F3 Sensor size at DVinfo.net

Rainer Listing · January 21st, 2011, 03:46 PM

I'm sorry if I've missed this somewhere, but I can't seem to find it (here or on the net). Sony in their media states the F3 sensor size is "equivalent to Super 35" (and has 12 micron pixels). We know Super 35 is 24.89 X 18.66mm, but is this the sensor size of the F3, or is everybody just making assumptions? I'm suspecting the wording "equivalent" may be doublespeak and the actual sensor is smaller than Super 35 . Does anybody have the actual sensor specs? Dang - I can't edit the typo in the title.

Doug Jensen · January 21st, 2011, 04:16 PM

Don't worry, it's full size. Sony isn't playing the same games that some manufacturers play.
Watch this video at about 10:55 if you want the actual dimensions.

Brian Drysdale · January 21st, 2011, 05:40 PM

The difference being the 16:9 aspect ratio, so it's more a 3 perf pull down than a 4 perf equivalent.

Rainer Listing · January 21st, 2011, 06:12 PM

Thanks Doug, and for people who don't have time to watch the video, sensor size quoted is 23.6 X 13.3 mm. (giving you 16:9 at near enough super 35mm width, would crop down very nicely to 3 perf, the best of both worlds). I'm cool with that and understand why Sony seems to have been sitting on the specs - they can foresee the C sensor people saying "the sensor is smaller than ours" (further evidence that size isn't everything?).

Andy Shipsides · January 22nd, 2011, 09:58 AM

I added the F3 to my Field of View comparison tool.. So you can compare the F3 sensor to others at various focal lengths. AbelCineTech - Field of View Calculator

Alister Chapman · January 22nd, 2011, 02:20 PM

Great tool Andy!

Chuck Fishbein · January 30th, 2011, 04:02 PM

Very handy tool, indeed.
Thanks Andy!

January 21st, 2011, 03:46 PM	#1
Rainer Listing Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowra, Australia Posts: 440	F3 Sensor size I'm sorry if I've missed this somewhere, but I can't seem to find it (here or on the net). Sony in their media states the F3 sensor size is "equivalent to Super 35" (and has 12 micron pixels). We know Super 35 is 24.89 X 18.66mm, but is this the sensor size of the F3, or is everybody just making assumptions? I'm suspecting the wording "equivalent" may be doublespeak and the actual sensor is smaller than Super 35 . Does anybody have the actual sensor specs? Dang - I can't edit the typo in the title. Last edited by Rainer Listing; January 21st, 2011 at 03:48 PM. Reason: Typo in title

January 21st, 2011, 04:16 PM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Don't worry, it's full size. Sony isn't playing the same games that some manufacturers play. Watch this video at about 10:55 if you want the actual dimensions. Learning Lab: Sony?s PMW-F3 Super 35 Digital Camera on 1.19.11 on Vimeo __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

January 22nd, 2011, 09:58 AM	#5
Andy Shipsides Sponsor: Abel CineTech Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York, NY Posts: 361	I added the F3 to my Field of View comparison tool.. So you can compare the F3 sensor to others at various focal lengths. AbelCineTech - Field of View Calculator __________________ Andy Shipsides -Camera Technology Specialist AbelCineTech, New York - Visit our Blog - http://blog.abelcine.com

January 22nd, 2011, 02:20 PM	#6
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Great tool Andy! __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

January 21st, 2011, 05:40 PM	#3
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	The difference being the 16:9 aspect ratio, so it's more a 3 perf pull down than a 4 perf equivalent.

January 21st, 2011, 06:12 PM	#4
Rainer Listing Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowra, Australia Posts: 440	Thanks Doug, and for people who don't have time to watch the video, sensor size quoted is 23.6 X 13.3 mm. (giving you 16:9 at near enough super 35mm width, would crop down very nicely to 3 perf, the best of both worlds). I'm cool with that and understand why Sony seems to have been sitting on the specs - they can foresee the C sensor people saying "the sensor is smaller than ours" (further evidence that size isn't everything?).

January 30th, 2011, 04:02 PM	#7
Chuck Fishbein Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Weehawken New Jersey Posts: 210	Very handy tool, indeed. Thanks Andy!