Brand:
Olympus OM-5 Silver
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Digital cameras come in different image sensor sizes, the most common being Micro Four Thirds (M43) and APS-C. Since M43 and APS-C are crop-factor sensors, understanding how they relate to low-light performance and field of view can help you determine which one will suit your needs.
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The sensor is the essential part of a camera as it contains the photoreceptors that collect the light signal from the lens and change it to a digital signal to produce an image. Usually, the amount of light the sensor can collect depends on the overall surface area of the photoreceptors.
Typically, M43 and APS-C difference is all about the camera sensor size, not the construction quality or features of the camera.
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Brand:
Olympus OM-5 Silver
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Brand:
Panasonic LUMIX GH5
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Brand:
Panasonic LUMIX G9
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Special Features:
Interval Recording
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Special Features:
Brightness Control
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Special Features:
Interval Recording
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Effective Still Resolution:
21.77 MP
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Effective Still Resolution:
20.3 MP
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Effective Still Resolution:
21.77 MP
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4.5
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4.8
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4.7
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M43 is an abbreviation for micro-four-thirds, a camera sensor size used in micro-four-third camera systems released by Panasonic and Olympus in 2008. These cameras like the Olympus OM-5 Silver Micro Four Thirds use a sensor size equivalent to the frame size of 110 films, with the sensor measuring 17.3mm x 13mm.
Although these cameras use sensors equivalent to the four-thirds, they differ as the camera bodies don’t include a space for pentaprism and a mirror box. That means all M43 cameras are mirrorless, interchangeable-lens.
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Brand:
Sony Alpha 6700 – APS-C
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Brand:
Canon EOS 80D
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Brand:
Sony a5100
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Exposure Control Type:
Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
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Exposure Control Type:
Manual-and-automatic, Manual, Automatic
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Exposure Control Type:
Aperture Priority, Programmed AE, Shutter Priority, Automatic
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Maximum Webcam Resolution:
26 MP
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Maximum Webcam Resolution:
24.2 MP
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Maximum Webcam Resolution:
24.7 MP
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3.9
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4.5
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4.5
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APS-C is an abbreviation for Advanced Photo System type-C, commonly known as a crop-factor sensor. The APS-C sensor is generally smaller than the full-frame sensor and more significant than the Micro Four Thirds sensor and measures around 25.1mm x 16.7mm.
However, unlike the M43 sensors, the APS-C sensor size varies across brands, with some being smaller than others. For instance, APS-C sensors from brands such as Pentax, Nikon, and the Sony Alpha 6700 – APS-C measure around 23.6mm x 15.6mm, while the APS-C sensors from Canon measure 22.3mm x 14.9mm.
Keeping in mind that M43 and APS-C sensors are smaller than full-frame cameras, they share similarities in the amount of light they can collect and the resolution of images they can shoot. However, their size difference gives them some field of view, aspect ratio, and focal length differences.
Since both Micro Four Thirds and APS-C are sensors that employ the latest technology, such as enhanced ISO range and autofocus, they have similarities in their image quality, versatility, and performance in poor lighting.
Although both sensor sizes can be categorized as crop factors, their size differences make them have the following differences in viewfinder, lens compatibility, background blurring, and size.
A camera sensor is an electronic device with pixels on the surface. The pixels contain photoreceptors that help to collect the light signal from the lens and change it to a digital or electric signal.
As a result, the amount of light the sensor can collect is directly proportional to the number of pixels and the surface area of each pixel. Since the APS-C sensor is physically larger than its M43 counterpart, the surface area of collecting light is larger if the cameras have the same number of pixels.
Typically, this makes APS-C cameras capture brighter images than the Micro Four Thirds cameras under the same lighting conditions. However, this doesn’t mean APS-C cameras will capture overexposed images under good ambient lighting.
Lens focal length is the distance between the sensor of the camera and the lens. Usually, the focal length of a lens is measured based on the full-frame camera sensor size, which is equivalent to the traditional 35mm film.
Since the M43 and APS-C are smaller, the frame seems to be cropped, and the focal length seems to change. APS-C sensors have a crop factor of around 1.5x, and they seem to increase the focal length by 1.5 times.
On the other hand, Micro Four Third sensors have a crop factor of around 2.0x, and they seem to increase the focal length by 2 times. For instance, if you mount a wide-angle 35mm lens like this Sigma 35mm HSM lens to an APS-C and M43 camera, it will change to an effective 52.5mm normal lens on the APS-C and an effective 70mm telephoto lens on the M43.
The bokeh effect is the blurring of the background when applying selective focus techniques. That means you will have the subject in focus and the background out of focus. Although this effect mainly depends on the lens aperture, it also depends on the subject's distance.
Usually, you will get a more background blur when you move closer to the subject. Since the APS-C sensor is larger, it allows you to move closer to the subject to fill the frame with the same scene as when using the M43 sensor.
As a result, APS-C cameras achieve a better and more pleasing bokeh effect than their M43 counterparts, making them great for shooting close-ups.
The camera's viewfinder is generally a component that allows you to see the scene that the camera sensor is seeing. In most cases, you will use the viewfinder to ensure you get the right image composition.
A typical viewfinder can be optical, using a reflex mirror to bounce the image to the viewfinder and photographer's eye, or electronic, using the battery power to electronically reproduce the image from the sensor and display it on the viewfinder.
Since all M43 cameras are mirrorless, they don't have a reflex mirror and only use the electronic viewfinder. On the other hand, APS-C cameras can be mirrorless or DSLRs. That means you can get an APS-C camera with an optical viewfinder, while you can't get a Micro Four Thirds with an optical viewfinder.
The major distinguishing factor between M43 and APS-C cameras is the weight and size. Since the APS-C sensors are larger, the camera body tends to be heavier and physically larger than the M43 cameras.
The reflex mirror also takes some space and adds weight to the camera. Keeping in mind that most APS-C cameras are DSLRs and all M43s are mirrorless, M43 are much more compact and lightweight than APS-C cameras.
Since M43s are mirrorless cameras with smaller sensors, they are generally compact and lightweight, making them ideal for use in the following situations.
Keeping in mind that APS-C sensors are larger and can collect more light than M43s, APS-C cameras are the best to use under the following circumstances.
Generally, APS-C cameras are better than M43s as they can collect more light and shoot bright and crisp photos in poorly-lit interiors. The larger sensor is also ideal for taking wide-angle real estate exterior photos or interior shots in tight spaces.
With the above M43 vs APS-C guide, you will know which camera suits your lighting conditions and field of view. Micro Four Third cameras are more portable and offer a better telephoto perspective, while APS-C cameras are more versatile and can shoot both real estate interior and exterior photos.
