Equivalent Aperture Explained
A practical explanation of equivalent aperture for smartphone cameras, and how to compare across sensor sizes.
2026-01-18
Equivalent Aperture Explained
When we compare smartphone cameras, f/number alone is not enough. A small sensor at f/1.6 does not gather the same total light as a large sensor at f/1.6.
This article introduces a simple and practical way to understand equivalent aperture in mobile photography:
- What “equivalence” means and what it does not
- How sensor size changes depth of field and total light
- How to use equivalent aperture for fair comparisons