Do 1/2.3-inch camera sensors improve much from year to year?
Asked 2/18/2014
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I know larger sensors generally produce higher image quality, but within the same sensor size, how much does image quality improve over time? For example, if two cameras both use a 1/2.3-inch sensor, would a newer model from 1–3 years later usually produce noticeably better images? Also, does increasing megapixels on a 1/2.3-inch sensor make a meaningful difference, or are the gains limited by the small sensor size?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
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It depends on what aspect of the sensor you are looking at. In terms of obtaining shallow depths of field and rich background blurs, this is a physical limitation rather than a technical limitation and will remain an advantage for larger sensors indefinitely. Similarly, the aperture at which diffraction limiting is reached is better on a larger sensor for a given resolution.
For technical characteristics such as noise level and low light performance however, this does eventually change. As sensors are produced with lower noise floors, the sensitivity of a smaller sensor can grow to overcome the smaller photosites required on a smaller sensor of the same resolution. Additionally, as photosites are able to be made smaller, higher resolution can be accomplished on a smaller sensor than previously would have been possible.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
12y ago
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Yes, but usually only in certain areas. With the same 1/2.3-inch sensor size, year-to-year image-quality gains are typically incremental rather than dramatic.
What can improve over time:
- Lower noise and somewhat better low-light performance from improved sensor design
- Better image processing, especially in JPEG output
- Higher resolution as photosites get smaller
What does not change much:
- Small sensors still have physical limits compared with larger sensors
- They will continue to have less ability to produce shallow depth of field / strong background blur
- Diffraction and tiny photosites limit how much extra megapixels help
So a newer 1/2.3-inch camera may look a bit cleaner or sharper, but it usually will not transform image quality the way moving to a larger sensor would.
Megapixel increases on a small sensor can help if you need more detail, but the benefit is limited and can be offset by noise, diffraction, and processing. Also, many compact cameras rely heavily on in-camera JPEG processing; if a camera shoots RAW, newer software can sometimes improve older files too.
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