Canon APS-H Models

What is a Canon APS-H model camera?

Before explaining what Canon’s APS-H models are, you should understand Canon’s other 2 sensor types:

• Full Frame
• APS-C

Full frame sensors measure 36 x 24, just like film, and have no crop factor, meaning if you use a 50mm lens on a FF camera the field of view doesn’t change.

If you put the same lens on an APS-C camera (Canon Rebel T6i), which has a 1.6x crop factor, that 50mm lens would have a field of view equivalent to an 80mm lens on a FF camera (50mm x 1.6 = 80mm).

Canon Models with a APS-H camera sensor have a crop factor of 1.3x, so a 50mm lens is equivalent to a 65mm lens on FF. The crop factor is excellent for those who want to get closer to their subject without spending money on a more expensive lens, but it’s also bad news for those who want as much as possible on their photograph without buying a wider lens.

A Full Frame camera would get you the entire picture above, while Canon APS-H cameras with the same lens would give only what’s inside the blue box. If your main focus is sports and action, then APS-C would probably be better as it allows you to get even closer to your subject!

Crop Factor: 1.3x
Sensor Size: 28.7 x 19mm (Full Frame is 36 x 24mm)

Does Canon still use APS-H in DSLR cameras?

No, and most likely never again will.

The first Canon to feature APS-H was the Canon EOS-1D, a camera that greatly influenced all later sports/action cameras. At that time, full frame sensors were quite expensive to make, and a 1.3x smaller sensor would result in a cheaper, smaller body.

While the APS-H format was reserved for 1D line, the APS-C was widely used in all Canon’s entry-level cameras, and also had a lens mount for it (EF-S mount), something that APS-H never had.

When did the Canon APS-H format go away? In 2011, when Canon announced the EOS-1D X, a full frame camera with features perfect for both action and still photography.

Although apparently Canon has repurposed this sensor for other uses. In October of 2020 Canon announced that they were releasing a new 250 MP APS-H sensor. They are offering both a color and monochrome version. Although the purpose of this sensor now is meant mainly for scientific applications, which highly specialized cameras are required.

This video link is from the 2017 CES where Canon announced they were working on this 250 MP APS-H sensor.

Canon APS-H Camera List

As we mentioned above, the Canon APS-H Cameras list is pretty short.

• Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
• Canon EOS 1D Mark III
• Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN
• Canon EOS 1D Mark II
• Canon EOS 1D

APS-H Lens Field of View

Want to learn more?

Learn more about the other types of Canon sensors.

• Full Frame
• APS-C

Then if you’re looking for a lens check out our sister site, Best Photography Gear, for a guide of the best Canon lenses.  Whether you want to know what the best lens is for a type of photography, or if are you looking for the best compatible lenses for your specific Canon camera, we’ve got it covered.

They also have a specific list of Canon lenses that is sorted by the Mount Type, which makes it easy to find a lens for your Canon EF-S (APS-C), Canon EF (FF), or Canon RF & EF-M mount.