Film Size Chart

v1.0, 2005-05-31

The following tables compare different types of film and film cameras. Even though digital is rapidly replacing film, there are still some limitations which could take years for digital to overcome. It is important to realize that most of today's digital cameras are being compared to consumer grade 35mm film cameras. A single frame of 35mm film can only hold so much information but as you can see, other types of professional film can capture details that are beyond the ability of any digital camera costing less than $20,000.

Format Size Shots/Roll Cameras
35mm 24 x 36mm 36, 24, 12 Various
Medium Format (also known as 120 or 220 film)
645 56 x 42mm 16 Pentax 45, Mamiya 45, Hasselblad H1, etc.
6x6 56 x 56mm 12 Hasselblad 200/500, Rollei TLR, Yashicamat TLR, etc.
6x7 56 x 67mm 10 Pentax 67, Mamiya RB67/RZ67, etc.
Large Format
4x5 4" x 5" sheet film Various
5x7 5" x 7" sheet film Canham, Rembrandt, etc. view cameras
8x10 8" x 10" sheet film Deardorff, Sinar, Calumet C-1, Toyo, etc. view cameras

Film Size Comparison:

35mm film
35mm
6x4.5 film
645
6x6 film
6x6
6x7 film
6x7

4x5 film
4x5 (102 x 127mm)
= approx. 15 times 35mm

5x7 film
5x7 (127 x 178mm)
= approx. 26 times 35mm

8x10 film
8x10 (203 x 254mm)
= approx. 60 times 35mm

Notes:

  • 1 inch = 25.4mm
  • 35mm film area = 24 x 36mm = 864mm2
  • 4x5 film area = 102 x 127mm = 12954mm2
  • 12954 / 864 = 14.99 or approx. 15 times the area of 35mm film