#Medium format vs full frame sensor size how to

With the upcoming release of the Fuji GFX-100, we’re beginning to see cameras push beyond full-frame and into the next digital frontier. However, we’ve begun to witness medium format making its entry into digital cinema cameras, as camera makers push beyond full-frame.

#Medium format vs full frame sensor size how to

However, knowing how to manage and when to use this shallower depth of field can be a strong creative advantage for content-creators.ĪPS-C and full-frame sensors have reigned as kings among digital cinema cameras.

Since it’s a much larger sensor, it’ll create a shallower image at 2.8 than its full-frame counterpart. Magnification (Crop Factor) With Smaller Sensors Smaller Sensors Means Smaller Lenses Small Sensor’s Fast Frame Rate vs Big Sensor’s Resolution Sensor Measurements (Making. You could make the same argument for medium format. Large Format Sensor Size Pros and Cons of a Large Sensor vs Small Sensor. The dynamic range on a medium format camera is 14-stops more than that of a DSLR The images shot are true 16-bit. As a result, a lot of the imagery was soft since the focus was much tougher to nail. A larger sensor provides much greater dynamic range, which gives a larger transitional tonal value, greater tonal accuracy, and better color accuracy.

When the Canon 5D Mark II first came out, many complained that the cameras created a depth of field that was too shallow. With this in mind, a 4K image from a medium format sensor will have more information than a 4K image from an APS-C sensor.Īs a result, medium format is known for creating the most life-like imagery and color rendition of any format out there because it captures more information per photo site. This amount of imagery data has more to do with the size of the photo site rather than the number. With a higher pixel density, medium format cameras can record much more color information. For example, Fuji’s upcoming medium format camera offers a 43.8 x 32.9mm sensor, while ARRI’s ALEXA LF, which they dubbed “large format,” offers a 36.70 mm x 25.54 mm sensor.Īdvantages of Medium Format Higher Pixel Density In digital application, this number will vary significantly across different camera manufacturers. A medium format sensor can have higher resolution than a full frame sensor, but in practice the difference depends on what two sensors you’re comparing. Digital cameras can be broken up into 3 different categories for sensor sizes, largest to smallest respectively, Medium Format, Full Frame, and Crop. When shooting on film, medium format uses 61mm 120 film. Essentially, medium format is any sensor-size exceeding the full-frame size of 24mm x 36mm. The easiest comparison to make for medium format is to its closest counterpart - full frame. However, medium format has slowly started to make its way back into the market - this time with digital. The only home it found for years was among film purists and analog hobbyists. However, once digital cameras came along, medium format slowly began to fade into obscurity. Being a larger format than traditional 35mm, it made it easier to enlarge an image for a billboard, or maintain quality for print. During the film days of the advertising and commercial world, medium format was king.