Help with Megipixels, Sensor size, Low light, Image quality

C

Camera Fun

Senior Member
Help my brain understand the following based on what I've read:

Megapixels and low light:
If two sensors are otherwise equal in technology but one is 16mp and on is 24mp, then is the 16mp going to be better in low light because the pixels are larger?

Megapixels and sensor size:
If a DX sensor and an FX sensor have the same mp, are the pixels the same size or are the pixels larger on the FX sensor due to its larger area?
If the pixels are larger, does that make the FX sensor better in low light or is it the larger area of the sensor?
Which also leads to the question of which sensor would technically have the better image quality?

Thanks.
 
B

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
There are many other variables that enter into the discussion, like:

Sensor build quality
Age of sensor. The newly designed sensor is likely to be better than an older one.
Does the sensor have an optical low-pass filter (OLPF)

and many many more factors as well all make this question all but impossible to answer.
 
Eduard

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
Thom Hogan has a pretty good discussion regarding sensor size in this link. It is a good place to start.

If you are visual, here are a couple linked images that may also assist your understanding.

Sensor-sizes_PhotoSeek.jpg


sensor1-Fujifilm-GFX-50S.png


img
 
O

Osantacruz

Senior Member
Camera Fun said:
Help my brain understand the following based on what I've read:

Megapixels and low light:
If two sensors are otherwise equal in technology but one is 16mp and on is 24mp, then is the 16mp going to be better in low light because the pixels are larger?

Megapixels and sensor size:
If a DX sensor and an FX sensor have the same mp, are the pixels the same size or are the pixels larger on the FX sensor due to its larger area?
If the pixels are larger, does that make the FX sensor better in low light or is it the larger area of the sensor?
Which also leads to the question of which sensor would technically have the better image quality?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I've never noticed a difference with lower MP being better in low light but technically it's supposed to be because the pixels aren't as densely packed. DX is more densely packed when equal MP to an FX which is what is supposed to make it be not as good in low light but honestly it's so subtle most of the time I wouldn't worry about it. Whenever I use a DX and FX at the same event, I'll never notice one being clearly FX and the other clearly DX. Get FX if you want the full width of your wider lenses or DX if you zoom a lot. Having FX won't save your shot if the light is too low.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Camera Fun said:
Megapixels and low light:
If two sensors are otherwise equal in technology but one is 16mp and on is 24mp, then is the 16mp going to be better in low light because the pixels are larger?
Click to expand...
Yes. Think of buckets of two different widths sitting out in an open field while it's raining. The bucket with the wider mouth is going to catch more rain in the same amount of time as compared to the bucket with the smaller mouth, isn't it? Okay, so in that analogy the buckets are pixels and the rain is light: So, again... The bigger bucket (pixel) will catch more rain (light) in the same amount of time, all other things being equal.

Camera Fun said:
Megapixels and sensor size:
If a DX sensor and an FX sensor have the same mp, are the pixels the same size or are the pixels larger on the FX sensor due to its larger area?
Click to expand...
Yes. As you've asked the question, the pixels on the FX sensor will be larger.

Camera Fun said:
If the pixels are larger, does that make the FX sensor better in low light or is it the larger area of the sensor?
Click to expand...
That's difficult to answer the way you've phrased the question.

Camera Fun said:
Which also leads to the question of which sensor would technically have the better image quality?
Click to expand...
You'd have to define "image quality".

...
 
C

Camera Fun

Senior Member
I realize there can be a lot of variables but I'm just trying to get a better grasp of some concepts when reading about different cameras. My thought was trying to look at a scenario where all things/features could be equal except for megapixels and/or sensor size. My brain is a lower megapixel model when compared with other brains so any information/understanding can be helpful. :)
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Camera Fun said:
I realize there can be a lot of variables but I'm just trying to get a better grasp of some concepts when reading about different cameras. My thought was trying to look at a scenario where all things/features could be equal except for megapixels and/or sensor size. My brain is a lower megapixel model when compared with other brains so any information/understanding can be helpful. :)
Click to expand...
I think a good resource for you would be Cambridge in Colour.
 
S

Samo

Senior Member
As if that is not enough then there are CCD sensors, Super CCD sensors, CMOS sensors, Nikon sensors, Sony sensors, Toshiba sensors, Kodak sensors, Phase one backs, Sinar backs, and even USS Enterprise sensors. It all boils down to not all sensors are equal. :)

Please google "Why keep a D7K around" and have a look at the first line item before you get heavily involved in this stuff you do not understand.
 
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