Sensor Size at DVinfo.net

Don Miller · November 27th, 2006, 05:58 PM

The sensor size is listed as 1/2.7". How do I read this spec? I don't see how to get 16:9 out of that number.

Chris Hurd · November 27th, 2006, 06:30 PM

The sensor size has no relevance to the shape of the target area matrix. The sensor could be oblong, trapezoidal, rhomboid, egg-shaped, star-shaped; it doesn't matter. All that counts is that there's a target area within the sensor that is 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall, and that the High Definition video target area within the sensor is 16:9 in shape. Which it is. At 1/2.7" in size, it's a fairly large image sensor compared to other camcorders in the same price range. Hope this helps,

Don Miller · November 27th, 2006, 06:37 PM

I must be dense, but I still don't get 1/2.7". Does that mean one sensor with a 2.7" diagonal?

The XL H1 is spec'd as 3- 1/3"

Ron Evans · November 27th, 2006, 08:04 PM

Don its one sensor where the diagonal across is 1 divided by 2.7 inches= .37044 inches. A 1/3" sensor is .3333 inches. So the sensor on the HV10 is just a bit bigger than a 1/3 sensor. Its just the crazy way that the marketing guys have mixed up decimals with fractions ( obviously have no idea of mathematics !!!! or new it would confuse a large number of people.)

Ron Evans

Don Miller · November 27th, 2006, 09:23 PM

Thanks Ron.

Interesting that the LCD is 2.7" and the viewfinder is spec'd at .27"

Chris Hurd · November 28th, 2006, 12:19 AM

Expressing sensor size as a mixed fraction such as "1/2.7" is a crime in my opinion.

See some notes on this topic at http://www.dvinfo.net/canonoptura/ar...eage.php#opccd -- I wrote it for the Canon Optura line but it applies to the HV10 as well, more or less.

Etan Shirron · December 7th, 2006, 08:52 AM

It's a little bit confusing, so I've got this explanation from DPREVIEW:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glos...r_Sizes_01.htm

Hope this helps...

Holly Rognan · January 14th, 2007, 12:32 AM

It can be very confusing to understand a decimal in a fraction. It can screw with your mind.

Michael Maier · June 30th, 2007, 04:00 PM

But for depth of field, is it for all effects, basically the same as a 1/3" as it's closer to 1/3" than to 1/2"?

November 27th, 2006, 05:58 PM	#1
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	Sensor Size The sensor size is listed as 1/2.7". How do I read this spec? I don't see how to get 16:9 out of that number.

November 27th, 2006, 06:30 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	The sensor size has no relevance to the shape of the target area matrix. The sensor could be oblong, trapezoidal, rhomboid, egg-shaped, star-shaped; it doesn't matter. All that counts is that there's a target area within the sensor that is 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall, and that the High Definition video target area within the sensor is 16:9 in shape. Which it is. At 1/2.7" in size, it's a fairly large image sensor compared to other camcorders in the same price range. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

November 28th, 2006, 12:19 AM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Expressing sensor size as a mixed fraction such as "1/2.7" is a crime in my opinion. See some notes on this topic at http://www.dvinfo.net/canonoptura/ar...eage.php#opccd -- I wrote it for the Canon Optura line but it applies to the HV10 as well, more or less. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 7th, 2006, 08:52 AM	#7
Etan Shirron Tourist Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tel Aviv, Israel Posts: 4	Check this link: It's a little bit confusing, so I've got this explanation from DPREVIEW: http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glos...r_Sizes_01.htm Hope this helps...

November 27th, 2006, 06:37 PM	#3
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	I must be dense, but I still don't get 1/2.7". Does that mean one sensor with a 2.7" diagonal? The XL H1 is spec'd as 3- 1/3"

November 27th, 2006, 08:04 PM	#4
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Don its one sensor where the diagonal across is 1 divided by 2.7 inches= .37044 inches. A 1/3" sensor is .3333 inches. So the sensor on the HV10 is just a bit bigger than a 1/3 sensor. Its just the crazy way that the marketing guys have mixed up decimals with fractions ( obviously have no idea of mathematics !!!! or new it would confuse a large number of people.) Ron Evans

November 27th, 2006, 09:23 PM	#5
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	Thanks Ron. Interesting that the LCD is 2.7" and the viewfinder is spec'd at .27"

January 14th, 2007, 12:32 AM	#8
Holly Rognan Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Coalville America Posts: 244	It can be very confusing to understand a decimal in a fraction. It can screw with your mind.

June 30th, 2007, 04:00 PM	#9
Michael Maier Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,269	But for depth of field, is it for all effects, basically the same as a 1/3" as it's closer to 1/3" than to 1/2"?