Sensor size comparison: APS-C, full-frame, and medium-format

Light is recorded on a surface. Its size influences how finely a camera can distinguish between color, texture, and tone.
APS-C, full-frame, and medium-format systems offer different characteristics in this regard. These differences manifest in detail rendition, transitions between light and shadow, depth of field, and the overall operation of the camera system. How clearly they appear in the final image also depends on the lens, focus, exposure, and photographic composition.