The supplied dimensions imply square 6.000 µm pixels. Physical pitch describes sampling spacing, not the light-sensitive fill area.
This comparison keeps the entered pixel resolution and changes only the physical sensor dimensions. Preset dimensions are reference values and individual sensors can differ.
| Sensor format | Dimensions | Horizontal pitch | Vertical pitch | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enter valid values to compare sensor sizes. | ||||
The calculator treats the entered width, height, and resolution as the same rectangular active imaging area. It calculates geometric sampling pitch; it does not estimate the photosensitive fill factor or microlens aperture.
The EMVA Standard 1288 distinguishes an image sensor's active area and geometrical pixel area in camera characterization. The PPI conversion uses the exact international-inch definition of 25.4 mm documented by NIST.
Results use the full entered pixel matrix, including partial megapixels. Sensor type names and nominal optical formats are not calculation inputs; only the numeric active dimensions are used.
Pixel pitch describes how far apart neighbouring sampling sites are. Marketing specifications often call this “pixel size,” but the actual light-sensitive region can occupy less than the full geometric cell. Backside illumination, microlenses, wiring, colour filters, and pixel architecture all affect how efficiently that area is used.
At a fixed sensor size, more pixels reduce pitch and raise spatial sampling density. That can preserve finer image detail when the lens, focus, exposure, and processing support it. It does not by itself predict dynamic range, noise, colour accuracy, diffraction response, or final image quality.
The sensor PPI result expresses how many sampling columns fit in one physical inch of sensor width. A file's print or display PPI is chosen later from its pixel dimensions and output size. Changing output metadata does not alter the camera sensor's physical pitch.
Published sensor dimensions may be rounded, while a camera's recorded image can use a cropped region or omit masked and calibration pixels. Video modes can also read only part of the sensor or resample it. For the most precise result, pair the active imaging dimensions with the active pixel matrix for the same operating mode.
This is a geometric specification calculator. It assumes a rectangular grid and does not model colour-filter layout, pixel binning, line skipping, oversampling, rolling shutter, quantum efficiency, full-well capacity, read noise, diffraction, lens MTF, or image processing. If X and Y pitch differ, both values are shown rather than silently assuming square pixels.
Divide the active sensor width in millimetres by the horizontal pixel count and multiply by 1000 to get horizontal pitch in micrometres. Repeat with sensor height and vertical pixels for vertical pitch.
Specifications often use the terms interchangeably, but pitch strictly means the centre-to-centre spacing of adjacent pixels. The light-sensitive area can be smaller because of pixel structure and circuitry.
No. Smaller pitch increases sampling density, but image quality also depends on sensor technology, fill factor, optics, diffraction, noise, exposure, processing, and output size.
A difference usually means the sensor dimensions and resolution do not describe the same active image area, values were rounded, or the sensor uses non-square sampling. Check the manufacturer's active-area and active-pixel specifications.
There is no universal best pitch. Larger pixels can offer more collection area per pixel, while smaller pixels sample more finely. The useful balance depends on sensor design, lens performance, light level, output requirements, and imaging task.
The calculation is dimensionally the same, but sensor PPI describes sampling sites per physical inch on the sensor. It does not determine the size or density at which an image is displayed or printed.
No. Inputs and calculations stay in your browser and are not sent to a server.
