?
17 real, distinct formats, from full frame and APS-C through Micro Four Thirds, compact sensors, medium format, and several large-format and film sizes — see the full sensor reference for real dimensions and derived figures for each.
Does sensor format determine lens compatibility?
Not directly — lens mount (a separate, brand-specific mechanical and electronic standard) determines physical compatibility, though a lens designed for a smaller sensor's image circle typically won't properly cover a larger sensor format even with a mechanical adapter attached.