How can I estimate my webcam’s focal length and sensor size from its specs?
Asked 4/9/2015
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I have a QHM495LM webcam and need to determine its focal length and sensor size from the published specifications. The spec sheet lists:
- angle of view: 58°
- lens: f=6.0, F=2.0
- focus range: 4cm to infinity
- hardware resolution: 500K pixels
- image sensor: CMOS
The webcam body is also marked "f=3.85mm". I’m confused about whether "f=6.0" refers to focal length, zoom range, or something else, and whether the sensor size can be inferred from the angle of view and lens information. Is there a reasonable way to estimate the focal length and sensor size from these specs?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—only approximately.
For lens notation, lowercase f usually means focal length, while uppercase F usually means f-number (aperture). So “Lens: f=6.0 F=2.0” most likely means a 6mm focal length lens with f/2.0 aperture, not a zoom range. A typical webcam is fixed-focus/fixed-focal-length, so the printed 3.85mm and the spec 6.0mm are inconsistent; without manufacturer confirmation, you can’t be certain which is correct.
You can estimate sensor size from the 58° angle of view and focal length. If that 58° is the diagonal angle of view, it corresponds to about a 39mm full-frame equivalent focal length. If the actual focal length is 6mm, the crop factor is about 39/6 ≈ 6.5, giving an estimated sensor size around 5.5 × 3.7 mm for a 3:2 sensor.
So:
- Most likely focal length: about 6mm
- Aperture: f/2.0
- Estimated sensor size: roughly 5.5 × 3.7 mm
This is only an estimate because the specs appear inconsistent and the sensor aspect ratio may not be 3:2.
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