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No, when you have a bigger pixel size you have also a better dynamic range and s/n ratio. There is no substitute for pixel size in sensors with the same technol

No, when you have a bigger pixel size you have also a better dynamic range and s/n ratio. There is no substitute for pixel size in sensors with the same technology. If you compare different sensors technologies, like front-illuminated vs back-illuminated than at the same pixel size the back illuminated has clear advantages. The computational image processing can be applied also to bigger sensors, so it doesn’t make any sense to compare the raw capacity of a big sensor camera with the processed output of a phone camera. I don’t really think that you have ever seen the output of an RX-100 if you judge it inferior to cellphone cameras.

starky 8y ago
The reasons I say it is complex is because depending on the sensor technology, resolution, image pipeline, etc. there are many different ways you could compare image quality. If you compare extremely different sensors, like a 1/3" and full frame, then of course the larger sensor will be better, but comparing say a 1/2" sensor with a 1" sensor is less clear. The smaller pixel sensor will have a better resolution in lp/mm for example, if downscaled to the same resolution as a lower resolution sensor, in many cases you will end up with an image with better detail and less noise (due to averaging out the noise). This is why cameras like the Sony A7iii take a 6K readout and downsample it to 4K for video output. My comment about computational processing still stands though. While a RAW file will give you much more ability to process, complex computational processing just isn't used to nearly the same level in any raw processor I'm aware of (DxO Photolab is probably the most advanced at this, but still is relatively basic), which does make it a valid comparison at the moment. The simple fact is that small sensors these days have closed the gap with larger sensors significantly, while there are areas they are inadequate in, there are other shooting conditions where the differences are minimal which is a statement I would have scoffed at when I started working with cameras 6 years ago.
- tigershark 8y ago
  The sensor size has nothing to do with the image quality. Bigger sensors, at the same pixel count, have better quality only because their pixel are bigger. If you have a 100 mpx full frame it will have worse quality of a 1/2.3” at 8 mpx if they have the same technology.

starky 8y ago

The reasons I say it is complex is because depending on the sensor technology, resolution, image pipeline, etc. there are many different ways you could compare image quality. If you compare extremely different sensors, like a 1/3" and full frame, then of course the larger sensor will be better, but comparing say a 1/2" sensor with a 1" sensor is less clear. The smaller pixel sensor will have a better resolution in lp/mm for example, if downscaled to the same resolution as a lower resolution sensor, in many cases you will end up with an image with better detail and less noise (due to averaging out the noise). This is why cameras like the Sony A7iii take a 6K readout and downsample it to 4K for video output. My comment about computational processing still stands though. While a RAW file will give you much more ability to process, complex computational processing just isn't used to nearly the same level in any raw processor I'm aware of (DxO Photolab is probably the most advanced at this, but still is relatively basic), which does make it a valid comparison at the moment. The simple fact is that small sensors these days have closed the gap with larger sensors significantly, while there are areas they are inadequate in, there are other shooting conditions where the differences are minimal which is a statement I would have scoffed at when I started working with cameras 6 years ago.

tigershark 8y ago
The sensor size has nothing to do with the image quality. Bigger sensors, at the same pixel count, have better quality only because their pixel are bigger. If you have a 100 mpx full frame it will have worse quality of a 1/2.3” at 8 mpx if they have the same technology.