Camera Pixel Size Calculator Comparison

Pixel Size Formula:

\[ \text{Pixel Size (µm²)} = \frac{\text{Sensor Area (mm²)} \times 10^6}{\text{Width (pixels)} \times \text{Height (pixels)}} \]

Pixel Size:

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1. What is Pixel Size?

Pixel size refers to the physical dimensions of individual light-sensitive elements (pixels) on a camera sensor. It's a crucial factor in determining image quality, low-light performance, and dynamic range of a digital camera.

2. How Pixel Size is Calculated

The calculator uses the following equation:

\[ \text{Pixel Size (µm²)} = \frac{\text{Sensor Area (mm²)} \times 10^6}{\text{Width (pixels)} \times \text{Height (pixels)}} \]

Where:

\( \text{Sensor Area} \) — Total active area of the image sensor in square millimeters
\( \text{Width} \) — Horizontal resolution in pixels
\( \text{Height} \) — Vertical resolution in pixels
\( 10^6 \) — Conversion factor from mm² to µm²

Explanation: The equation calculates the area each pixel occupies on the sensor by dividing the total sensor area by the total number of pixels.

3. Importance of Pixel Size

Details: Larger pixels generally capture more light, resulting in better low-light performance and dynamic range. Smaller pixels allow for higher resolution in the same sensor size but may reduce image quality in low light.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the sensor's active area in mm² (often available in specifications), and the camera's resolution in pixels (width × height). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical pixel size for smartphones?
A: Modern smartphone cameras typically range from 0.8µm to 2.4µm, with flagship models often having larger pixels (1.4µm-2.4µm).

Q2: How does pixel size affect image quality?
A: Larger pixels capture more light, reducing noise in low-light conditions. Smaller pixels allow higher resolution but may increase noise.

Q3: What's the relationship between pixel size and sensor size?
A: For a given resolution, larger sensors will have larger pixels. For a given sensor size, higher resolution means smaller pixels.

Q4: Are there other ways to measure pixel size?
A: Yes, sometimes pixel size is given as linear dimension (e.g., 1.4µm) rather than area. The linear size is the square root of the area.

Q5: How does pixel binning affect pixel size?
A: Pixel binning combines adjacent pixels, effectively creating larger "super pixels" that capture more light while reducing resolution.