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Sensor sizes and conversion of focal length and aperture

Below is an overview of how different focal lengths and aperture values compare between fullframe, APS-C (both general and Canon-specific), micro 4/3 and medium format. These tables will help you quickly see which lens on your camera gives a similar angle of view or depth of field as on a full-frame camera.

The first table shows the conversion factors for each sensor format. The second and third tables respectively show the converted focal lengths and aperture values based on a fullframe reference.

The differences arise from the difference in sensor size:

Sensor size
Fullframe36 mm by 24 mm
APS-C23.6 mm by 15.8 mm
Micro 4/317.3 mm by 13 mm
Medium format43.8 mm x 32.9 mm

If we assume fullframe, calculate the other focal lengths as follows:

SensorConversion factor to fullframeExample
Fullframe135mm fullframe
APS-C1,523mm APS-C is 35mm fullframe
Micro 4/3217mm Micro 4/3 is 35mm fullframe
Medium format0,7945mm medium format is 36mm fullframe

Focal length conversion table to fullframe in mm

In the table below, I have assumed the Fujifilm X (APS-C) and GFX (medium format) focal lengths (existing lenses) and the OM System (micro 4/3) focal lengths (existing lenses).

FullframeAPS-CMicro 4/3Medium format
128
147
1510
16820
18923
2114
2315
24161230
2532
2718
281435
352317
361845
40272050
4355
4530
50332563
5164
5335
5570
6380
6845
7550
79100
8040
8355
845642
87110
906045
95120
10570
1208060
13590
15075
158200
18012090
200135100250
210140
225150
300200150
345230
395500
450300
600400300
750500
800400
900600
1.200600

Conversion table aperture number (f-number) to fullframe

Each step to a higher number (e.g. from f/2.0 to f/2.8) means the lens lets in half as much light. Conversely (from f/8 to f/5.6) means twice as much light.

The ratio between them is based on powers of √2 (about 1.41), because the aperture area increases or decreases in area per doubling/halving of light incidence.

In the table below, the full stops are shown in bold.

Note that an aperture of f/2.8 always remains an aperture of 2.8, no matter what system you use. The aperture value itself does not change when you use a lens on a crop camera, but the effects of that aperture - particularly the depth of field and background blur (bokeh) - do change. That's where the aperture conversion factor comes in.

FullframeAPS-CMicro 4/3Medium format
0.81.0
0.91.2
1.0
1.11.4
1.2
1.41.8
1.51.0
1.62.0
1.81.2
2.01.02.5
2.11.4
2.22.8
2.41.2
2.53.2
2.71.8
2.81.4
3.02.0
3.24.0
3.5
3.61.84.5
3.82.5
4.02.05.0
4.22.8
4.45.6
4.5
4.83.2
5.02.5
5.16.4
5.62.871
6.04.0
6.38.0
6.43.2
6.84.5
7.19.0
7.55.0
8.04.0
8.45.6
8.711.0
9.04.5
9.66.4
10.05.0
10.77.1
11.0
11.25.6
12.08.0
12.616.0
12.86.4
13.0
13.59.0
14.0
14.27.1
16.08.0
16.511.0
17.422.0
18.09.0
22.011.0
24.016.0
25.332.0
32.016.0
33.022.0
44.022.0
48.032.0
64.032.0

All numbers on this page approximate.