Is the M8 an APS-size sensor camera?

[wparsonsgisnet]

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I noted that the dimensions of the sensor for the M8 are 18 x 24 mm; the 2/3's of 24x36 that gives rise to the 1.33 factor for lens size conversion.

 

I looked at the definition for APS on dpreview.com and see that APS film is 25.1 x 16.7 and Sony, Nikon, and Canon have various sensors in this class. The area of the sensors in question, including the M8, vary around the 419 sq. mm. of APS film, with the M8 coming closest at 432 sq. mm.

 

Is there a precise definition of APS (other than the size of the film image) or are all of the cameras in the size class APS-style cameras, including the M8?

 

Thanks in advance for any clarification.

[adan]

M8 sensor is 27mm x 18mm ((3x2)*9) - actually 3/4rds of 24 x 36.

 

75mm x 1.333 = 100mm.....100mm x .75 (3/4s) = 75mm

 

Actually, there is NO commonly used sensor the exact size of an APS image - since APS full-frame is a slightly panoramic format and most (MOST!) sensors are still 3:2 in proportions.

 

But as a 'smaller' format "APS" became used as short-hand for mathematically il-numerate photographers who couldn't figure out what a crop factor was or how big 24 x 16mm was

 

- "Ohhhh. Ya mean it's the size of that-thur itty-bitty film!"

 

So - no, the M8 and the canon 1D (crop 1.3x) and the Leica DMR are in-between "APS" and full-frame-sensors in size.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Thanks, Andy. I see that it's an itty-bitty bit bigger; like Mr. Bigger's son, it's a little bigger.

 

I haven't finished filling the piggy bank, yet, so it's irrational to be itching to get the camera, but I am surely getting ready for the big day, in early ... late October ... early ... late November. Well, at least I'll have the piggy bank full.

[adan]

Me too - the itty-bitty bank account is growing.

[robsteve]

Bill:

 

I think is is actuall considered an APS-H size sensor. The Canon 1d and the DMR are also this size. Here is a great site that shows the different sizes. If you scroll down the page a bit it has a picture showing the different sensor sizes superimposed on a full frame size.

 

Enjoy! Digital SLR camera

 

Click the link above

[ho_co]

Advanced Photo System was developed by Kodak and other vendors. The cameras always took the same size picture on the film, but coded it in a way that told the photofinisher how to give it a different look. The negative is about 30 x 16 mm.

 

APS-C ("Classic") is normally printed ca 4x6 inches, a 6.5x enlargement from a portion of the negative about 23.4 x 15.7 mm.

 

APS-H ("HDTV" or "Group") is normally printed ca 4x7 inches, a 6.5x enlargement from a greater width of the negative.

 

APS-P ("Panoramic") is normally printed ca 4x11.5 inches, a 10.6x enlargement from the full width of the negative but less than full height.

 

Thus:

 

Sensors that claim to be APS-C are in general close to Kodak's APS-C definition.

 

Canon refers to the sensor of its 1D as APS-H, but neither its size (28.7x19.1 mm) nor its aspect ratio is close to the original meaning of APS-H, which has a 7:4 aspect ratio.

 

As Andy said above, you sometimes see all sensor sizes smaller than full-frame referred to as APS, but except for the actual APS-C size sensors, in my opinion this is missing the point that sensors come in many sizes.

 

Again in my opiniion, to say the M8 has an XXX-type (e.g. APS-C, APS-H, DX, etc) sensor is lazy in my opinion. Its sensor was developed by Kodak specifically for the short back focus of the M series, and putting the sensor in any category other than sui generis misses the mark.

 

By the way, if anyone has an idea why Canon refers to their 1D sensor as APS-H, I would love to know!

 

Questions regarding sensor size nomenclature are common. There was for example a thread on the old forum which included a useful graphic by Chuck Andrasko posted Mo Feb 21, 2005 at 0126. I know the old forum is accessible but can't figure out how to find this thread. Here is his graphic, a bit dated but still helpful:

 

--HC

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