Shooting made by Golden Claim means: from planning the shoot to the final data backup of the footage - we know how to do it and what's important. Because let's be honest: shooting something with a camera is no longer a major technical challenge these days. What matters is the staging of the image. Storytelling is the key to reaching and moving target groups. And filming - the view through a camera lens - is the origin of storytelling.

In film and video production, cameras are used for recording and these cameras contain the sensor. The image sensor is the heart of the camera and its task is to convert light into digital signals. The size of the sensor influences the image quality, the depth of field and the light sensitivity. These digital signals are then processed into images.

When we talk about "sensor size", we are referring to the physical size of the image sensor in a camera. Sensor sizes play a crucial role in the world of film production and video marketing, which means that if you are involved in film, video or photography, you will naturally be confronted with the term "sensor size".

Sometimes size is the deciding factor...

A larger sensor size has several advantages: it means more light! And with more light, you can achieve better results - even in low light. A larger sensor also offers more depth of field. This means you can let the background "sink" into the blur and emphasize the main subject.

So larger sensors can help you capture better quality images, but they also come with other features. Some of these are good, and some are bad. The first impact of a larger camera sensor is obviously the size; not only does the sensor take up more space in your camera, but you also need a larger lens. For this reason, smartphone manufacturers stick to fairly small sensors so that the devices still have room in your pocket and manufacturers don't have to deal with large lenses. This also explains why professional film and photography equipment is still quite large and heavy.

The image quality is therefore strongly influenced by the sensor size. Larger sensors generally offer a higher resolution and better color reproduction. This is also due to the fact that they can capture more light, which results in less image noise, especially in low light conditions. So if you want to film in dark environments, a larger sensor is the better choice.

However, larger sensors are also a question of cost, as they are simply more expensive to manufacture. This is why smaller sensors are used, which are often cheaper, more compact and ideal for use in cell phone cameras or compact digital cameras.  

What sensor sizes are available?

These are the most commonly used sensor sizes:

Full format (36.00 x 24.00 mm)

APS-H (27.90 x 18.60 mm)

APS-C (23.60 x 15.60 mm))

APS-C Canon (22.20 x 14.80 mm)

1.5″ (18.70 x 14.00 mm)

Micro Four Thirds 4/3″ (17.30 x 13.00 mm)

1″ (12.80 x 9.60 mm)

1/1.2″ (10.67 x 8.00 mm)

2/3″ (8.80 x 6.60 mm)

1/1.7″ (7.60 x 5.7 mm)

1/2.3″ (6.17 x 4.55 mm)

1/3.2″ (4.54 x 3.42 mm)

Crop factor for sensors

The full-frame sensor is always used as the reference size for all camera sensor sizes. This full format corresponds to the old 35mm films that used to be inserted into the camera. Each sensor size is therefore measured against this full format. As the proportions of the sensors are always the same, only the sensor size changes. So if you compare a smaller sensor with the full format, the result is a factor X. Sensor A is therefore X times smaller than the full format. This factor is called the crop factor. "Crop" because crop is English and means "to cut out". A camera with an APS-C sensor has a crop factor of 1.5x or 1.6x (depending on the manufacturer), which means that it "cuts into" the full image.

Conclusion

Size makes all the difference! But hey: sometimes it is simply important that the camera is as small and mobile as possible. For example, a war correspondent traveling in a crisis area will only attach secondary importance to the size of the image sensor.

At Golden Claim, we attach great importance to excellent quality. The sensor size influences the image quality, depth of field and light sensitivity. That's why we use full format whenever possible and whenever the budget allows.

Choosing the right sensor size for your project is therefore crucial for the quality of your film recordings. You need to think about what requirements you have for your camera and, of course, for your end product. This will help you make the right choice. Whether you are a hobby filmmaker or a professional, understanding sensor sizes is a fundamental knowledge of film, video & photo technology.

Do you still have questions on this topic? Then get in touch with us - we'll be happy to help you with your film project!

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