What is a camera sensor? How many types are there? Which type should I buy?

The camera sensor is considered the heart of the camera. So what is a camera sensor? How many types does it have and which one should I buy? Follow along in the article below.

What is a camera sensor? What is the function in the camera?

The sensor is the soul, the most important part of the camera, the cost to manufacture sometimes accounts for 1/3 of the value of the camera. The sensor is what determines the image size, resolution, low-light capabilities, depth of field, dynamic range, lens, and even the size of the camera.

The image sensor is essentially a silicon wafer containing photovoltaic cells, which capture light and convert what you see through the viewfinder or LCD screen into an image.

The camera sensor determines the quality of a good or bad photo, high or low quality, and it also determines the maximum size you can print this photo at.

Its image quality depends not only on the physical size of the sensor, it also depends on the number of pixels (aka light sensitive points present on the face of the sensor) and the size of these pixels.

Sensor size also affects what you see through the viewfinder, determining what you’re shooting and what’s actually captured in the frame. Small sensors typically capture less footage than full-frame sensors.

Camera sensor classification

According to the mechanism of action

Today, most cameras use one of two types of sensors, CCD and CMOS . Both CCD and CMOS perform a similar task which is to convert light signals into electronic signals.

CCD . sensor

CCD is one of the oldest technologies used in digital cameras and offers image quality superior to CMOS sensors, with better dynamic range and noise control.

Currently, CCD is still used in low-cost travel camera models, but the assembly process is difficult and the power consumption is too much , so manufacturers often replace it with CMOS sensors.

CMOS sensor

CMOS is said to have poorer image quality than CCD . As technology advances, CMOS sensors have made new breakthroughs that significantly increase the quality of the sensor, even surpassing the CCD standard.

With more built-in functions than CCDs, CMOS sensors are more efficient , require less operating power , and perform better for high-speed shooting modes .

There is also the newer Foveon X3 Sensor , based on CMOS technology, used only in Sigma’s compact cameras and DSLRs.

Live MOS is the manufacturer for the image sensors that Leica, Olympus, and Panasonic use in their DSLR cameras. These sensors are said to be able to provide images with quality on par with CCD but with lower power consumption than CMOS.

According to size

There are many sizes of sensors, the size will determine a lot of the cost of the camera.

Medium Format

This is considered to be the largest sensor type to date. There are a few manufacturers of cameras with large sensors such as: Pentax produces cameras with a sensor size of 43.8mm x 32.8mm , some Hasselblad and PhaseOne models have a size of 40.2mm x 53.7mm

The Medium format theoretically produces higher quality images than cameras with smaller sensors, because they capture more light to reproduce the image. Larger sensors can also make it easier for manufacturers to increase the number of pixels on the sensor.

However, due to cost issues, most of these sensors are only available on professional cameras, typically DSLRs, which offer a wider selection of native lenses and fast autofocus. than.

Full Frame

The 36mm x 24mm sensor size is called full frame , because it’s the same as the frame of standard 35mm film. Full frame sensors are almost twice as large as APS-C sensors. Due to the large size, the image will not be cropped, so what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what you are shooting.

This type of sensor when combined with wide aperture lenses can provide an extremely shallow depth of field, great for macro photography and video recording.

Full-frame sensors are widely used in professional photography, including flagship DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

Previously, Nikon D800 , Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Nikon D4 were called “beasts” when possessing full frame sensors. However, over the years, smaller fixed-lens cameras like the Sony Cyber-Shot RX1 have also started to feature full-frame sensors.

APS-LIFE

This is the most common sensor type for both interchangeable and non-replaceable lens cameras, and is found on most DSLR cameras.

The APS-H has a sensor size of 28.7mm x 19mm , combining a relatively large sensor with a moderate pixel count for increased speed and ISO performance.

Smaller in size than Full Frame but larger than the APS-C sensor, the crop factor of this sensor corresponds between the two frames at 1.3 times. So a 24mm lens used with this sensor will provide an effective focal length close to 31mm.

APS-C

This sensor is roughly the same size as the APS-H , 23.6mm x 15.8mm . Most DSLR users and big-brand enthusiasts like: Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony use APS-C sensors, but not all APS-C sensors are the same.

An APS-C sensor on Canon cameras measures 22.2mm x 14.8mm while others like Sony, Pentax, Fujifilm and Nikon (DX) range from 23.5mm x 15.6mm to 23.7mm x 15.6mm .

These sensors have long been used in mid-range DSLRs, and now they’re popping up a lot in mirrorless cameras. This type of sensor offers a good balance between system portability , image quality , and lens flexibility .

Four Thirds

With a sensor size of 17.3mm x 13mm , about a quarter of the size of a Full-frame sensor, Four Thirds is an open DSLR standard created by Olympus and Kodak . It is used in all Olympus and Panasonic Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds DSLR cameras.

Additionally, the Four Thirds sensor has a double crop factor , doubling the effective focal length of the mounted lens. Some models use this sensor such as: Olympus OM-D E-M1 , Olymous Pen E-PL5 or Panasonic Lumix GH1 .

CX sensor (1 inch)

Announced in 2011, Nikon’s CX format was adopted on Nikon 1 cameras. And in 2012, Sony released the pocket-sized Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 digital camera, which uses a 1 sensor. inches (13.2 x 8 mm) with a 2.7x crop factor.

This type of sensor is now a popular choice on a wide range of compact cameras, the size being an advantage that makes it a versatile yet high-performance option.

The CX sensor is most commonly used in pocket compact cameras. The lenses on these cameras are usually limited to around 24mm-70mm or 24mm-100mm.

Cameras using this sensor generally provide very good quality images, especially as many compact cameras have wide maximum apertures that allow more light to be captured.

1/1.7 inch

This sensor makes it a bit easier to separate the subject from the background and generally gives better performance when shooting in low light as they can capture more light. The size of this sensor is 7.6mm x 5.7mm.

This used to be the “default” choice for compact cameras, but recently, the popularity of this type of sensor has decreased before larger and more optimal options such as 1-inch sensors.

1/2.3 inch

This is the smallest sensor commonly used in cameras today and is commonly found in pocket compact cameras. They support resolutions from 16 – 24 MP and measure 6.3mm x 4.7mm.

They used to be common on cameras, but manufacturers are gradually moving to use larger sensors, which makes this sensor no longer common in cameras.

Their small size allows manufacturers to create very compact cameras with long lenses, such as the Panasonic ZS70/TZ90 or Canon PowerShot SX730 HS superzoom cameras.

In good lighting conditions, cameras using these sensors can produce images of perfectly acceptable quality, but will suffer from noise and blur in low light.

Criteria to know to choose a sensor

Camera type

Compact mirrorless cameras are often equipped with a variety of sensor sizes. Small sensors like 1/2.3-inch in Pentax Q or 1-inch sensor are used in Nikon’s 1 Series, while Panasonic Lumix GF5, Olympus Pen and OM-D E-M5 are equipped with Micro sensor. Four Thirds 4/3 inches.

Advanced compact cameras with fixed lenses, such as the Fuji X100S and Nikon Coolpix A, are equipped with APS-C sensors. Whereas the Fujifilm X20 has a 2/3-inch sensor, the Canon G1 X has a 1.5-inch sensor.

Standard point-and-shoot cameras like the Canon PowerShot SX280 HS or Samsung Galaxy use 1/2.3-inch sensors, while better cameras like the Nikon P7700 have larger 1/1.7-inch sensors.

Smartphones such as the iPhone 5s and HTC One feature a 1/3-inch image sensor, while the legendary Nokia Lumia 1020 boasts a 41 MP 1/1.5-inch CMOS sensor. Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia Z1 has a 1/2.3-inch sensor, 20.7 MP.

Sensor resolution

You may have heard of the larger the number of megapixels on the sensor, the better your images will be. However this is not entirely true. Image quality does not depend entirely on the number of large or small pixels, but instead on the number of pixels that must match the size of the sensor.

The choice of sensor with resolution depends on the intended use. For images to print at large sizes, resolution is an essential factor. For photos taken for online sharing or general printing, resolution is less important.

Hopefully the information in the above article will give you the most overview of the types of cameras and the notes when choosing to buy. Good luck with your choice of camera!