What is the pixel size of a Sony CyberShot S730?

Question

I have a Sony CyberShot S730 and am writting an article on low budget astrophotography. I would like to find out which HAD sensor is in the camera, or at least what size each pixel is so I can calculate what image scale I am imaging at. I have gotten some decent lunar and planetary images, but would like some info about the sensor.

Answer 1

The camera in question uses 1/2.5" sensor per dpreview:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0712/071228...

1/2.5" sensor means that it's physical dimensions are:

According to the second table from the bottom here:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=sens...

5.760 x 4.290 (mm)

Per this source:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/119...

The image size at highest resolution is 3072 x 2304

So, now we have enough data to calculate the pixel size:

5.760 / 3072 = 0.0019mm (rounded to nearest 1/10000)

4.290 / 2304 = 0.0019mm (rounded to nearest 1/10000)

Therefore your answer is:

The pixel size is 0.0019 x 0.0019 millimeters.

Hopefully this is what you've been looking for!

LEM.

Answer 2

That P&S camera has tiny sensor 5.75 x 4.31 mm, 7MP (29 MP/cm²)  There are some P&S cameras that have slightly larger sensors, 7.6 x 5.7 mm,13MP, (36 MP/cm²) like the Sony W300 that may provide a little better resolution, but  nothing near the quality found on 35 mm SLR attached to a telescope using a T-mount adapter (under $100 on craigslist)

As you probably know, the larger the sensor and larger the pixel, the less noise is generated at high ISO settings and higher the resolution the images are.  This is the reason the new Nikon D3 has such low noise even at 6400 ISO ... the sensor is 36 x 24 mm, 12MP (1.4 MP/cm²) ... larger pixels and smaller pixel density, reduces risk of image degradation do to diffraction .