Is The A7S3 Good Enough For Photography? Printing LARGE at 12MP

Is a 12MP camera good enough for photography in 2022? We print two 12MP images from the Sony A7S2, have them framed for our living room, then look at the results to determine if lower resolution cameras take images good enough to print at large sizes.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:29 The Prints
01:01 Why I Love The A7S3
1:47 Understanding 3 main Sony full frame cameras
3:44 Is 12MP good enough for photography?
4:30 How to shoot with a 12mp camera
5:36 Why I’m having this rant
5:58 The story behind these images
7:47 Bloopers
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[@BeckiandChris]

We’re back! We’ve been busy working on another large project coming later this month, and that project gave us a great excuse to finally print some of our own images to hang in the house. Have you considered printing your work?

[@daniellewatches]

This video-- plus the one you did of your photobooks-- is really inspiring me to do more with my photos and actually print them! Love this content (also v v v excited for what I think is the upcoming project?! 👀)

[@BeckiandChris]

@@daniellewatches it feels so good to print your own work!! The books are such great keepsakes and fun to pull out and browse through!

[@homesmedia]

I have printed my photos & it really feels good to see it & feel it for real, there is something about it. Also is that a new part of the house your hanging those photos up in?

[@BeckiandChris]

@@homesmedia it really does! It’s our living room!

[@bigshooter461]

Nice to see you guys back!

[@JakeFrew]

Oh man, having the technical info all culminate to a message of the importance of story was brilliant. Thanks so much for this beautiful reminder 🙏

[@KoteGreen]

My thoughts exactly :) great message

[@ThisIsTechToday]

Such a good reminder to focus on the art and moment over and the technicals!

[@BeckiandChris]

So easy to get lost in it especially with all the amazing gear available these days!

[@tombuck]

What an awesome print! For Xmas my mom wanted a photo of my wife and I with our dogs, but timing a perfect dog photo is impossible. So we just had the a7SIII record 4K and then selected the one frame where we were all actually looking in the right direction. Got it printed on a large canvas and it looks awesome 👍

[@jaymills1720]

Wow I’d love to do that! What’s the process or any good links? I’m going to get the zve1 and would love to take frames and print 8x10 or larger.

[@fynnbadgley]

When people forget the OG 5D mark I was 12 megapixels and used for a TON of professional photography work - also when you realize billboards don’t need a lot of resolution so it CAN do the trick. Definitely a solid point on cropping though

[@AmritaBhortake]

Spot on with this video, Becki. My favorite photo that I have ever taken was on my old Nikon D5100 with a 16.2-megapixel sensor almost 10 years ago. I had taken a shot of a moving cab in New York and it is such a poignant moment for me because it reminds me of the beautiful city and the time I have spent there. I have never thought if the resolution was good enough because the moment was priceless. Also, for anyone wondering, I have printed it on a huge 30x40 canvas without any issues.

[@BeckiandChris]

LOVE this!

[@cindyrosen8170]

Excellent episode! Love when you discuss photography!

[@photobatya]

I have shot sport event with a7s3 and I love it! 7500 photos in 128gb. Low rolling shutter on electronic shutter, small photos for editing. My top 1 camera now

[@gregmonforton4103]

On the video side, the "aha" math for me was that 1920x1080 is approximately (just over) 2 megapixels. So except for any cropping in (for image stabilization for example) the rest are not used. 4k is less than 9 megapixels.

[@rboydphotography]

Love the Vid! thanks for addressing the topic. been a while since we had the version from Chris 👍

[@JebbAdams]

And I'm back too! And am I ever glad you guys are here again! Thanks!

[@themoody1337]

Everything about this video (and your whole channel tbh) is so on point. Content, interesting and high quality visuals + great and simple explanations - love it! :)

[@BeckiandChris]

Thank you so much!

[@soundscape26]

Perfectly explained. Thanks Becki.

[@ckhicks]

“A moment in time, captured.” Ugh, this hit me right in the feels. Thanks for the great mix between needing out and remembering why we do this in the first place!

[@ohgurlplease]

I’m catching this video 4 months later and so glad I found it. I truly love you guy’s content. ✨ I have an A7III and never knew the difference between the different types of Sony cameras. Thanks Becki!

[@Last222]

Good shiit Becki, thnx fa breakin it down💯

[@christopherchristofi6086]

Omg you are bang on , you have taken so much weight off my shoulders about thinking what camera I should get as a beginner and going from pillar to post with all the so called professionals, thank you , I will be changing the way I think

[@rufaxjr]

thanks for the video, gave me alot of information

[@likelycrew]

We're still rockin' our A7s II as well! Great reminder to capture the shot with whatever ya got.

[@KNURKonesur]

High five! I'm going to comfortably stay with my A7 II until used medium format becomes more affordable.

[@JacobMedler]

I loved this so much! Becki, you are so talented and amazing at what you do. You guys are such an inspirational and I love the reminder of the importance of photography and philosophy behind it.

[@BeckiandChris]

Thank you Jacob!

[@bikesdotsandpeeps]

Super cool informational video, shots, home AND duo! Keep it up! - Chris in Miami, FL.

[@acmdv]

The thing is that even with a 12MP sensor you can use the machine-learning Super Resolution feature in Lightroom to turn it into a 48MP image.

[@KOKOBC]

So I can turn a 61mp or 50mp into a 244mp and 200mp?

[@KOKOBC]

Would be interesting if someone compares the upscaled 48mp image to the 50mp image on the A1

[@acmdv]

@@KOKOBC Yep.

[@acmdv]

@@KOKOBC It's not really the same thing as traditional upscaling because it uses Machine Learning (AI) so you see less obvious signs that the original image resolution was less. I would equate it to something similar to pixel shift technology but done on a computer instead of in camera though it's only a matter of time before machine learning starts to appear in cameras as it already does in smart phones.

[@angwk]

It is neat trick, but if you do not capture the details at the first place, no amount of supersampling technic is going to restore it

[@Amateurprotographer]

You guys never miss! I'm always inspired by your content; one of my goals this year is to finally print some of my stuff!

[@BeckiandChris]

Thanks so much! Yes print some it’s so fun!

[@stephenjuk8910]

Great video! I still use a 1ds ii for pro jobs and the clients do not know that the images are from a 18 year old camera. I think it has 17MP and in good light it is amazing.

[@AliAbbasi87]

100% this. And also the final bit of perspective in a video I've been wanting to make but didn't know how to position.

[@KatherineCrosbie]

Great explanation of the differences between the 3 lines!

[@youngolf1]

Excellent teaching! Thanks. You know how to communicate

[@AdalbertoAlmeida_81]

This is a great video. Thanks.

[@BenjiSelby]

Much appreciated on the breakdown and the vibes where the prints are sits look bootyful!! 😬🤌

[@dattmatt]

My god, you guys just have the best freakin' style through and through. Love it! Also, totally love my a7siii, although I had my worries after coming from 24mp I don't miss it one bit so far! If I have to uprez there are some wicked applications that do incredible jobs anyhow!

[@superalien4781]

i really like this video . very well thought ..about value and memories .

[@Paul_Greenwood]

Best explanation about which Sony camera does what ever 👍🏻 thank you 🙏🏻

[@mangobeard]

Being someone who just signed the papers for an a7s iii this Friday (three days ago) this video was a nice confirmation of a little concern. Thank you.

[@merriammerkabah408]

Just wanted to say that I love you guys and your videos

[@DineshBhadwal]

What an excellent video with real examples. I remember buying my very first DSLR which only had 12 megapixels. Learnt and earned a lot on it.

[@KoelAnderson]

I’ve been using my A7Siii for low light / no-flash nightclub photography and the images look GREAT. Might have to try printing some now 👀!

[@chipcurry]

Good thoughts! Thanks.

[@jmartinez2]

Great information! I’ve been saying this for years.

[@kayseacamp]

As someone who actually loves the tone and mood you get with lower pixel cameras I’m still rocking my Nikon D90 the was a high school graduation present. Not everything has to be about spec chasing and that’s what makes photography so beautiful. You can shoot exactly how YOU wish to shoot.

[@LOVEthatRR]

Beat explanation of the Sony series I’ve ever seen, thank you 🙏🏽

[@kurtisca]

Epic content, as always.

[@silverwolf1620]

A photo is a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone

[@danieldougan269]

Thank you for making this video! It just goes to show you can do a lot with 12 megapixels. I love to photograph wildlife, and with that, you can never get close enough to your subject. I usually find myself cropping my telephoto shots a lot (even at a 600mm equivalent), and I don't think a camera like the a7S III would work out so well for that. But, for just about everything else, I think it's great.

[@Nattodayy]

A fun way to blow up a low res image is by scanning your print, and then reprinting the scan at a larger size. Pixels get interpreted as tiny blots.

[@ikhwannurfarizi]

The story behind that one frame is far more important than technical stuff❤ thanks for reminding us that part on this fast tech world⚡

[@aarondonald8930]

Yes, yes, yes! Great Video, really enjoyed it, thank you!

[@M.A.D.C.J]

I love my SonyA7SIII, it’s been one of the best cameras I’ve ever used to this day, and I’ve used a lot of different cameras haha! I don’t mind the 12MP, the photos still come out great, espcially since most of the time mine are posted on social media, loved the video!

[@garyhanson4133]

I so loved those prints. That Newfoundland journey was really epic.

[@CHARLIES_ADVENTURE]

I’ve been feeling super unmotivated in my photography recently and this video really helped

[@mickeytubz]

Love this!!

[@belindajcaruso]

I think that is the whle point of photography. What it makes you feel. It makes you feel different things at different times. I think photography is magic. Even when you look at an old granny photo of the past. It can evoke joy, sadness, longing, information & wonder the list can go on & on. I so want to buy a new camera. But I am going to learn to use the one I have a lot better, before I get another one. This video conforms my own thought process. Thanks I needed that.

[@glemmeren]

I really like the grain these two photos you took have. Looks amazing.

[@BarttRoman]

Loved the rant! I have a 24mp camera but only kit lenses so I kinda have the same "issue". It's not the sharpest, but it's about the memories.

[@aqmedia8000]

I actually had rented a Sony a7s3 with a 70-200 g master for a music festival and man that was such a good combo. I shot hybrid and for the most part the photos were pretty amazing especially at low light. I shot at 12,000 iso and you couldn’t even see hardly any grain. Photo and video camera I highly suggest!!!

[@samuelleon884]

FANTASTIC VIDEO!!!

[@fideliusconcrete4871]

I'm new here, never heard of Becki and Chris. But what this lady says is very important because she is absolutely right. When I started as a photographer, we bought, as soon as we could somehow afford one, a Hasselblad. The problem was, you needed three of those: One for shooting, one at repair and one on the way to repair. But then we discovered the Nikon cameras and lenses. For big prints and shooting architecture, we only used Sinar cameras, those were the best of the best. Everything was very heavy, we needed for every job at least one assistant in order to help us schlepping all the gear. Now Ive been using the camera and lens shown here for quite some time, and I'm perfectly happy with it. Thank you for your words, madam, they are very appreciated!

[@alonew]

Thanks for breaking down the Sony series, people always jumps into such technical details that I'm always feeling lost, n can't understand the conversation!

[@moodyfuck3965]

Wow. What a well executed § polished “random rant” video. Lol 😍🎥. Realistic|informative as well. Amazing.

[@RodieOsc]

Very informative! I mostly aim for video so this camera is perfect. I had the black magic camera that takes no photos n it worked so well with just stills

[@SamTavrs]

One of the many reasons I purchased an A7S3 was your aptitude for these cameras. I guess what I am trying to say is, Thanks! Absolute goodness on this one, Becki

[@BeckiandChris]

thanks Sam! A7S3 is my favorite 😍

[@Ronbc000]

Nice work! 🎥 👍

[@timharrison3521]

Could not agree more. I’ve just had three photos printed, 1 from 17 years ago in New Orleans taken on a little canon point and shoot, 1 from 4 years ago taken on a 750d in Sri Lanka. The last from 3 years ago in Cuba taken on an I phone. Not once do I look at any of these images and think about the quality of the photo, just about how lucky are we to have been where we’ve been. 🙌🙌☕️

[@chrisclark5135]

Love this. I remember when I first started getting into cameras; or when digital cameras were gaining popularity - it was all about the MP's! The more MP's the better and the less MP's the suckier! lol Truth is those prints look amazing and that quality can be attained easier than we think. Thanks for sharing!

[@LaurentMaggiore1611]

Great Video

[@mrinmix_online]

I was looking for a video like this 🤠

[@greatpix]

Becki, are you aware of RIPs (raster image processors) used by pro printers, and how they can improve results from lower megapixel sensors? Another thing that can help when shooting in 12MP is software with a pre and post sharpener like the NIK/DXO software has, or software like RawTherapee which uses wavelets to sharpen RAW images. Wavelet technology has been used for astrophotography to great effect. Yet another tip to get sharper images is cleaning your optics with ROR (Residual Oil Remover Lens Cleaner). I did some tests and you can easily see improvements in details vs regular lens cleaners. Finally, depending on the subject and any movement between frames, is image stacking which is also used in astrophotography to lower noise and improve details. There's a bit more to that with the taking of 'Flats' and 'Dark' frames. I'm learning how to use those for my landscape photography.

[@pie.lot.bliksem]

I am more to the left than the right. Even though I am right-handed. If had an opportunity to buy either one I would go for the one on the left though they are both not just images but fine-art. The clouds and tiny portions of water on those rocky terrain triggers the hidden emotion somehow. Thanks to Becki and Christ :)

[@meiermiri]

You are 100% right! Memories are far more important than resolution, why else would people cover their walls with the small insta pictures which aren't even sharp. We also have landscape pictures in our hallway, from our Canada trip back in 2012. I took those shots with my old 12MP Nikon, without any photography knowledge and to this day, I still love them. And it was probably the catalyst to pursue this as a hobby.

[@davidstone408]

One of my favourite photographs is Phil Collins, taken at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007 at the end of the Genesis tour. Camera Canon Powershot S5 IS (8MP JPEG) - Over the next 10 days I will see the band perform twice, In Köln and London - Camera Sony RX100 VII (assuming I can get it past security) - hopefully I will get some great photos, of course would prefer to take the A7R4 but no chance to get that past security, without a backstage pass, and I do want to enjoy the event.

[@greasyflight6609]

I bought the A7S III a few months ago and have zero regrets. I am just a regular shooter who looks forward to both its photo and video capabilities....the low light strength of the camera is its calling card for me. Good lenses and patience make this beast shine. For those who want a more photo centric hybrid (higher pixel) the A7 IV looks good... though I have heard it has over heating issues shooting intense spec video.

[@TheShadowseesyou]

I have the R5 and try to shoot landscapes and this has even given me alot to think about also has made me realize I need to print some of my shots

[@BeckiandChris]

Printing your shots is so satisfying and rewarding!

[@DHShields]

Yaay welcome back you guuys! 🙌🤩

[@brianmestdagh916]

Thanks Becki, honestly this was an excellent video!

[@BeckiandChris]

Thanks Brian!

[@brianmestdagh916]

@@BeckiandChris you guys have been a big inspiration to get into aviation…. Photography is already a big hobby, just need to find the funds for aviation ;)

[@jacobpriddle]

You too are so the same person with your little bouts of song it cracks me up everytime

[@BeckiandChris]

😂😂

[@wvanderspek]

this came at the right time, I am almost buying a A7SIII with 24-70GMII lens. But I will use it for video (almost only, ok maybe I will take some pictures now and then) but the main driver for me is the video quality. So yeah I believe also that the quality of the picture doesn't matter (as long as it is decent enough). The video focus is it for me for the A7SIII

[@MirabelleJien]

pretty gorge-ous photos!

[@LemoreWilliams]

I love your background

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

Had to switch off the video after your talk about viewing distance, Everyone gets this wrong and Its a shame you guys did too. When looking at photography viewing distance does matter but it is a lot closer than you think. Photography is art, you want to get up close and personal with it. Think about how you are in museums, you want to get as close as possible to see the brush strokes, the technique and when it comes to digital art; the level of detail. I've seen some wonderful shots where you get close to them and the image really opens up and that's something 12MP robs you of, and a higher resolution lets shine! This isn't exclusive to just photography. When you get to hold a finely crafted watch, you appreciate the fine details, same with well done warhammer figurines and lego sculptures, or for more traditional art the marble sculptures of yore with their INSANE attention to detail. What I'm saying is art can be appreciated from afar but when you are able to get up close and appreciate it an ENTIRELY NEW DIMENSION opens up to you, some say they get a closer feeling to the artist intention and some say that it brings another level of appreciation to the piece. But one thing is for sure if you are just treating your photography as a backdrop to your aesthetic then the photograph isn't the main focus anymore and is just treated as filler which sadly is what is being done here. Edit: Spelling

[@wakeywarrior]

I only look at my photos on screen and have been amazed at the quality of the photos out of the ZVE1 (same sensor).

[@cortanathelawless1848]

I am purely a photographer but low light performance is incredibly important to me as i love going out at night sometimes under just moon light so im genuinely considering switching to it

[@touch2ndgen]

This reminds me of a few years ago when I visited a museum on a trip to Chicago. There was a display for a young photographers' wildlife photo competition and the photos were about movie poster size. One of my favorites was taken with a 16mp Nikon D7000 just like mine! It was then I realized that I don't NEED a better camera, I just need practice.

[@BeckiandChris]

Yess!! Love this!

[@Sushanttechworld]

Hey, can you make a video on how to use a7s3 in low light and no light situations, which picture profile to use and how to edit the footage in post.

[@chris_sparrows]

I'm not a Sony shooter, so I've never understood their lineup. I really appreciate the breakdown. One of my all time favorite pictures I've captured is only one megapixel. Prints decent at letter size. A little softness and grain just adds character.

[@BeckiandChris]

Love that! I bet that would look great framed with a large matte too, always creative ways to make stuff display bigger even when it can’t physically be printed bigger.

[@chris_sparrows]

@@BeckiandChris Totally. It might be something I could enlarge some with the tools in Photoshop, but I've just never taken the time to experiment.

[@JuanLopez-oz9kh]

My nikon D3 has been my only camera with two shutter replacement; it has over one millions actuation. The first shutter when out at about 750000 pictures. It cost me $350 to replace it.

[@RaoulEnoiu]

The story and having the memory is much more important than the resolution like you said!

[@DonSaeKang]

Photos are great !! Story is key

[@translumination2002]

The canon 5D original was the first affordable full frame and people were concerned that the 12 MP was out resolving the lens. In regards to video we were shooting on miniDV tape not so long ago in standard definition in 4:3 and everybody was wishing for 16:9 chips and anamorphic lens! How things have changed.

[@corinneexplores6984]

great video and so true - story and memories over technicalities! 👉🏻 hey Becki, how do you edit your photos for print vs. screen? I like to order photo books and prints but find it hard to estimate how they turn out exactly, especially screen brightness can be misleading. What do you do if you have to get it right the first time and cannot do test prints? would love a tutorial on the process :D

[@BeckiandChris]

Thanks so much! If I’m printing a book and can’t get a proof I make sure to use the printers ICC profile which is usually available on their website, make sure my screen is calibrated, and I’m sending the recommended file types to the printer!

[@BelindaFarage]

Good lord thank you for this! I have the A7Siii and yeah - you cat a lot of 💩 on that 12mp. But for now - I’m not blowing prints up to massive size. Sorta the normal 11x14-ish crowd. Use it a lot for vlogging and online stills. All good. Love your breakdown. You guys are awesome. ❤️

[@KOKOBC]

You forgot the Sony A9 line where they make sports cameras

[@gaga1812]

Nice stuff. Beautiful images! I've shot several album covers/ Vinyl records for Sony Music on an iphone 5. No problem :)

[@sociallensmanhq]

This is the video that most of the Photographers are looking for 🔥✌️

[@drewcain]

A few of the most sold through fine art prints in our catalog were shot on a 6MP Nikon D100. Using megapixels to determine the capability of a camera is like using tire size to determine how good your car is. A good photographer can make a printable image from most any camera these days -- and a poor photographer with a bank breaking kit and maxed out megapixels will still be disappointed at the end of a day of shooting (and will usually blame their gear). Make the most of the tools you have and stop valuing cameras by their MP count.

[@mlachin]

I actually love the grain in those photos. It wouldn't look as good with a color photo with clearer skies, but considering the weather and the harshness of the landscape, the grain works. Besides, a place like Poop Rock doesn't need to be memorialized with a clear hi-res image, does it?

[@BeckiandChris]

I do too! I think the grain works for these for sure, poop rock works best at a lower resolution (we don’t need to see all the details there 😂)

[@bigshooter461]

12 mp is fantastic, it's not like the R for sure, but to be honest My first digital camera transitioning from film was a 6mp camera, that was what we had. You can go down the Rabbit hole for resolution especially for large print fine art. The real question with art though is how much fine detail is needed. If you're shooting the Sistine Chapel you might want all the detail you can get, but for some work, especially abstracts intended to create a mood in a space, too much detail can draw too much of the viewers critical focuss into details of the work, and might distract from the intended presence or allure of the subject or space it searves. That's not always true though, some very high resolution portraits have haunting pressence.

[@gensbas]

Can you make a vid about the new A7IV ?

[@DavidNiedbala]

I started my full frame , video, journey with the a7s in 2015. I did the hybrid video/photo with the a7s and I was so happy with how clean the pictures turned out! I have since then upgraded to the a73 and the bump in resolution is great! But I do miss the clean feel of the 12mp full frame sensor. I always wanted to try Buffalo Big Prints. Do you know if they print on metal? I lovvvvvvveee the way the pictures pop off metal prints.

[@BeckiandChris]

Awesome, all the cameras have something special! Nothing beats the clean low light of the A7S line, but it’s definitely nice to have resolution. I believe they have metallic paper but I’m not too sure if they print on metal, definitely ask them they have a ton of options and i was really happy with their work!

[@TUKMAK]

Nice video

[@T-Prime848]

Very important topic to talk about well I do have the A7 original and I love it for street photography Well I am planning on getting another Sony camera but I don’t know which one to choose…..??

[@trippwilsonphoto]

As a leica M8 user, (which is 10mp) i agree with all of this.