Rongnongno Loc: FL

Long ago there was a conversation that led to name-calling on this subject.

A sensel is the smallest part of the sensor. It is used to create a pixel.

The larger the sensel the more accurate a pixel is described or so it is said. In the end, I am not sure due to the technological progress we see today.*

A sensel has a fixed physical size, a pixel does not. In practice a pixel is only as large or as small as the device using it is.

A sensel is a cylinder, a pixel is usually represented as a square.

So, what does this means to us?

Simply that when selecting a camera we need to consider the sensor size and its sensel density instead of the camera reported pixel size, even if the two appear identical in the end.


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* That is the scary part, sooner than later phone camera will approach, meet and likely surpass cameras. We dismiss phone cameras way too fast as 'gimmicks' to share 'captures online'. While this nose holding make some folks feel good about their expensive gear it might not last long. Just look at computers that went from being the size of a warehouse to that of a... mobile phone!!!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I thought the brand name was the most important part of the camera?

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

One of the big differences I see between the cell phone camera and a mirrorless or DSLR, other than the size, the MILC and DSLR seem to have a longer lifespan than the phone camera, as for user possession time goes. Most people that I know will replace their cell phone every 2 to 4 years while very few photographers replace their cameras with that frequency. Granted, to change/upgrade a DSLR is more expensive than a cell phone, but cell phnes are sometimes refurbished and resold whereas cameras are maintined as back ups or passed on to others and their life continues. I will not attempt to estimate the average yearly cost differences over a lifetime between phone cams and DLSRs, but I think the comparison would be interesting.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Confused.
I've only seen squares/rectangles on IC substrates, never circles.
However, the dots on the screen of a CRT are circles.
They can be represented in any graphic fashion though.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

"usually"

User ID

While you’re referencing that line of text, maybe a correction to help clarity going forward ...

Looks like you wrote “pixel” twice in that line and I believe one of those was meant to be “sensel” ?

Please check on that. Seems to me just a typo but you know how it goes around here .....

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FWIW a verrrrrry good reason for calling sensels pixels is that the damnt auto correct keeps correcting “sensel”. It keeps respelling it as “senseless”, and this gets really annoying !

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Thank you for the timely catch. I correct it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Much less confused. Thanks.

Iron Sight Loc: Utah

Probably a good reason to rent a full frame 42 mp version of my Sony A6000.
Looks like $85 worth of fun anyway.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Just to confuse things further, "Sensel" appears to be the name of a company that produces force sensor arrays.

Sensel.com

Iron Sight Loc: Utah

Deleted

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Simply that when selecting a camera we need to consider the sensor size and its sensel density instead of the camera reported pixel size, even if the two appear identical in the end.

This is a non starter. I don't think anyone needs to waste any time thinking about sensel size. Picture quality can be determined in many ways (and pretty much every camera takes great pictures these days). Adding one more thing or spending time worrying about sensel size, gains you nothing. Forget you ever heard the word. Don't worry about it and spend your time taking pictures. Everything will be just fine.
...Cam

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

So a square peg might fit in a round hole after all.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Obviously, CHG_CANON.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

To make this discussion even more "meaningful," we need numbers and complicated formulas. That's what photography is all about!