Sony a7S III
Real Sensor Data
- Brand
- Sony
- Sensor Format
- Full Frame
- Resolution
- 12.1 MP
- Pixel Pitch
- 8.45 microns
- Circle of Confusion
- 0.0288 mm
- Crop Factor
- 1.00x
- Announced
- 2020
Every other full-frame body on this site's reference has climbed toward higher resolution over successive generations; the a7S III, released in 2020, deliberately went the opposite direction, holding its sensor at just 12.1 megapixels — a genuinely low figure by current standards, chosen specifically because larger individual photosites gather more light per pixel, which is exactly what a camera built primarily for video and extreme low-light stills needs.
Sony a7S III sensor specs
- Sensor
- Full Frame
- Resolution
- 12.1 MP
- Pixel dimensions
- 4,260 × 2,840 px
- Aspect ratio
- 3:2
- Pixel pitch
- 8.45 µm
- Crop factor
- 1.00x
- Circle of confusion
- 0.0288 mm
Full Frame sensor · DoF & Hyperfocal Calculator · Astro 500/NPF Calculator
Sony also gave the a7S III a fully articulating screen, a first for the a7S line, alongside a completely redesigned menu system that later became the template for every Sony full-frame body since.
See these numbers used live in the DoF & Hyperfocal Calculator by selecting the Full Frame sensor format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would anyone choose a 12-megapixel camera in the current market?
For video and extreme low-light stills specifically, where larger individual pixels gathering more light per pixel matters more than resolution — the a7S III is a deliberately specialized tool, not a general-purpose high-resolution body, and photographers who need large prints or heavy cropping should look elsewhere in Sony's lineup.
Is the a7S III good for astrophotography?
Yes, genuinely — its unusually large pixel pitch gives it one of the longest maximum shutter speeds before star trailing becomes visible under the NPF rule of any full-frame camera on this site, a direct benefit of the same low-resolution sensor that helps its video and low-light performance.