Use this tool to compare sensor formats, lens equivalence, field of view, and image sampling details for photography, video, robotics, and computer vision workflows.
Calculator
Example Data Table
| Format | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Diagonal (mm) | Approx. Crop Factor vs Full Frame | 35mm Equivalent of 50mm Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35mm Full Frame | 36.00 | 24.00 | 43.27 | 1.00× | 50.00 mm |
| APS-C Nikon/Sony/Fuji | 23.60 | 15.70 | 28.35 | 1.53× | 76.35 mm |
| APS-C Canon | 22.30 | 14.90 | 26.82 | 1.61× | 80.65 mm |
| Micro Four Thirds | 17.30 | 13.00 | 21.64 | 2.00× | 99.95 mm |
| 1-inch Type | 13.20 | 8.80 | 15.86 | 2.73× | 136.40 mm |
Formula Used
Sensor diagonal = √(width² + height²)
Crop factor = reference diagonal ÷ sensor diagonal
Equivalent focal length = input focal length × crop factor
Equivalent aperture = input aperture × crop factor
Angle of view = 2 × arctan(sensor dimension ÷ (2 × focal length))
Diagonal comparison is standard because it remains consistent across different aspect ratios. That makes cross-format lens matching easier for photography, video, and machine vision datasets.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select a reference format, usually 35mm full frame.
- Choose a sensor preset or enter custom width and height.
- Enter focal length to convert lens framing between formats.
- Enter aperture to estimate depth-of-field equivalence.
- Optionally add pixel resolution for pitch and density metrics.
- Press Calculate Crop Factor to view results.
- Review the Plotly chart for quick dimensional comparison.
- Use CSV or PDF export for reports or dataset notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does crop factor mean?
Crop factor shows how a sensor compares with a chosen reference format. A higher crop factor means a smaller sensor and a narrower field of view with the same lens.
2. Why is full frame often the default reference?
Full frame is widely used as a common baseline. Many lens comparisons, camera reviews, and production notes describe focal length equivalence relative to 35mm full frame.
3. Does crop factor change actual focal length?
No. The physical focal length never changes. Crop factor only changes the equivalent framing when the same lens is placed on different sensor sizes.
4. Why calculate equivalent aperture?
Equivalent aperture helps compare depth-of-field behavior across formats. It does not change exposure directly, but it helps explain background blur differences between sensor sizes.
5. How does this help AI and machine learning work?
Vision teams often compare camera rigs, field coverage, and image sampling. Crop factor and pixel pitch help standardize capture settings, labeling assumptions, and deployment planning.
6. Why use diagonal instead of width only?
Diagonal comparison is the most common standard because it captures the overall sensor size in one value. It also aligns well with traditional lens equivalence discussions.
7. Can I compare two custom sensor formats?
Yes. Choose a custom reference format and enter its width and height. Then enter the target sensor dimensions to compare any two imaging systems directly.
8. What do pixel pitch and pixel density tell me?
Pixel pitch estimates the physical size of one pixel. Pixel density shows how tightly pixels are packed. Both are useful for noise expectations, detail capture, and model input planning.