Format Comparison
Compare film and sensor formats side-by-side. Visualise the differences in size, aspect ratio, and coverage.
Select formats to compare
Choose up to 4 formats
Small Format
Medium Format
Large Format
Select up to 4 formats to compare
Visual size comparison
Full
6×6
4×5
Full Frame (35mm)
6×6
4×5
| Property | Full Frame (35mm) | 6×6 | 4×5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 36×24mm | 56×56mm | 127×102mm |
| Area | 864mm² | 3,136mm² | 12,954mm² |
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 1:1 | 4:3 |
| Crop factor | 1.00× | 0.55× | 0.27× |
| ~Equivalent MP* | 24 MP | 87 MP | 360 MP |
| Circle of confusion | 0.03mm | 0.049mm | 0.1mm |
| Frames per roll | 24 or 36 | 12 (120) | Sheets |
| Typical use | General purpose, street, documentary | Medium format, square composition | Studio, architecture, landscapes |
*Megapixel equivalence is a rough estimate. Actual resolution depends on film grain, lens quality, and scanning resolution.
Relative area comparison
Full Frame (35mm)864mm²
6×63,136mm²
4×512,954mm²
4×5 has 15.0× the area of Full Frame (35mm)
Why format size matters
Larger formats capture more light and detail, but come with trade-offs in cost, convenience, and depth of field control.
Advantages of larger formats
- Higher resolution and detail
- Finer grain relative to enlargement
- Smoother tonal gradations
- Shallower depth of field at same angle of view
- Better contact printing
Trade-offs
- Higher cost per frame
- Larger, heavier equipment
- Fewer frames per roll/sheet
- Slower handling and setup
- More challenging to achieve deep DoF
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