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Do APSC sensors gather light differently than FF sensors?

  
 
Tarekith
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p.1 #1 · Do APSC sensors gather light differently than FF sensors?


Hi all, quick question. I recently received my Ricoh GR monochrome, and one of the things that's surprised me about it is that I find I need to shoot at slower shutter speeds or wider apertures (or more usually higher ISO) to get the similar exposure to my full frame cameras (A7CR & Q3 43). I would have thought on a mono camera without the bayer array that it would be the opposite, but in use I'm not finding this to be true.

This is my first APSC camera, so I don't have any experience here and just wondered if there was some fundamental difference in the sensor technology that's causing this? I've read APSC sensors have less dynamic range, is this related and just a function of the smaller sensor size in general?

Thanks for any insight, always something new to learn!



Feb 22, 2026 at 01:51 PM
pingflood
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p.1 #2 · Do APSC sensors gather light differently than FF sensors?


Briefly: no, you should have the same exposure assuming all your settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO) are the same. Cameras can vary a little exposure wise but it's not related to sensor size.

ISO 100 on a monochrome sensor should be identical to ISO 100 on a bayer array sensor. The mono sensor will require less amplification though so should result in less noise.



Feb 23, 2026 at 02:46 AM
Tarekith
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p.1 #3 · Do APSC sensors gather light differently than FF sensors?


Ok, thanks for confirming.


Feb 23, 2026 at 02:47 AM
jeffbuzz
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p.1 #4 · Do APSC sensors gather light differently than FF sensors?


Exposure differences between cameras are often due to how manufacturers calculate base ISO sensitivity. The ISO standard allows two different methods. You may need to use exp comp or tone curves to match one camera's middle gray to another.


Feb 23, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Tarekith
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p.1 #5 · Do APSC sensors gather light differently than FF sensors?


Thanks. It's not an issue in use, easy enough for me to compensate in the moment. I was just trying to increase my general photography knowledge and wasn't sure if differences in sensors was a thing or not.


Feb 23, 2026 at 01:19 PM







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