With regard to Camera Drones, 4K, 60fps, and 48MP are features that usually attract attention. But just because one drone records videos in 4K does not mean that its images will be superior. Two drones that use 4K technology may have totally different outcomes in terms of noise, shadow details, highlights, and night vision.
This is mainly due to sensor sizes. The camera’s sensor is responsible for receiving all the light and creating the image from it. Therefore, bigger sensors have greater potential for collecting light, but on a drone, sensor size also plays an important role in other aspects.
1. What do you need to know about sensor size?
How is an Image Formed by a Camera Sensor?
Camera Drone Imaging in layman’s terms:
Lens ➔ Aperture ➔ Sensor ➔ Image Processor ➔ Picture / Video
The light passes through the lens and aperture before it reaches the sensor to be captured. The light is captured at millions of photosites where the light energy changes into electrical energy.
The sensor size is the size of the light-sensitive part. This is different from the megapixels of the image.
How Large Are Common Drone Camera Sensors?
Camera Drones use several sensor formats depending on their size, price, and intended purpose.
| Sensor Format | Approx. Dimensions | Approx. Area |
| 1/2.3-inch | 6.17 × 4.55 mm | 28 mm² |
| 1/1.3-inch | 9.6 × 7.2 mm | 69 mm² |
| 1-inch | 13.2 × 8.8 mm | 116 mm² |
| Four Thirds | 17.3 × 13.0 mm | 225 mm² |
A 1-inch sensor will have about four times more surface area than a 1/2.3-inch sensor, and a Four Thirds sensor will be almost twice as large as a 1-inch sensor.
The names can be confusing. “One-inch sensor” does not literally mean that the sensor is an inch in size. It is just following a naming convention used historically.
Sensor Size Is Not the Same as Megapixels
The most frequent error in this regard is the presumption that higher numbers of megapixels guarantee a higher quality picture.
A small sensor with 48 megapixels does not have to be better than a larger sensor with 20 megapixels. Quality of the final picture is determined by:
Sensor Size + Pixels + Lens + Image Processor + Processing Software
Megapixels indicate how many pixels will form the image; sensor size shows the physical surface used to gather light.
2. Why Does Sensor Size Affect Image Quality in Camera Drones?
Larger Sensors Can Capture More Light
Given the same exposure conditions, having a bigger sensor will increase the overall area that is sensitive to light.
This concept can be expressed as:
More Light = Greater Signal = Improved Signal/Noise Ratio = Clean Picture
This effect may not be as noticeable in daylight but becomes increasingly significant when it comes to sunset, night flights, overcast skies, or subjects with shadows.
Sensor Size Matters in Low Light
In low-light conditions, an increase in ISO may be required by the camera to create an exposure that is usable.
For instance:
ISO 100 je manje od ISO 800 koje je manje od ISO 32.
The higher the ISO level, the stronger the amplification of the signal; however, there is also more noise.
When evaluating the low-light performance of Camera Drones, consider:
• Luminance and color noise
• Shadow detail
• Fine texture
• Highlight control
• Noise-reduction artifacts
A larger sensor generally provides more flexibility in difficult lighting, although aperture, pixel design, and image processing also matter.
Sensor Size Can Improve Dynamic Range
Scenes with bright skies and dark landscapes are quite common for drone cameras.
Dynamic range refers to the capability of the camera to record information from both of these bright and dark zones and is usually specified in stops. As for exposure, one stop equals about a 2× difference in the amount of light.
Improved dynamic range will allow you to keep clouds in detail but not make the land appear like a dark silhouette.
Moreover, an HDR technique will be helpful to achieve a better result using several exposures, sensor readouts, or tone mapping. Yet, computational HDR cannot substitute for good image data from the sensor at all.
3. What Sensor Size Should You Choose for Camera Drones?
What Sensor Size Should You Choose for Camera Drones?
The proper size of a sensor for Camera Drones is highly dependent on the type of imagery being acquired, the environment that the drone flies in, and the amount of image quality required. Although a bigger sensor will gather more light, it may need to be housed in a larger camera body and require a more advanced stabilizer and drone.
Match Sensor Size to Your Shooting Needs
A 1/2.3-inch or 1/1.3-inch sensor may be a viable choice in order to create a balance between quality and size for leisure purposes or during daytime aerial photography because such sensors make it possible to produce small drones capable of taking high-quality images and shooting 4K videos.
The 1-inch sensor with a 116 mm² sensor area is bigger than that of the average 1/2.3-inch sensor, which has approximately 28 mm². This extra area becomes helpful while taking sunset shots, cityscapes, interior pictures, or any other images where light is not abundant.
Four Thirds sensors with dimensions of approximately 17.3 × 13.0 mm have an imaging surface of 225 mm². They are quite useful for professional filming and landscape photography as well as post-production.
| Sensor Size | Typical Strength | Suitable Use |
| 1/2.3-inch | Small and lightweight | Casual flying, daylight |
| 1/1.3-inch | Good portability/quality balance | Travel, social content |
| 1-inch | Better light collection | Landscape, low light |
| Four Thirds | Greater imaging flexibility | Professional photo/video |
Conclusion
Now the size of the sensor is becoming significant in Camera Drones, due to the effects that it can have on light-gathering capacity, noise generation, dynamic range, capability to take pictures in low-light conditions, and the versatility of shooting. Larger sensors might lead to the use of bigger lenses and gimbals, making the drone heavy and costly.
It is not recommended to make your choice about the camera based on the size of the sensor, 4K capability, or megapixels alone.
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