Neil Harrington wrote:
"Ron Hunter" wrote in message
...
Neil Harrington wrote:
"RPS" wrote in message
...
Could somebody please explain the jargon used to denote the sensor size?
I mean numbers like 1/1.7. How does this translate to actual size
(dimensions or area)?
It actually doesn't translate very well at all, and is a goofy system
that should have been abandoned long ago. The fraction refers to the old
video tube size in inches, which is the way such sensors are
traditionally sized but obviously has nothing to do with digital still
cameras.

What is the typical size for DSLR?
Those are not described in that way; only compact cameras use the
fractional inch method. Nikon and some other DSLRs mostly use a sensor of
either 23.7 x 15.6 mm or 23.6 x 15.8 mm, in either case roughly the same
as the full APS-C format and often referred to by that term. Most Canon
DSLRs s have a slightly smaller sensor than that, some other makes are
smaller still, and a very few are larger.

For ZLR?
For good P&S?
Both of those types use sensors in the fractional inch sizes, though
often the "inch" is omitted and "type" is substituted. So for example one
manufacturer may call a particular sensor "2/3 inch" and another may call
the same sensor "2/3 type."

Whatever it's called, the 2/3 type is the largest sensor generally found
in any digicam. Its actual size is about 6 x 8 mm.

Other common sizes are 1/1.8 and 1/2.5 -- there are several other sizes
as well, but those appear to be the ones most often used today. I have
read of sensors as small as 1/3.2 but have never owned a digicam with
that small a sensor myself.

In high-end compact cameras of the type you call ZLRs, such as the Nikon
Coolpix 8800, the 2/3 type was common. Most of today's superzoom ZLRs use
much smaller sensors than that, however.

For a very good but more compact camera such as the Nikon P5000, the
1/1.8 type is used and is undoubtedly the best choice. Smaller sensors
than that are more likely to give problems with noise at the higher ISOs,
all else being equal. But where extreme compactness is important it's
usual to see sensors of 1/2.5 type or smaller. Also, many of the
superzooms today use 1/2.5 type sensors. It is adequate for most ordinary
use.

Camcorders of course have much smaller sensors than these.

Neil


Wouldn't the whole thing make more sense if manufacturers would just agree
to always state the sensor size in sq. millimeters!!!?

Almost ANY method of describing sensor size would make a lot more sense than
the one they're using.

Neil


Pretty much an obvious truth!
One might as well describe it by weight as the current method.