Cinema Camera Sensor Size Chart

Updated

The recorded sensor area of each mode on current ARRI, RED, Sony, Canon, Blackmagic Design and Panasonic cinema cameras, taken from each maker's own specifications, with the diagonal and the crop factor against full frame.

10 min readIntermediate
  • Sensor Size
  • Recording Modes
  • Crop Factor
  • Reference
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How to read the chart

A camera's field of view, depth of field and lens coverage all depend on the area it records, and that changes with the recording mode. This chart lists that area for each published mode, so you can put the real numbers into a field of view, focal length match or depth of field calculation rather than a format name like "Super 35" or "full frame".

  • Photosites are the sensor pixels the mode reads. Some modes record a different resolution from the same area (a UHD file scaled from a larger readout, for example), so the file size is not always the photosite count.
  • Width × height is the recorded area as the maker publishes it. This is the number to use for angle of view and crop factor.
  • Diagonal is worked out from the width and height. Compare it with a lens's stated image circle to see whether the lens covers the mode.
  • Crop (width) is 36mm divided by the recorded width: the factor to divide a full-frame focal length by for the same horizontal view. The crop factor guide explains why width is the one to match on.

ARRI

ARRI publishes the active image area of every sensor mode on each camera's Technical Data page, and to two decimal places in its Formats and Resolutions Overview, which the figures here follow. ARRI calls the diagonal the image circle.

ALEXA 265

65mm-format A3X sensor, 8.25 µm photosites. ARRIRAW only, in three sensor modes.

ALEXA 265: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
6.5K 2.12:1 Open Gate6560 × 310054.12 × 25.58mm59.86mm0.67
5.1K 1.65:15120 × 310042.24 × 25.58mm49.38mm0.85
4.5K LF 3:24448 × 309636.70 × 25.54mm44.71mm0.98

Source: ARRI ALEXA 265 technical data; ARRI Formats and Resolutions Overview v6.3.

ALEXA Mini LF and ALEXA LF

Large-format ALEV III (A2X) sensor, 36.70 × 25.54mm, 8.25 µm photosites. The ALEXA LF offers the open gate, 16:9 (UHD) and 2.39:1 modes; the Mini LF adds the rest.

ALEXA Mini LF and ALEXA LF: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
4.5K LF 3:2 Open Gate4448 × 309636.70 × 25.54mm44.71mm0.98
4.5K LF 2.39:14448 × 185636.70 × 15.31mm39.77mm0.98
4.3K LF 16:94320 × 243035.64 × 20.05mm40.89mm1.01
3.8K LF 16:9 (UHD)3840 × 216031.68 × 17.82mm36.35mm1.14
2.8K LF 1:12880 × 288023.76 × 23.76mm33.60mm1.52
3.4K S35 3:23424 × 220228.25 × 18.17mm33.59mm1.27
3.2K S35 16:93200 × 180026.40 × 14.85mm30.29mm1.36
2.8K S35 4:32880 × 216023.76 × 17.82mm29.70mm1.52
2.8K S35 16:92880 × 162023.76 × 13.37mm27.26mm1.52

S35 heights follow ARRI's format sheet; the product page shows them 0.01mm smaller. Source: ARRI ALEXA Mini LF technical data; ALEXA Mini LF Recording Formats Sheet; ARRI ALEXA LF technical data.

ALEXA 35 Xtreme

Super 35 ALEV 4 sensor, 27.99 × 19.22mm, 6.075 µm photosites. ARRI lists 4.6K Open Gate, 4.6K 16:9 and 3.3K 6:5 for the Premium model only.

ALEXA 35 Xtreme: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
4.6K 3:2 Open Gate4608 × 316427.99 × 19.22mm33.95mm1.29
4.6K 16:94608 × 259227.99 × 15.75mm32.12mm1.29
4K 16:94096 × 230424.88 × 14.00mm28.55mm1.45
3.8K 16:9 (UHD)3840 × 216023.33 × 13.12mm26.77mm1.54
3.8K 2.39:13840 × 160823.33 × 9.77mm25.29mm1.54
3.3K 6:53328 × 279020.22 × 16.95mm26.38mm1.78
2K 16:9 S162048 × 115212.44 × 7.00mm14.27mm2.89
HD 16:9 S161920 × 108011.66 × 6.56mm13.38mm3.09

Source: ARRI ALEXA 35 Xtreme technical data; ALEXA 35 Xtreme Recording Formats poster.

ALEXA 35 (now listed by ARRI as legacy)

Same sensor as the ALEXA 35 Xtreme. Only the modes the Xtreme does not offer are listed here: 4K 2:1, 3K 1:1 and 2.7K 8:9. Its other modes match the Xtreme's, which adds 3.8K 2.39:1 and HD 16:9 S16.

ALEXA 35 (now listed by ARRI as legacy): recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
4K 2:14096 × 204824.88 × 12.44mm27.82mm1.45
3K 1:13072 × 307218.66 × 18.66mm26.39mm1.93
2.7K 8:92743 × 308616.66 × 18.75mm25.08mm2.16

Source: ARRI ALEXA 35 technical data; ARRI Formats and Resolutions Overview v6.3.

AMIRA

Super 35 ALEV III sensor, 8.25 µm photosites. 4K UHD is scaled up from the 3.2K readout.

AMIRA: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
3.2K and 4K UHD3200 × 180026.40 × 14.85mm30.29mm1.36
ARRIRAW 2.8K 16:9 and HD2880 × 162023.76 × 13.37mm27.26mm1.52
2K2868 × 161223.66 × 13.30mm27.14mm1.52
S16 HD1600 × 90013.20 × 7.43mm15.15mm2.73

Source: ARRI AMIRA technical data.

RED

RED's product pages give the full sensor size; the per-format sizes come from the "All Formats" tables in each camera's operation guide, which RED describes as close approximations. Each format has a family of aspect ratios; the main ones are listed here.

V-RAPTOR [X], V-RAPTOR XL [X] and V-RAPTOR XE (8K VV)

All three use an 8K VV global-shutter sensor, 40.96 × 21.60mm, and their operation guides list the same formats row for row.

V-RAPTOR [X], V-RAPTOR XL [X] and V-RAPTOR XE (8K VV): recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
8K 17:98192 × 432040.96 × 21.60mm46.31mm0.88
8K 2.4:18192 × 345640.96 × 17.28mm44.46mm0.88
8K 16:97680 × 432038.40 × 21.60mm44.06mm0.94
8K 4:3 (2× anamorphic)5760 × 432028.80 × 21.60mm36.00mm1.25
8K 6:5 (2× anamorphic)5184 × 432025.92 × 21.60mm33.74mm1.39
7K 17:97168 × 378035.84 × 18.90mm40.52mm1.00
6K 17:96144 × 324030.72 × 16.20mm34.73mm1.17
5K 17:95120 × 270025.60 × 13.50mm28.94mm1.41
4K 17:94096 × 216020.48 × 10.80mm23.15mm1.76

Source: RED V-RAPTOR [X] specifications; V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV Operation Guide v2.1, All Formats; V-RAPTOR XE Operation Guide v2.1.

V-RAPTOR 8K S35

Super 35 sensor, 26.21 × 13.82mm, the same 8192 × 4320 photosites as the VV cameras on a smaller sensor.

V-RAPTOR 8K S35: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
8K 17:98192 × 432026.21 × 13.82mm29.63mm1.37
8K 2.4:18192 × 345626.21 × 11.06mm28.45mm1.37
8K 16:97680 × 432024.58 × 13.82mm28.20mm1.46
8K 6:5 (2× anamorphic)5184 × 432016.59 × 13.82mm21.59mm2.17
6K 17:96144 × 324019.66 × 10.37mm22.23mm1.83
4K 17:94096 × 216013.11 × 6.91mm14.82mm2.75

Source: RED V-RAPTOR 8K S35 specifications; V-RAPTOR 8K S35 Operation Guide v1.7, All Formats.

KOMODO-X

Super 35 global-shutter sensor, 27.03 × 14.26mm.

KOMODO-X: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
6K 17:96144 × 324027.03 × 14.26mm30.56mm1.33
6K 2.4:16144 × 259227.03 × 11.40mm29.34mm1.33
6K 16:95760 × 324025.34 × 14.26mm29.08mm1.42
6K 4:3 (2× anamorphic)4320 × 324019.01 × 14.26mm23.76mm1.89
6K 6:5 (2× anamorphic)3888 × 324017.11 × 14.26mm22.27mm2.10
5K 17:95120 × 270022.53 × 11.88mm25.47mm1.60
4K 17:94096 × 216018.02 × 9.50mm20.37mm2.00

Source: RED KOMODO-X specifications; KOMODO-X Operation Guide v2.1, All Formats.

Sony

Sony publishes the imager size of every VENICE 2 and BURANO mode in millimeters, to one decimal place, on the product pages and in the operating instructions. For the FX line it publishes only the whole sensor.

VENICE 2, 8.6K sensor block (MPC-3628)

Full-frame 8.6K sensor. The 5.8K and 5.5K modes are its Super 35 crops.

VENICE 2, 8.6K sensor block (MPC-3628): recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
8.6K 3:28640 × 576035.9 × 24.0mm43.2mm1.00
8.6K 17:98640 × 455635.9 × 19.0mm40.6mm1.00
8.2K 17:98192 × 432034.1 × 18.0mm38.6mm1.06
8.2K 2.39:18192 × 343234.1 × 14.3mm37.0mm1.06
8.1K 16:98100 × 455633.7 × 19.0mm38.7mm1.07
7.6K 16:97680 × 432031.9 × 18.0mm36.6mm1.13
5.8K 6:5 (S35 anamorphic)5792 × 485424.1 × 20.2mm31.4mm1.49
5.8K 4:3 (S35 anamorphic)5792 × 427624.1 × 17.8mm30.0mm1.49
5.8K 17:9 (S35)5792 × 305624.1 × 12.7mm27.2mm1.49
5.5K 2.39:1 (S35)5480 × 229622.8 × 9.6mm24.7mm1.58
5.4K 16:9 (S35)5434 × 305622.6 × 12.7mm25.9mm1.59

Sizes from the operating instructions; the product page rounds three of them 0.1mm differently. Source: Sony VENICE 2 sensor modes; VENICE 2 Operating Instructions (FW 5.0), p.6.

VENICE 2, 6K sensor block (MPC-3626)

The original VENICE 6K full-frame sensor in a VENICE 2 body. The 4K and 3.8K modes are Super 35 crops.

VENICE 2, 6K sensor block (MPC-3626): recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
6K 3:26048 × 403235.9 × 24.0mm43.2mm1.00
6K 1.85:16054 × 327236.0 × 19.4mm40.9mm1.00
6K 17:96054 × 319236.0 × 19.0mm40.7mm1.00
6K 2.39:16048 × 253635.9 × 15.1mm38.9mm1.00
5.7K 16:95674 × 319233.7 × 19.0mm38.7mm1.07
4K 6:5 (S35 anamorphic)4096 × 343224.3 × 20.4mm31.7mm1.48
4K 4:3 (S35 anamorphic)4096 × 302424.3 × 18.0mm30.2mm1.48
4K 17:9 (S35)4096 × 216024.3 × 12.8mm27.5mm1.48
4K 2.39:1 (S35)4096 × 171624.3 × 10.3mm26.4mm1.48
3.8K 16:9 (S35)3840 × 216022.8 × 12.8mm26.1mm1.58

Sizes from the operating instructions' table, except 5.7K 16:9, where the product page's 19.0mm matches the 6K 17:9 height from the same photosite rows. The product page gives 6K 2.39:1 as 6048 × 2534 at 15.0mm high. Source: Sony VENICE 2 sensor modes; VENICE 2 Operating Instructions (FW 5.0), p.6.

BURANO

Full-frame 8.6K sensor. FFc and S35c are cropped readouts. Sony does not publish photosite counts for the two modes added in firmware 3.0.

BURANO: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
FF 8.6K 16:98632 × 485635.9 × 20.2mm41.2mm1.00
FF 8.6K 17:98632 × 455235.9 × 18.9mm40.6mm1.00
FF 5.8K 6:5 (anamorphic)—24.2 × 20.2mm31.5mm1.49
FFc 6K 16:96052 × 340433.6 × 18.9mm38.6mm1.07
FFc 6K 17:96052 × 319233.6 × 17.7mm38.0mm1.07
FFc 3.8K 16:93840 × 216032.0 × 18.0mm36.7mm1.13
S35 5.8K 16:95760 × 324024.0 × 13.5mm27.5mm1.50
S35 5.8K 17:95760 × 303624.0 × 12.6mm27.1mm1.50
S35 4.3K 4:34256 × 319223.6 × 17.7mm29.5mm1.53
S35c 4K 17:94096 × 216017.0 × 9.0mm19.2mm2.12
S35c 3.8K 16:9—16.0 × 9.0mm18.4mm2.25

Source: Sony BURANO sensor modes; BURANO Operating Instructions (FW 3.0), p.83.

FX2, FX3A and FX30

Sony gives only the whole sensor for these cameras, not the area of each movie mode, and Super 35 / APS-C crop and high-frame-rate crop sizes are not published. The FX6 spec gives no sensor size in millimeters at all.

FX2, FX3A and FX30: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
FX2: full-frame sensor—35.9 × 23.9mm43.1mm1.00
FX3A: full-frame sensor—35.6 × 23.8mm42.8mm1.01
FX30: APS-C sensor—23.3 × 15.5mm28.0mm1.55

Source: FX2 Help Guide specifications; FX3A Help Guide specifications; FX30 Help Guide specifications.

Canon

Canon publishes the effective sensor area, with its diagonal, for the full-frame or Super 35 readout of each Cinema EOS camera, to one decimal place. Its Super 35 and Super 16 crop modes are given only as photosite counts, so they are noted under each table rather than sized.

EOS C400 and EOS C80

The same full-frame 6K sensor. The C400 also records a full-frame 3:2 open gate (6000 × 4000 RAW, from firmware 1.0.4.1), for which Canon does not publish a size.

EOS C400 and EOS C80: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
Full frame, 6K and DCI6008 × 317036.0 × 19.0mm40.7mm1.00
Full frame, UHD and FHD5633 × 317033.8 × 19.0mm38.8mm1.07

Crop modes, photosites only: Super 35 4368 × 2304 (both), Super 16 2184 × 1152 (C400). Canon Europe gives the UHD readout as 5633 pixels wide for the C400 and 5634 for the C80. Source: Canon EOS C400 specifications; Canon EOS C80 specifications.

EOS C50

Full-frame 7K sensor with a 3:2 open gate.

EOS C50: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
Full frame 3:2, open gate6968 × 464635.9 × 23.9mm43.1mm1.00
Full frame 3:2, 6912 × 46086912 × 460835.7 × 23.8mm42.9mm1.01
Full frame, 7K 17:9 and DCI6968 × 367835.9 × 18.9mm40.6mm1.00
Full frame, UHD and FHD6534 × 367833.6 × 18.9mm38.6mm1.07

Crop modes, photosites only: Super 35 5036 × 2656, Super 16 2524 × 1332 (RAW). Source: Canon EOS C50 specifications.

EOS C500 Mark II

Full-frame 5.9K sensor. Listed by Canon Europe; no longer in Canon Japan's line-up.

EOS C500 Mark II: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
Full frame, 5.9K, DCI and 2K5952 × 314038.1 × 20.1mm43.1mm0.94
Full frame, UHD and FHD5580 × 314035.7 × 20.1mm41.0mm1.01

Crop and anamorphic modes, photosites only: 4:3 4192 × 3140, 6:5 3768 × 3140, Super 35 4096 × 2160, Super 16 2048 × 1080. Source: Canon EOS C500 Mark II specifications.

EOS C70 and EOS C300 Mark III

The same Super 35 Dual Gain Output sensor. Canon Japan lists the C300 Mark III as low stock and no longer lists the C70.

EOS C70 and EOS C300 Mark III: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
Super 35, DCI 4K and 2K4096 × 216026.2 × 13.8mm29.6mm1.37
Super 35, UHD and FHD3840 × 216024.6 × 13.8mm28.2mm1.46

Super 16 crop: 2048 × 1080 output; Canon publishes no size. Source: Canon EOS C70 specifications; Canon EOS C300 Mark III specifications.

Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic publishes a per-mode sensor-area table only for the URSA Cine 12K LF and 17K 65, in the URSA Cine manual. For its other cameras it gives the effective sensor size of the full readout; window and Super 35 modes are listed by photosites only.

URSA Cine 12K LF and PYXIS 12K

Large-format RGBW sensor, 35.64 × 23.32mm, 2.9 µm pixel pitch. Sizes from the URSA Cine manual; the PYXIS 12K uses the same sensor format.

URSA Cine 12K LF and PYXIS 12K: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
12K 3:2 open gate12288 × 804035.64 × 23.32mm42.59mm1.01
12K 16:912288 × 691235.64 × 20.04mm40.89mm1.01
12K 17:912288 × 648035.64 × 18.79mm40.29mm1.01
12K 2.4:112288 × 511235.64 × 14.82mm38.60mm1.01
12K 6:5 (anamorphic)9648 × 804027.98 × 23.32mm36.42mm1.29

The 9K Super 35 window (9408 × 6264, 3:2) is listed by photosites only. Source: URSA Cine tech specs; URSA Cine manual, sensor area table; PYXIS 12K tech specs.

URSA Cine 17K 65

65mm-format RGBW sensor, 50.81 × 23.32mm, 2.9 µm pixel pitch.

URSA Cine 17K 65: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
17K 2.2:1 open gate17520 × 804050.81 × 23.32mm55.91mm0.71
17K 2:116128 × 804046.77 × 23.32mm52.26mm0.77
17K 17:915360 × 804044.54 × 23.32mm50.28mm0.81
17K 16:914304 × 804041.48 × 23.32mm47.59mm0.87
12K 3:2 (centre crop)12288 × 804035.64 × 23.32mm42.59mm1.01

The 17K 2.4:1 mode is left out: the manual prints the 12K figure for it. Source: URSA Cine 17K 65 tech specs; URSA Cine manual, sensor area table.

PYXIS 6K, Cinema Camera 6K, Pocket 6K G2 / Pro, Pocket 4K and URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF

Full readout only. Their window modes (Super 35 4:3, Super 16, anamorphic 6:5 and others) are published by photosites, not size.

PYXIS 6K, Cinema Camera 6K, Pocket 6K G2 / Pro, Pocket 4K and URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
PYXIS 6K and Cinema Camera 6K: 6K 3:2 open gate6048 × 403236.00 × 24.00mm43.27mm1.00
Pocket 6K G2 / 6K Pro: 6K 16:96144 × 345623.10 × 12.99mm26.50mm1.56
Pocket 4K: 4K DCI4096 × 216018.96 × 10.00mm21.44mm1.90
URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF: 12K DCI12288 × 648027.03 × 14.25mm30.56mm1.33

Source: PYXIS 6K tech specs; Cinema Camera 6K tech specs; Pocket Cinema Camera tech specs; URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF tech specs.

Panasonic

Panasonic publishes only the whole sensor size. Each video mode is tagged FULL, Super 35 / APS-C or PIXEL/PIXEL (one sensor pixel per video pixel), but the area of each mode is not given in millimeters, so only the sensors are listed here.

LUMIX S1RII, S5IIX, S1H, BS1H, GH7 and BGH1

Whole sensor as published. S1II and S1IIE are left out: Panasonic UK gives 35.8mm wide, the manuals and panasonic.jp 35.6mm.

LUMIX S1RII, S5IIX, S1H, BS1H, GH7 and BGH1: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
S1RII: full-frame sensor—35.8 × 23.9mm43.0mm1.01
S5IIX, S1H and BS1H: full-frame sensor—35.6 × 23.8mm42.8mm1.01
GH7 and BGH1: Four Thirds sensor—17.3 × 13.0mm21.6mm2.08

Source: LUMIX S1RII specifications; LUMIX S5IIX specifications; LUMIX BS1H specifications; LUMIX GH7 specifications; LUMIX BGH1 specifications.

AU-EVA1

Super 35 sensor. Panasonic still hosts its pages, but we could not confirm it is still sold.

AU-EVA1: recording modes and active sensor area
ModePhotositesWidth × heightDiagonalCrop (width)
5.7K effective area5720 × 301624.60 × 12.97mm27.81mm1.46

Source: Panasonic AU-EVA1.

Questions

What size is a Super 35 sensor?

There is no single size. The full-width Super 35 modes in this chart run from about 22.6mm to 28mm wide: 22.6mm for the VENICE 2 5.4K 16:9 crop, 24.0mm for BURANO's S35 5.8K modes, 26.2mm for the Canon C70 and C300 Mark III in DCI 4K, and 27.99mm for the ALEXA 35 Xtreme's open gate. The 35mm film camera gate is 24.89 × 18.66mm.

How big is a full-frame cinema sensor?

Close to 36 × 24mm, but each maker's differs slightly and most modes record less height. The VENICE 2 8.6K 3:2 mode is 35.9 × 24.0mm and the Canon EOS C50's open gate 35.9 × 23.9mm, while 17:9 modes such as the Canon C400's 6K record 36.0 × 19.0mm. ARRI's large-format open gate is bigger, 36.70 × 25.54mm.

Which camera in the chart has the biggest sensor?

The ARRI ALEXA 265: its 6.5K open gate records 54.12 × 25.58mm, a 59.86mm diagonal. Next is the Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65 at 50.81 × 23.32mm in 17K open gate. Both are 65mm formats.

Why does the crop factor change between recording modes?

Because each mode reads a different part of the sensor. On the ALEXA Mini LF, the UHD mode records 31.68mm across instead of the open gate's 36.70mm, a 1.16× crop that makes every lens frame tighter.

Why do some cameras have no per-mode sizes here?

Because the maker does not publish them. Panasonic gives only the whole sensor size, Canon lists its Super 35 and Super 16 crop modes by photosite count only, and Sony gives no per-mode sizes for its FX cameras. The chart lists only figures the maker publishes.

Using the numbers

Put a mode's width and height into CineMath's Field of View calculator to get its angles and frame size at any distance, or its width into Focal Length Match to carry a lens choice from one camera or mode to another. The field of view guide explains the formulas, and open gate vs 16:9 vs anamorphic shows how much each kind of mode change moves the frame. Both calculators are free in your browser too: the field of view calculator and the focal length match calculator.

For depth of field, the circle of confusion scales with the recorded area too: the usual rule of thumb is the diagonal divided by 1,500, as set out in the Cinema Calculations Handbook. The circle of confusion guide lists the usual value by format.

Calculators for this guide