Film format size comparison
How much bigger is medium format, really? Tick the formats to see them drawn to true scale, sharing one corner, with how their area compares to 35mm.
About this tool
This tool draws film formats to true scale so you can see just how much bigger medium and large format are than 35mm. Tick the formats you want and it lays them over one shared corner, then lists each one's frame area as a ratio versus 35mm.
How to use it
- Tick the formats you want to compare.
- See them drawn to true relative scale sharing a corner.
- Read each format's dimensions in millimetres.
- Compare the area ratio of each against 35mm.
FAQ
Why compare by area?
A larger negative captures more detail and enlarges less for a given print, so frame area is a good guide to potential quality.
Are the sizes the real image area?
Yes, they are the standard nominal image dimensions for each format, not the outer film width.