Image sensor size - 1/1.8” vs 1/2.8"

[CrazyAsYou]

Would I be right in thinking that a senor 1/1.8” is about double the size of a 1/2.8" making a camera with a 1/1.8” 4Megapixel senor about the same as a 1/2.8" 2Megapixel when it comes to light sensitivity?

 

[Justin Blackburn]

I have a HDW5231R-ZE which is a 2MP with a 1/2.8” sensor size. I also have a HDW5442R-ZE which is a 4MP with a 1/1.8” sensor. The 5442 is a newer model but both day and night look better than the 5231.

1/1.8=.5555”
1/2.8=3571”

Not quite double in size.

 

[bug99]

remember the image sensor pixels is x*y, so it is the square of that, so more like 2.25 x

edit: 38.2/18.63 = 2.05 x larger area

 

[tigerwillow1]

The sensor sizes are not to be taken literally. They are approximations after an adjustment is made to normalize them to old-tech video camera tubes. Comparing two advertised values might give a good approximate comparison to each other, but to get exact sizes you have to find out what make/model sensor a camera uses and go to its manufacturer data sheet. Not being a political or social issue, I tend to trust the wikipedia info or this. A key statement is:

The optical format is approximately the diagonal length of the sensor multiplied by 3/2. The result is expressed in inches and is usually (but not always) rounded to a convenient fraction.

Optical format - Wikipedia
Image sensor format - Wikipedia

 

[Mike A.]

And it's not only a matter of size. The sensitivity of later sensors will be improved. Along with the supporting image processing hardware beyond the sensor itself.

 

[Teken]

I don't know why this is even a question?!?! Every man knows a woman wants the biggest in everything! Big rock, big engine, big boobs, big dick, big wedding!

Big camera sensor - You betchaaaaa