One of the most significant differences between medium format film and digital is the actual imaging area. Traditional 120 film cameras capture images at various sizes depending on the format:
6×4.5cm (645): Actual frame size approximately 56×41.5mm (2,324 sq mm)
6x6cm: Actual frame size approximately 56x56mm (3,136 sq mm)
6x7cm: Actual frame size approximately 56x70mm (3,920 sq mm)
6x9cm: Actual frame size approximately 56x84mm (4,704 sq mm)
Digital medium format sensors, however, are generally smaller than their film equivalents. The most common sensor sizes in current digital medium format cameras are:
44x33mm: Used by Fujifilm GFX, Hasselblad X-series (1,442 sq mm, approximately 62% of 645 film)
53.4x40mm: Used by Phase One IQ4 (2,136 sq mm, approximately 92% of 645 film)
For comparison, a full-frame 35mm sensor measures 36x24mm (864 sq mm), making the 44x33mm medium format sensors about 1.7 times larger, while the Phase One 53.4x40mm sensor is approximately 2.5 times larger than full frame.
Digital Sensor Size Comparison
The following table compares digital medium format sensor sizes with traditional 120 film formats and 35mm full frame sensors.
| Format | Dimensions | Area (sq mm) | Cameras Using This Size |
| 120 Film: 6x9cm | 56 x 84mm | 4,704 | Kodak Brownie, Folding Cameras |
| 120 Film: 6x7cm | 56 x 70mm | 3,920 | Mamiya RB/RZ67, Pentax 67 |
| 120 Film: 6x6cm | 56 x 56mm | 3,136 | Hasselblad 500, Rolleiflex |
| 120 Film: 645 | 56 x 41.5mm | 2,324 | Mamiya 645, Pentax 645, Contax |
| Phase One Full Frame | 53.4 x 40mm | 2,136 | Phase One IQ4 150MP |
| Digital MF (44×33) | 43.8 x 32.9mm | 1,441 | Fujifilm GFX, Hasselblad X |
| 35mm Full Frame | 36 x 24mm | 864 | Sony A7, Canon EOS R, Nikon Z |
| APS-C | 23.5 x 15.6mm | 367 | Fujifilm X-T5, Sony A6000 |
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