How big is a 1" Camera Sensor? Why do we call it 'One Inch'?

TEAM SGG PATREON / somegadgetguy 1" sensors explained! Phone cameras are getting bigger and bigger! When we talk about phone cameras, we describe the sensor size as a fraction of an inch. If you've ever tried to measure a camera sensor though, those measurements are often FAR smaller than one inch. Why do we do this? This needs a little explaining...
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[@Gabilleta]

Videos like these are rare to come by and always appreciated. I've always found that clunky when it came to describing camera sensor sizes. Now I have a reference video to show people whenever they ask.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

👍😎

[@smc1377]

Well this makes sense! I've ALWAYS questioned how the Hasselblad camera on the DJI Mavic 2 Pro is able to fit a 1" sensor inside a housing that doesn't look like it could physically fit a true 1" sensor. Now I know it's not actually a 1" sensor.

[@paulscottfilms]

Here is the real reason foe gobbledygook in camersa sensors>>> DISHONESTY and FAKERY. through and through. Eaxample the Samsung 108 Mpixel camera is actually 12M pixels >Don't believe me > ? Check it out

[@JulienRoyal]

This is a great video. We need more explainers like this.

[@wademiyataki9221]

Yes, I’m old enough to remember the good ol CRT days, when monitors were marketed by the diagonal measurement of the CRT tube. Then, they needed to specify the “viewable” diagonal. So I guess what’s good for CRTs is good for camera sensors now?

[@Xalies]

Well that's some handy bit of trivia

[@josephshim2744]

This was great! You are seriously my #1 favorite influencer on the interwebs!

[@floating_diffusion]

I really love these informative videos about smartphone cameras, we need more of this.

[@gregoryaul2005]

Pretty cool Juan not everyone knows that thanks

[@johndelabretonne2373]

Is that "The Last Starfighter" playing in the background? Also wanted to say that I appreciated hearing "The Entertainer" during the flashback! Haven't heard that in a while...

[@2011Kestrel]

I love this legacy terminology stuff. It’s fascinating learning the origins of many commonplace naming conventions, especially when their original sources no longer exist. Also, now I can stop wondering how the lens is bigger than the space in my phone.

[@rk_bullet]

Love these types of videos more than gadgets' reviews. 👍

[@ZulqarnainAidil]

Great vid! Philip Bloom also did an explainer and he had an actual tube to show but it was more of a rant and is somehow pretty long 😂 I guess this is why I'm glad Sony moved away from the 1 Inch naming by just calling it 1.0 Type, its still confusing as you may think that theres a 2.0 Type, but at least theres no unit of measurment

[@uncleelias]

In their upcoming Xperia phone they've fallen to calling the sensor a 1" sensor.

[@ZulqarnainAidil]

@@uncleelias Yeah but the marketing literature around it and their RX series of cameras are 1.0 Type

[@tlh1588]

Thanks for making a video just not like other youtube videos and also insanely informative.

[@TheMahaMousa]

subscribed after this video ... great simple explanation 👍

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Yeah Juan is really good when it comes to smartphone photography and photography knowledge in general. He literally wrote a book about it in fact !

[@jbehuniakjr]

Best video to explain this I've seen! Hopefully there is one for the other sensor sizes

[@zteburner5882]

Excellent video... now please talk about effective use of the 1" sensors... for example on the Sony RX100 series vs the Xperia Pro-I.

[@z352kdaf8324]

The RX0 series for in the middle. 16mp.

[@bryans8653]

Love that visual at the end. Thanks for putting that together.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

I am NOT a graphic designer LOL.

[@EsteeWhitePhotography]

Really cool video :) you explained it in a very nice way and added some really good less known information about where this formating comes from, thank you for sharing

[@oscarsantana9983]

Awesome video Juan. Had no idea we were still naming camera tech after old tech lol.

[@scottallencolorado]

Thanks for the info. Your delivery is fun an interesting I look forward to hearing more

[@arthurkolodinsky738]

I had a couple of my friends explaining this exact thing to me before but I never got it. Thank you Juan for explaining this concisely!

[@GeetMadan]

Great video like always. I might be gate keeping tech KZbin but I don’t like when non nerds become tech youtubers. I came here to say You, Mr. Juan Bagnell, pass my arbitrary nerd threshold to be called a real tech KZbinr.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

😎👍

[@bzzxyz69]

It's fascinating how technology evolves as the time progresses. Great video btw ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@a.m.2368]

The Last Starfighter. Classic. Great video!

[@sidersproductions941]

Wow I didn't know this so thanks for the history lesson Juan. Love this kind of fun fact stuff.

[@joeldiaz141]

My ignorance with the given topic had been resolved. Thank you.

[@WidescreenJohn]

I was wondering how a phone could have a 1-inch sensor embedded in them, and I always wondered about the fractions in camera sensors, so thank you for that. And additional kudos for "The Last Starfighter" in the background.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

👍

[@paulscottfilms]

Here is the real reason foe gobbledygook in camersa sensors>>> DISHONESTY and FAKERY. through and through. Eaxample the Samsung 108 Mpixel camera is actually 12M pixels >Don't believe me > ? Check it out

[@fd478]

The best explanation of a one inch sensor.

[@Exyvia]

Feels similar to how they market EVFs and the back LCD screen for Cameras with Dots instead of Pixels - so you need to divide by 3.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

LOL A little yeah, but this has a BIT more historical precedent.

[@siyangqiu1]

Haha. Some screens have a 4th white subpixel, so sometimes you need to divide by 4. Iirc, in Sony’s A7 line going from the Rii to the iii, the number of dots actually decreases, but the pixel resolution went up very slightly.

[@sunnybunny1209]

The only teacher I can absorb information from 🙌

[@Farbroe]

I always have to be quick to lower the volume before the “pop” in the intro attack my ears. Great video as always Juan! ❤️

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION? [Pop!]

[@dustadorre]

Whoa Juan, you really know what you're talking about...it's almost as if you wrote a book on mobile photography or somethin'. Great, informative video as always!

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

😁

[@Ali-M2]

The xperia z1 had 1/2.3in sensor since 2013

[@jrod8574]

Ah yes, the good ol Galaxy S7 mention. Still taking great pictures. All in all, I'm SUPER happy phones are going the distance now.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

I still feel S7 was a HIGH point for Samsung. Better tech these days, but S7 was the most usable samsung camera I've ever shot on.

[@jrod8574]

@@SomeGadgetGuy yup. I brought my Galaxy S7 with me the last time I went on vacation cause of the pictures it takes. 😎

[@BrianGlaze]

Yet another example of original nomenclature enduring in present day applications. It makes for a fascinating history lesson.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

It's really fun to see how classic professional gear still influences our tech today.

[@lany_07gaming]

Great info and review as always.👍

[@cosmin10b]

Great video and very educational.👍🏻

[@TheTheShizzler]

I have absolutely been loving your educational videos, keep up the great work! Do you have any phone cases we can buy that kick a little back to you?

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Not at present. My level of merch is still t-shirts and mugs. 😅

[@TheTheShizzler]

@@SomeGadgetGuy oh bummer...I needed one and was hoping to give a little back but I'll find another way

[@MyLittleLifeJoRaPapa]

Thanks Juan.

[@kenansadhuvideos]

Sometimes we want things to be delivered in a brief, straight-to-the-point manner. But in another time, we could be listening with enjoyment, ready for a 20-30 minutes documentary, and then the video was actually less than 5 minutes long..

[@KeithBab]

Maybe you could look into how much of the sensor the phones actually use. I suspect some put a big sensor in, but have a lens that doesn't produce an image over the entire sensor and they only use the middle of the sensor. So they can claim to have a bigger sensor, but actually only use the same surface area as other phones using a smaller sensor.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

It's pretty easy to compare. Instead of acting like there's some kinda gotcha there, we COULD talk about lens design...

[@KeithBab]

@@SomeGadgetGuy What prompted me was rumours that the new Sony phone does exactly that. it's "1"" sensor, but they don't use the entire sensor. But the internet is full of b*, so I've not enough info to be able to judge.

[@tobbakken2911]

@@KeithBab The The Xperia pro is not final yet, so they heave to wait for a update to see how it really is.

[@lukelloyd8976]

Things I did not know until just now!

[@kennyadvocat]

I've been waiting for a cheap 2/3 inch 4k camera option. Lotta good B4 lenses out there to use.

[@AnwarLL]

MKBHD needs to see this video 😂 (clearly).

[@gavincurtis]

If Camera sensor's are rated according to fishing stories, then the actual size of the 1" chip is 1/3".

[@sauljames2221]

I'd say the real question should be.. How much of that 1 inch sensor is actually used and why are Sony implying that the 1 inch sensor is used to its full potential? That its just a publicity stunt and they may as well have used a much smaller sensor with exactly the same results.

[@okaro6595]

All Sony One inch sensors are 20 megapixels. If it is 12 megapixels then it uses 60% of it. In one direction that is 77%. I think the sensors actually are faulty ones where there is some fault on the edges. Such sensors are worthless unless one creates a product that can use them. Previously Sony used them in an action camera. Still the sensor is larger than normal phone sensors.

[@ankurmishra7773]

Great video! Thank you Juan. Would Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra's Samsung GN2 1/1.13" merit a mention at the "top" of that size graph depicting sizes if different camera phone sensors? Just curious if it is indeed 1/1.13" and if so perhaps the biggest currently bar the Xperia 1 mark I or whatever naming they've chosen for it, can't recollect Thank you!

[@the_matchless]

Excellent

[@mrgadget4863]

This takes Geometry to a whole new level 😄👍

[@AlainsProjects]

The last Starfighter on the Tv set....yes :)

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

😁

[@b0nz1official]

Today I learned! Thank you

[@kenmastersmaster]

Do larger sensors only matter in low light? Does having a larger sensor only more beneficial with a large lens? What do they mean by 108mp boyer? Is that really a 12mp sensor?

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Oversimplifying, but a larger sensor means a different lens for the same equivalent field of view. We arrive at better low light, shallower depth of field, and better fine detail. Pixel binning sensors are advertised at their "full resolution", but often the raw files (what we would consider the native resolution) are around 12MP. 48MP, 50MP, 108MP, all bin down to around 12.

[@TheGreatMunky]

I had The Last Starfighter on blu-ray already and just picked up the Arrow Video version of it on blu-ray. Such a good movie.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

So good.

[@nazirtaib7387]

Nice. Will save this video. Next time I can use this to explain to others. 😆

[@Jocular-mt3jb]

One could be forgiven for thinking there is an element of shame on the part of the manufacturers hiding such small sensors.

[@ArnoudWokke]

Yeah, calculating sensor sizes in fractions of inches are confusing for people. Not everyone knows that 1/2.55" is bigger than 1/3", let alone how much bigger. that's why I always give another dimension in my stories on smartphone cameras, mostly surface area in square millimeters. People understand immediately how much bigger a 30mm2 sensor is compared to a 16mm2 one for instance.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Like A&W discontinuing a 1/3 pound burger because people thought it was smaller than McD's Quarter Pounder.

[@zolavib1187]

Thanks for this probably would have went the next decade not knowing this if not my whole life. Interesting and now I'm going to spread the word one inch at a time. I also know what a metric inch is now 🤦🏾‍♂️🤣

[@AdamJakowenko]

Thanks for reminding us all that performance is more important than inches 😉

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

😎👍

[@vishnubhramashiva4110]

This makes ny 3 inches a giant. Now, I feel a lot better.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

There's a good silver lining. I won't tell anyone on Tinder.

[@ecotonemurphy1197]

What is missing is the conversion of the millimeter values to inches. Put an overlay that shows what the inch values are for each of the milimeter values in your video.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Oh I TOTALLY would have, expect you didn't say please... Bummer...

[@ecotonemurphy1197]

@@SomeGadgetGuy please just as you excepted

[@gamingguide1565]

Hi Juan you may want to get your hands on Honor 50 or 50 Pro , We both know how you miss Honor.

[@melvinch]

Why are your newer videos overexposed ?

[@mrtech2259]

Wait so you're saying that an inch isn't an inch?! (Cathy Newman reference 🤣)

[@wingnut323]

Last Star Fighter showing the background?

[@stevensonnwokenkwo3281]

I heart this.

[@Polaris-droneshots]

Amaaaazing..

[@sriparnochowdhury3900]

My whole life was a lie , till today, thanks mate😂❤

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

It got us all.

[@deivytrajan]

Are there any phones with 3:2 aspect ratio?

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

I think the Aquos R6 did? I'm not sure. That phone never really left Japan...

[@fahimadelakib6141]

Nokia 808 used a 1/1.12 inch sensor

[@easygoingdude9990]

Ah yes more relics of a bygone era being twisted to suit marketing... Gotta respect the classics XD

[@NickyNick944]

Still wondering if I should upgrade my kit lens for my mirrorless camera( Olympus E-PL6).

[@farishanafiah8461]

Shame that Sony couldn't fully utilize the 20MP for the sake of resolution popularity. I'd say "just f*** it". 20MP can give more room for personal cropping.

[@ssaini5028]

Samsung 200 MP ISOCELL GN5, thats great marketing right there😂

[@JeffBourke]

Blows my mind in 2023 the big guns still not getting a new inch sensor.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

KILLS me. The new stacked sensors are GREAT at soaking up light for faster HDR, but what I want is the LOOK of a larger sensor and shallower DoF.

[@Sidrat3367]

You can round 3 camera then why you can not.1 inch single camera original power

[@josephaquino3095]

Xperia has been a conversation starter, lately. So, does it mean, smartphone industry is still improving after LG exits?

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

LG left a BIG hole, but we're getting some interesting options to try and fill that hole.

[@josephaquino3095]

@@SomeGadgetGuy Hopefully, we will be done with false improvements - excessive pixel count, large but unoptimized batteries, and chasing performance benchmark numbers.

[@andregarcia9297]

What size of sensor those the LG velvet 5g has

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Half inch.

[@andregarcia9297]

@@SomeGadgetGuy ok thank you big man

[@MoChuang343]

Until very recently I thought 1" sensors were 1" diagonal. I thought micro four thirds was 4/3" or 1.33" diagonal bc well why wouldnt four thirds mean 4/3...And then since FF is 2x MFT I thought FF was 8/3" or 2.66" diagonal and being American I just assumed a 3:2 rectangle with a 2.66" diagonal has a 35mm long side like 35mm film and just called it a day. Turns out 35mm film is actually 36mmx24mm but for some ancient film roll reasons we call it 35mm and 36x24 has a diagonal of 42mm which is not 2.66"...lol camera math sucks...

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

It's funny. So many conflicting "standards" and old ways we USED to describe things that kinda dont make sense today, but we still use.

[@JyuzouNT]

Someone send this to MKBHD, lol. Jesum cripes.

[@Entamoeba]

How big is one inch sensor ? 1 inch probably👈👈 😭

[@danoliver8804]

I'd say one inch tbf

[@googlefriend7685]

Did you know, your TV was on?

[@smooth111012]

With the size of these phones ( Slabs ), there should be a 1” sensor by now . Plenty of room

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

There are. I'm using one.

[@carkawalakhatulistiwa]

Xiaomi with 0.89 inch sensor then sharp 1 inch sensor then now sony 1 inch sensor . like yes this year is very festive. will we see aps c sensor in smart phones in the next 10 years

[@s.i.jaasim9789]

Timely video lol... 😂

[@fabipuello]

As said by Phillip Bloom.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Oh no. My name is Juan. You must be lost.

[@kylorokx1552]

So, we are getting deceived!

[@arthurlee91]

I feel lied to!

[@NinPossible]

My life was a lie! 😭

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

It happened to all of us... There there... There there...

[@NinPossible]

@@SomeGadgetGuy thanks 😊

[@duytanvu4938]

Funny

[@smallworld707]

So lies....

[@mawash0309]

First not first who knows

[@GabrielGGabGattringer]

This sensor is smaller than a APS-C size sensor (which is: 25.1×16.7 mm). It is a marketing term to trick people who know nothing about photography at all or are too lazy to search up basics...

[@troy5568]

Since when did people consider that 1" sensors are better than APS-C sensors? No camera manufacturer ever does that, and it is the sole responsibility of the users to understand these technical information about the hardware before making their final purchase decisions. These companies are NOT to be blamed for the people's lack of information, as they can immediately know the difference between a 1" sensor and an APS-C sensor with just one search on the internet.

[@paulscottfilms]

I bet I am likea lot of long time camera users and am sick of the completely ambiguous and dishonest represemtation. >>SAMSUNG latest puff for the S22 borders on the fraudulent . .It actually states that the Camera [ not he sensor ] takes 108 Mpixel photos. and so this makes for superior Video.> Sweet Jesus. .You have to have a fine degree of filtering to read the garbage. here is the actuality Small pixels are inferior light collectors. And then the hype about Samsung Video. .Short bursts of 8k 24P with miniscule pixels video. . Process that stuff to export twice in Pemiere and it turns to garbage

[@optimixxx]

Small