카메라 센서 크기 안내

CMOS 센서 크기는 카메라 성능에 어떤 영향을 미치나요?

The sensor format size of a digital camera determines its fundamental performance characteristics. Low-light sensitivity, dynamic range, physical dimensions, cost, and lens requirements are related to sensor format size. Each application and camera project demands weighing tradeoffs.

If the pixel architecture is the same, larger pixels collect more light thus improving low light performance. However, larger sensors require larger lenses or fundamentally different optical layouts with higher non-linear chief ray angle. M12 lenses serve sensors up to approximately 1/1.6" format, while C-mount lenses address larger format sensors that have global pixel architectures.

디지털 카메라 센서 포맷 종류는 왜 이렇게 헷갈리는 걸까요?

The format type classification system originates from video camera tubes manufactured before CCD and CMOS sensors. These vidicon tubes had opaque regions outside the active cathode area due to mechanical structures holding the tube and electrodes.

The imaging area was significantly smaller than the tube's outer diameter. When solid-state CCD sensors replaced tubes, manufacturers maintained the existing format naming convention to preserve compatibility with established lens systems. The result: modern sensor format designations describe the equivalent vidicon tube diameter that would produce the same image circle, not the sensor's actual dimensions.

포맷 유형과 실제 센서 크기 사이에는 어떤 수학적 관계가 있나요?

We've done our best to derive a "modern-day" equation that defines image sensor format type more precisely. We used commonly agreed upon datapoints of 1" = 16.0mm, 1/2" = 8.0mm, 1/3" = 6.0mm, 1/4" = 4.5mm and backed out a fitting equation, then cross-referenced as many other articles as possible. Unfortunately, the formula for the digital image sensor type has a discontinuity occurring between the 1/2" image sensor and 1/2.3" image sensor format size.

센서 포맷 참조표

The following table lists common CMOS sensor formats with their approximate dimensions. Most sensors conform approximately to these values.

센서 포맷에 맞는 렌즈는 어떻게 선택하나요?

The lens image circle must equal or exceed the sensor diagonal, unless you can accept distortion or are working with a fisheye lens. A lens rated for 1/2" format covers sensors up to 8mm diagonal. Using a lens on a larger sensor causes vignetting (dark corners). Using a lens on a smaller sensor wastes optical performance but does not cause image degradation.

For embedded vision applications with sensors up to 1/1.8" format (8.9mm diagonal), M12 mount lenses provide compact, cost-effective solutions. For larger sensors or applications requiring superior optical performance, C-mount lenses offer industrial-grade quality with adjustable aperture and focus.

내 용도에 어떤 센서 형식을 선택해야 할까요?

Sensor format selection depends on resolution requirements, light sensitivity needs, physical space constraints, and budget. Consider these guidelines:

• Mobile Robotics (1/4" to 1/1.7"): Compact sensors pair well with lightweight M12 lenses for robotics. Prioritize wide field of view for navigation.
• Automotive Vision (1/2.8" to 1/1.7"): Balance between compact packaging and low-light performance. Automotive M12 lenses offer ruggedized designs.
• Machine Vision (1/1.7" to 1"): Larger formats enable higher resolution and global shutter. Global shutter sensors in 2/3" and 1" formats pair with C-mount lenses for precision applications.
• Surveillance (1/3" to 1/2"): Cost-effective formats with proven lens availability. Surveillance lenses optimize for day/night operation.

How Does Exposure Interact With F-Number, Gain, and Motion Blur?

Sensor format sets the physical area available to collect light, but how much light actually reaches each pixel in a given frame comes down to exposure: the combination of f-number, exposure (integration) time, and sensor gain. Image-plane irradiance scales with 1/(f/#)², so each full stop increase in f-number (for example F/2.8 to F/4) roughly halves the light reaching the sensor. See the f-number guide for the full derivation.

Lengthening exposure time is one way to recover light lost to a smaller aperture, but it also lengthens the smear from any object or camera motion during the frame. At typical conveyor speeds of 200–500mm/s, an extra 1ms of exposure time adds roughly 0.2–0.5mm of motion blur at the object. Our motion blur guide and camera exposure guide cover how this tradeoff affects detection accuracy in vision systems.

Raising sensor gain is the third lever. Gain amplifies the analog signal, and its accompanying noise, at each pixel without collecting more photons, so it recovers brightness but reduces usable dynamic range and raises image noise. Because full-well capacity scales with pixel area (on the order of 1000–2000 electrons per square micrometer), sensors with larger pixels, which for a given resolution come from larger formats, generally hold more signal headroom before gain-driven noise becomes limiting. This is one more reason format selection is a system-level tradeoff, not just a field-of-view decision.

자주 묻는 질문

왜 1/2.8인치 센서의 크기가 1/2.8인치가 아닐까요?

The inch designation originates from 1950s vidicon television camera tubes. The format name referred to the outer glass tube diameter, not the active imaging area. The active cathode area was only about two-thirds of the tube diameter due to mechanical mounting structures.

When solid-state sensors replaced tubes, manufacturers retained the naming convention for backward compatibility with existing lens systems. A "1/2.8 inch" sensor has approximately 6.4mm diagonal, nowhere close to 0.357 inches (9.07mm).

센서 포맷을 기준으로 시야각을 어떻게 계산하나요?

Do not use format type directly for field of view calculations. The format designation is an approximation that varies between manufacturers. Instead, use the actual sensor dimensions from the datasheet.

Field of View = 2 × arctan(sensor_dimension / (2 × focal_length)). Use our Field of View Calculator with actual sensor width or height in millimeters for accurate results.

더 작은 센서 형식에 맞춰 설계된 렌즈를 사용하면 어떻게 되나요?

The lens image circle will not cover the entire sensor, causing vignetting (dark corners). The severity depends on the format mismatch. A 1/3" lens on a 1/2" sensor may show significant corner darkening. A 1/2" lens on a 2/3" sensor will have severe vignetting.

Always select a lens rated for your sensor format or larger. You can use a 2/3" lens on a 1/3" sensor without issues: you simply use the central portion of the lens's image circle.

내 용도에 필요한 초점 거리는 어떻게 계산하나요?

통치 관계: 초점 거리 = (작동 거리 × 센서 폭) / 장면 폭.

Example: imaging a 2-meter wide scene from 3 meters with a 1/2.8" sensor (4.8mm width) requires 3000mm × 4.8mm / 2000mm = 7.2mm focal length. Use our EFL Calculator for precise calculations.

How does f-number affect exposure and motion blur?

F-number controls how much light reaches the sensor per unit time: image-plane irradiance scales with 1/(f/#)², so a wider aperture (lower f-number) reaches the same exposure level in less time.

Shorter exposure time reduces motion blur, which scales roughly with object speed multiplied by exposure time. A narrower aperture forces a choice between a longer exposure (more blur), brighter illumination, or higher sensor gain (more noise, less dynamic range).

커먼랜즈는 완전한 카메라 모듈을 조립할 수 있나요?

Yes. Commonlands provides camera module assembly services including optical design, sensor integration (Sony, OmniVision, OnSemi), lens holder selection, and complete module assembly with focusing and thread locking.

We support volumes from 100 to 100,000+ units annually. Contact our engineering team with your specifications.