1. Forum
  2. Photography and Camera Forum
  3. Taking the Photo | Editing | The art of Photography!
  4. Beginner Photography Forum
  5. Relationship between sensor size and noise

Relationship between sensor size and noise


3 years 8 months ago #692014 by Adam Cuffin
Why is it, that full frame sensors at higher ISO have less noise than APS-C sensors at the same ISO?
Photo Comments
,
3 years 8 months ago #692015 by Adam Cuffin
OR am I misunderstanding this?  
Photo Comments
,
3 years 8 months ago #692017 by Nikon Shooter
No association possible there, Adam.

The sensor size will define its sensible area and the sensels count
its resolution. The noise is generated the same way than film was…
by underexposure.

True is that larger sensors with less resolution means greater DR
given the larger surface of each sensels and the consequent capa-
ability to catch more photons.

In the case of noise, if a scene was underexposed, one will try to
recover the low lights; doing so, the app will attempt to generate
information where there was none. This will generate the noise.

The same applies to all sensor sizes but with different expressions.
Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
,
3 years 8 months ago #692119 by nomad
noise is indirectly related to sensor size so crop sensors having more noise than full frame sensors is likely, but this won't always be true.  a sensor will have more noise if it has more photosites per area.  fewer photosites/megapixels per area means less noise.

so if a crop sensor and a full frame sensor are both 26mp sensors the crop sensor will have more noise than the full frame sensor.  full frame sensors usually have a lower photosite:area ratio than crop sensors so this is why they have less noise.  you may not notice a difference at iso 100-1200, but at 1600 or 3200 you'll see a difference.

the sony a7r4 (60mp) is a good example where a full frame camera has more noise than a lot of crop sensor cameras.
,
3 years 8 months ago #693575 by fmw
It isn't sensor size that matters as Nikon Shooter explains.  It is the size of the pixels themselves that affect the amount of noise that is involved.   Larger pixels capture more light individually and are a boon to low light photography.  Larger sensors often incorporate larger pixels and that would help you explain what you heard or read.
Photo Comments
,
3 years 8 months ago #693591 by Shadowfixer1
The sensor size is generally the deciding factor on noise, but not always. Here is an interesting set of comparisons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQH-LVZwahk&feature=emb_logo
www.betterphoto.com/?ramshots
Photo Comments
,
3 years 7 months ago #695403 by AntonFernando
When you amplify the ISO, the electronics in the pixel gets heated up and this heat which causes this type of noise. When the pixel is bigger and has more space between pixels (pixel pitch) then the noise/heat which is captured by the light diode is less. That's why in general the bigger the sensor its less noise. But, its not true, its the pixel size and the pixel pitch which matters. :-) 
,
3 years 7 months ago #695460 by Naheed
As full-frame cameras have higher pixels, they get more light and give a higher SNR. That suggests there will be less noise at all ISO values on full-frame cameras than APS-C cameras.
,
3 years 7 months ago #695818 by fmw

Naheed wrote: As full-frame cameras have higher pixels, they get more light and give a higher SNR. That suggests there will be less noise at all ISO values on full-frame cameras than APS-C cameras.


It is the size of pixels that affects the amount of noise the camera will generate at a given ISO, not the quantity of them.  The number of pixels affects resolution.  Higher resolution cameras of the same format and sensor qulaity will generally generate more noise than lower resolution cameras.
Photo Comments
,
3 years 7 months ago #695830 by Nikon Shooter

Naheed wrote: As full-frame cameras have higher pixels, they get more light and give a higher SNR. That suggests there will be less noise at all ISO values on full-frame cameras than APS-C cameras.


May I suggest that the statement might need
more digging in the matter?
Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
,

  1. Forum
  2. Photography and Camera Forum
  3. Taking the Photo | Editing | The art of Photography!
  4. Beginner Photography Forum
  5. Relationship between sensor size and noise

817.3K

241K

  • Facebook

    817,251 / Likes

  • Twitter

    241,000 / Followers

  • Google+

    1,620,816 / Followers

Show Me...

Visit 4wdtlak Forum
Saal

Latest Reviews

Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
Canon EOS R50 Review

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the newest R-system cameras from Canon. Is it worth your money? Find out all the details you need to know in this comprehensive review.

Apr 10, 2024
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Review

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is Sony’s flagship mirrorless zoom lens. As such, it’s loaded with features and has a top-shelf build quality that makes it a top pick!

Mar 27, 2024
Leica SL2-S Review

The Leica SL2-S is an attractive, premium mirrorless camera with photo and video specs that are sure to impress. And with the legendary Leica name, you know this camera exudes quality!

Mar 26, 2024
More Articles
Get 600+ Pro photo lessons for $1

Forum Top Posters

Sponsored Imageimages/stories/vendors/nikon.pngSponsored Imageimages/stories/vendors/sony.png
Sponsored ImageSponsored Image

Latest Articles

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a micro four thirds camera released in 2020. It’s an entry-level system along with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Use this guide to determine which one is best for you!

Apr 17, 2024
What is Blue Hour Photography?

Blue hour photography might not be as well known as golden hour photography, but it is every bit as good a time to create epic images of landscapes. Learn how in this quick tutorial!

Apr 17, 2024
Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
5 Dog Photography Tips for Stunning Results

Moving from taking snapshots of your dog to creating beautiful images doesn’t have to be that difficult! Use the tips outlined in this dog photography guide, and you’ll get better results in no time.

Apr 15, 2024
FAQs About Acrylic Print Photos

Acrylic print photos are a beautiful way to display your favorite images. But they don’t come without some questions. Get all the answers you need about this medium in this guide!

Apr 15, 2024
Get All the Landscape Photography Inspiration You Need With These Simple Tips

Where do you get your landscape photography inspiration? Is it from masters like Ansel Adams? Or perhaps viewing art from other genres? We’ve got these and a few other sources for you to check out!

Apr 10, 2024
Canon EOS R50 Review

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the newest R-system cameras from Canon. Is it worth your money? Find out all the details you need to know in this comprehensive review.

Apr 10, 2024
Myth Busted: High-Quality Affordable Online Printing DOES Exist!

Too often, affordable online printing companies don’t meet your expectations of what a print should look like. But there are some choices that combine affordability with superb quality!

Apr 09, 2024
More Articles