Super 35 vs full frame

Updated 21 Oct 2026

Super 35 sensors are roughly 24–30 mm wide, close to the 35 mm motion-picture frame. Full frame matches the 36 × 24 mm stills frame, and large format (ALEXA LF, VENICE) goes a little wider. On the same lens, a full-frame camera gives a wider view; to match the framing you use a longer lens, which gives shallower depth of field at the same stop.

Crop factor here is the full-frame diagonal (43.3 mm) divided by the sensor diagonal. Multiply a lens's focal length by it to get the full-frame equivalent field of view. Super 35 sits around 1.4–1.6×. Format is classed by width: up to 30.5 mm is Super 35, 34 mm or wider is full frame / large format.

Lens coverage matters: many cinema primes are designed for Super 35 and will vignette on full frame. See the lens mount and sensor size guides.

Figures are as listed on each item's GEARMATH page, which records manufacturer specifications. Check the manufacturer before you rely on a number.

Questions about this? Ask in the Gearmath Filmmaker Group on WhatsApp.