Sensor size in a point and shoot: How much does it matter? I'm pretty particular about results printing 12 x 18 or less. My main camera is an R5. Will I be satisfied with a 1/2.3...

cptiger Loc: Englewood, FL

How much does it matter? I'm pretty particular about results printing 12 x 18 or less. My main camera is an R5. Will I be satisfied with a 1/2.3 (which is less than 1/2 inch) or should I go with a 1 inch? I may know the answer, but someone might surprise me!

Boris77

cptiger wrote:

How much does it matter? I'm pretty particular about results printing 12 x 18 or less. My main camera is an R5. Will I be satisfied with a 1/2.3 (which is less than 1/2 inch) or should I go with a 1 inch? I may know the answer, but someone might surprise me!

I have bought many sensor sizes on my way to APS-C which gives me a high quality 13 x 19" prints on select pictures. The camera, lens, and subject all add up to whether the picture will look good when printed for wall viewing.
I still have a Canon pocket design camera with 1/32 sensor. I used it for many years because it could be squeezed into a pocket, it was quiet, and it had real camera controls. Then I bought a similar Canon camera with a 1" sensor and stopped using the smaller one.
I have never seen an image from the 1/32 sensor that I would consider printing above 8x10 and expect the image quality to look good without being disguised by special effects, etc. I do not think the 1" images would hold up at 12x18" on a normal photo subject either.
BUT I have never used either camera on a Tripod - and that is a Gold standard for Quality.
Boris

User ID

cptiger wrote:

How much does it matter? I'm pretty particular about results printing 12 x 18 or less. My main camera is an R5. Will I be satisfied with a 1/2.3 (which is less than 1/2 inch) or should I go with a 1 inch? I may know the answer, but someone might surprise me!

4/3 is a widely recognized minimum for quality minded users. I suspect youre going to land there, especially as a Canon user.

If you consider APSC at all, then if its Canons shrunken APSC youre already waaaaay close to 4/3 at that point. (I use Canon APSC lenses on m4/3 cuz the crop factor is only 0.8.)

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Acoarst theres imagemeister and the 1 inch crew, while OTOH some see APSC as the limit for compromise. Given your concern about quality, I imagine youll shun the "Superzoom" cameras. A more modest zoom allows for a much bigger sensor.

All boils down to whether you want a tourists camera or a photographers camera. Cameras that try to be both end up being neither. But each has its purpose and its satisfied users.

cptiger Loc: Englewood, FL

Boris77 wrote:

I have bought many sensor sizes on my way to APS-C... (show quote)

Thank you for your comments

cptiger Loc: Englewood, FL

Thank for your cmts also.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

User ID wrote:

4/3 is a widely recognized minimum for quality min... (show quote)

"All boils down to whether you want a tourists camera or a photographers camera."

I consider the Sony RX100 VII to be both. My thinking is that bulky stuff gets in the way of both photographers and tourists.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

I’ve taken apart several of the cigarette pack sized point and shoots. The sensor is approximately 3/8”x1/4”. Once I took one apart it was obvious why the image quickly deteriorates so quickly when you enlarge the images.

Hip Coyote

cptiger wrote:

How much does it matter? I'm pretty particular about results printing 12 x 18 or less. My main camera is an R5. Will I be satisfied with a 1/2.3 (which is less than 1/2 inch) or should I go with a 1 inch? I may know the answer, but someone might surprise me!

As much as I hate to admit it, size matters!

But, as a micro 43 user and a Sony RX100 user, I can attest that the sensors do pretty well. What has helped these little dynamos is the up-scaling capabilities of LR, PS and Topaz. Add AI to that and you have pretty good capabilities.

User ID

bsprague wrote:

"All boils down to whether you want a tourists camera or a photographers camera."

I consider the Sony RX100 VII to be both. My thinking is that bulky stuff gets in the way of both photographers and tourists.

Its definitely not bulky.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

User ID wrote:

4/3 is a widely recognized minimum for quality min... (show quote)

Micro 4/3 is the answer. I consider myself to be a photographer. MY current gear is a Leica P&S with 3x 1.7 zoom I'm done with all the toys now. I mostly print using A4 - because I rarely need larger. If I did I'd still choose M4/3.

timbuktutraveler

bsprague wrote:

"All boils down to whether you want a tourists camera or a photographers camera."

I consider the Sony RX100 VII to be both. My thinking is that bulky stuff gets in the way of both photographers and tourists.

I have the Sony RX100 VII - no trouble taking 16 x 20 lovely photos

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

cptiger wrote:

How much does it matter? I'm pretty particular about results printing 12 x 18 or less. My main camera is an R5. Will I be satisfied with a 1/2.3 (which is less than 1/2 inch) or should I go with a 1 inch? I may know the answer, but someone might surprise me!

It does not matter if your a competent photographer. I shoot the Sony HX99, it can shot raw but does not have a large sensor. And yes, I have printed sharp 20X30 prints from it. You can to provided your skill level is up to it.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Take a card into a camera store, snap some photos with the card in a point & shoot camera, print.

I know several professional photographers that use the Sony RX100 series cameras with 1" sensors or OM Systems micro 4/3 cameras.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

billnikon wrote:

It does not matter if your a competent photographer. I shoot the Sony HX99, it can shot raw but does not have a large sensor. And yes, I have printed sharp 20X30 prints from it. You can to provided your skill level is up to it.

The pic included in your reply is, I think, very pleasant and well exposed, however it is quite soft. I would not expect anything else from a 30x zoom, and personally I wouldn't go there. Having said that, I achieved a sharper and much more acceptable result in 30 seconds after using Easy Photo Unblur - but that's not the point - I am sure that with my M4/3 Leica, 14mp, 3x zoom, cropped to same view I wouldn't need EPU.
My conclusion is - larger sensor and don't crowd the pixels.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Delderby wrote:

The pic included in your reply is, I think, very p... (show quote)

I have sold this print in a 20X30 5 times over to various clients. They believe it is extremely sharp. Sorry you do not agree.