120 megapixel CMOS Sensor developed by Canon

[Drew 0]

Get ready for the ridiculous resolution because Canon has upped the ante. Their APS-H sensor (1.3 crop) of the 1D series (not 1Ds series) has hit 120 megapixel. That's 13,280 x 9,184 pixels, a 2.4x increase in resolution from the current 16mp 1D Mark IV. Of couse it can still do HD video (maybe even 4k if they can get the body right.)

Cropping will never be the same again!

 

http://www.canon.com/news/2010/aug24e.html

 

 

TOKYO, August 24, 2010—Canon Inc. announced today that it has successfully developed an APS-H-size*1 CMOS image sensor that delivers an image resolution of approximately 120 megapixels (13,280 x 9,184 pixels), the world's highest level*2 of resolution for its size.

 

Compared with Canon's highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor of the same size, comprising approximately 16.1 million pixels, the newly developed sensor features a pixel count that, at approximately 120 million pixels, is nearly 7.5 times larger and offers a 2.4-fold improvement in resolution.*3

 

With CMOS sensors, while high-speed readout for high pixel counts is achieved through parallel processing, an increase in parallel-processing signal counts can result in such problems as signal delays and minor deviations in timing. By modifying the method employed to control the readout circuit timing, Canon successfully achieved the high-speed readout of sensor signals. As a result, the new CMOS sensor makes possible a maximum output speed of approximately 9.5 frames per second, supporting the continuous shooting of ultra-high-resolution images.

 

Canon's newly developed CMOS sensor also incorporates a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) video output capability. The sensor can output Full HD video from any approximately one-sixtieth-sized section of its total surface area.

 

Images captured with Canon's newly developed approximately 120-megapixel CMOS image sensor, even when cropped or digitally magnified, maintain higher levels of definition and clarity than ever before. Additionally, the sensor enables image confirmation across a wide image area, with Full HD video viewing of a select portion of the overall frame.

 

Through the further development of CMOS image sensors, Canon will break new ground in the world of image expression, targeting new still images that largely surpass those made possible with film, and video movies that capitalize on the unique merits of SLR cameras, namely their high mobility and the expressive power offered through interchangeable lenses.

 

*1 The imaging area of the newly developed sensor measures approx. 29.2 x 20.2 mm.

*2 As of August 20, 2010. Based on a Canon study.

*3 Canon's highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor, employed in the company's EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR cameras, is equivalent to the full-frame size of the 35 mm film format and incorporates approximately 21.1 million pixels. In 2007, the company successfully developed an APS-H-size sensor with approximately 50 million pixels.

[marv800 0]

OK, but why? I thought the damned megapixel war was over

[Don in Colorado 2]

Cool ! Gotta give the rich folks something to spend their money on.

[Paul Kay 31]

Now just how are they going to build lenses capable of supplying sufficient data to make this sensor worthwhile???

[gobiodon 59]

Pure experiment. It will never be used in a real camera. Few years back there was a 60 megapixel version of this.

[loftus 42]

Get ready for the ridiculous resolution because Canon has upped the ante. Their APS-H sensor (1.3 crop) of the 1D series (not 1Ds series) has hit 120 megapixel. That's 13,280 x 9,184 pixels, a 2.4x increase in resolution from the current 16mp 1D Mark IV. Of couse it can still do HD video (maybe even 4k if they can get the body right.)

Cropping will never be the same again!

 

http://www.canon.com/news/2010/aug24e.html

Probably be noisy as hell over ISO 100, but then you can always crop.

[Drew 0]

Pure experiment. It will never be used in a real camera. Few years back there was a 60 megapixel version of this.

 

Maybe, maybe not. Back in '91, Kodak's DCS100 was 1.3mp. 19 years later, the Phase One and Hassy backs are at 60mp and DSLR in a few months will pass 30. So it may not be soon, but 120mp is in the future.

[loftus 42]

Maybe, maybe not. Back in '91, Kodak's DCS100 was 1.3mp. 19 years later, the Phase One and Hassy backs are at 60mp and DSLR in a few months will pass 30. So it may not be soon, but 120mp is in the future.

As Paul mentions though, what about lenses? Is there any technology on the horizon to get around the lens limiting factor?

Edited August 25, 2010 by loftus

[EspenRekdal 1]

Surely they wont push 30MP before doing something with the glass (size?). I mean whats the point with increasing CA and lack of optical performance with current options.

 

Espen.

 

Maybe, maybe not. Back in '91, Kodak's DCS100 was 1.3mp. 19 years later, the Phase One and Hassy backs are at 60mp and DSLR in a few months will pass 30. So it may not be soon, but 120mp is in the future.

[StephenFrink 9]

Get ready for the ridiculous resolution because Canon has upped the ante. Their APS-H sensor (1.3 crop) of the 1D series (not 1Ds series) has hit 120 megapixel. That's 13,280 x 9,184 pixels, a 2.4x increase in resolution from the current 16mp 1D Mark IV. Of couse it can still do HD video (maybe even 4k if they can get the body right.)

Cropping will never be the same again!

 

http://www.canon.com/news/2010/aug24e.html

 

Excellent, experiment or not. Now, if they keep it all in the same MKIV body, I'm a happy shooter.

 

BTW ... my SEACAM MKIII (for 1DsMKIII) housing leaves Saturday for Fiji to shoot the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. Sadly, I won't be with it Walter Iooss will be renting it to shoot over/unders, and I'm sure he'll come home with some brilliant results.

[TheRealDrew 0]

Sadly, I won't be with it

 

That is an understatement. Tell them you need to bring it personally or something like that

[Drew 0]

As Paul mentions though, what about lenses? Is there any technology on the horizon to get around the lens limiting factor?

 

Well guessing from the timeline of resolution going from 1.3 - 60mp, I think there'll be a few iterations of all lenses before 120mp hits

 

Excellent, experiment or not. Now, if they keep it all in the same MKIV body, I'm a happy shooter.

Doubt it, Stephen. As video becomes more important, the camera body will probably change to accommodate features like RAW capture (or at least higher bitrate) and other new sexy features.

[gobiodon 59]

This is a news from 2007:

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/8040/canon...gapixel-monster

 

Have you seen any 5o megapixels canon?

[james 0]

Stephen: that sounds like the dream assignment. I love Fiji! Well shooting the magazine photos wouldn't be bad either.

 

Cheers

James

[tdpriest 115]

How do you avoid sensor crosstalk and light leakage with things that close to one another? Indeed, since billboards were filled with images from 2 megapixel sensors 10 years ago, does it matter? I guess that if someone shows me that it can compete with a large format camera, then I would be impressed, but the optics would have to be spectacular to allow that...

 

Tim

 

[Undertow 31]

i bet you the images off it are crap. i'm sure they did it just cause they can, more marketing than anything else ("look how great a camera company we are, buy our cameras!"). did they ever release images off that 50 or 60mp one they did a couple years ago? doubt it.

 

also is a starting point to hone that technology to create a usable sensor at that resolution in the future. kinda wish they'd focus more on dynamic range but that doesn't sell cameras to uninformed consumers like lots of megapixels does.

 

chris

[shark8matt 0]

I believe they also had an experimental CMOS sensor that measured 300mm on a side...

and of course the 4K video capture camera.

Some interesting exercises - while I am sure they may in some way help canon production models somewhere down the line, they won't be as extreme in size or megapixel count. Basically the - look at what we can do! for the expo I guess...

 

-MDP