First You Need Know The History of The Gold Standard
The Origin of 35mm: The Gold Standard
Before digital sensors, there was film. And 35mm — also known as 36mm x 24mm — became the gold standard for photography. But with the shift to digital, new sensor sizes emerged. This guide breaks down why sensor sizes like full-frame, APS-C, and Micro Four Thirds exist, and what they mean for you as a photographer.
Why 35mm?
- Originally adapted from motion picture film stock
- Offered a perfect balance: high enough quality, yet small and portable
- Became widely adopted by both professionals and hobbyists
- Camera systems and lenses were all designed around this size
Because it was so dominant, digital cameras used 35mm as the reference size — which is why we call it “full-frame” today.
Full-Frame
What Is a Full-Frame Sensor?
A full-frame sensor is a digital camera sensor that’s the same size as a 35mm film frame (36mm x 24mm).
Why Does It Exist?
It was created to match the size of traditional film, making the transition from film to digital smoother.
APS-C
What Is APS-C?
APS-C is a smaller-sized camera sensor, about 1.5x smaller than a full-frame sensor.
Why Does It Exist?
It was created to make digital cameras cheaper, smaller, and lighter, while still offering good image quality.
Micro Four Third
What Is Micro Four Thirds?
Micro Four Thirds is a camera sensor that’s smaller than both full-frame and APS-C. It’s about half the size of a full-frame sensor.
Why Does It Exist?
It was designed to make cameras even more compact and lightweight — great for travel, street photography, and video — while still giving good image quality.
Here Comes The Truth
Why Smaller Sensors Exist
When digital cameras first came out, full-frame sensors were very expensive and hard to produce. So, manufacturers created smaller sensors like APS-C and Micro Four Thirds to make digital photography more affordable and accessible.
Over time, these smaller formats also found their own advantages — like lighter gear and extra reach — which is why they still exist today, even though full-frame has become more affordable.