In cinematography, "Full Frame" generally refers to sensors or film formats with dimensions approximately 36mm × 24mm, comparable to 35mm still photography. This larger sensor captures a wider field of view with a given focal length compared to smaller formats, such as Super 35, which has an imaging area of approximately 24.89mm × 18.66mm in digital cinema.

Importantly, the physical focal length of a lens does not change between formats. However, because the sensor "crops" the image differently, the effective field of view varies: a 50mm lens on Full Frame captures a wider portion of the scene than the same lens on Super 35.

This affects depth of field perceptually, because achieving the same composition on Super 35 may require a shorter focal length or physically moving closer. As a result, cinematographers often experience shallower apparent depth of field on Full Frame sensors for the same lens and framing, providing more pronounced subject isolation.