Tag Archives: sony sensor

Announcements, Camera News, Development, Hardware Development, Rumors, Science

Canon New Cinema Camera Will do 240fps in 4k!

April 29, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Canon it seems is thinking 3 steps ahead of everyone else when it comes to pro 8k video. After being left behind in the adoption of 4k and playing catch up to the format, they seem intent on making their cameras the new 8k default option with specs that seem out of a dreamer’s wish list. Be warned that these cameras will probably start at $10k USD and go up from there. The low end should be about 10k to $15k for the C300s at the low end, and the high end a $30k price tag for a C700DR.

The most impressive of the new rumored cameras is the Canon EOS C700DR (DR Stands for Dynamic Range) which will be capable of recording 4k not just at 120fps but a class-leading 240fps with excellent quality. It also hints at a 180fps mode that will have expanded dynamic range if needed. It is interesting that 1080p as a slow motion mode is not even considered here but these cameras are geared to a specific market and that is digital cinema which needs much more resolution nowadays than what even 2k can deliver, much less 1080p. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

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Nubia Red Magic 3 Slow Motion 1920fps and Its Not A Typo!

May 5, 2019 admin 8 Comments

The Nubia Red Magic 3 phone is something of a hyper-customized piece of gear for the performance-oriented gamer with crazy high-quality 3D specs and even fan cooling inside the case which is a first for a phone and a testament to the engineering to get it to fit in such a slim case. The specs that really caught our attention are that the phone does 8k video recording and 480fps 1080p with a beta mode to bring that all the way up to 1920fps.

We had no indication that the 1920fps mode is indeed real for a few days until we found out it is actually an option on the phone and not a typo which many including us thought up as 1920pixels for 1080p not frames. But yes it is frames which makes it confusing but in our estimation also allows for decoding the truth behind this spec and if it is actually all that it claims to be.

Nubia Red Magic 3 Camera Specs:

Software Settings	Exposure compensation
Camera Features	Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus
Image Resolution	8000 x 6000 Pixels 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide)
Sensor	Exmor-RS CMOS Sensor IMX 586
Autofocus	Yes
Shooting Modes	Continuous Shooting, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR)
Resolution	16 MP Front Camera
Physical Aperture	F2.0
Flash	Yes Dual LED Flash

Video Recording:

4320p 8k – 30fps
2160p 4k 30fps & 60fps
Slow Motion 480fps Full HD and 1920fps Full HD

Looking at the specs it seems the phone can do no wrong but the first clue in discovering the truth about frame rates comes from the IMX 586 sensor that the phone uses.

Sony IMX 586 Frame Rate Specs:

Frame rate	Full	30fps
Frame rate	Movie	4K(4096×2160) 90fps 1080p 240fps 720p 480fps(w/crop)

The 48 Megapixel IMX 586 is a marvel of sensor design by allowing a 4k capture at 90fps but there is a limit as to the power of their stacked design. It can only deliver 480fps 720p video in a severe crop of the sensor area which shows just how misleading the 1920fps spec. You can see the full Sony IMX 586 specs here!

The phone is upconverting the 480fps 720p to 1080p which is also a misleading spec then it is in our estimation doing interpolation or just slowing down the playback by 4x to give exactly 1920ps. 480fps * 4 = 1920fps. It is not uncommon for Chinese phones to tout crazy specs and that is why you have to take them with a big grain of salt since the beginning. Reviewers that have the phone from China as an import also have the trouble of having nearly no Google Play store app support so it is a dicey proposition until Google approves it as a supported device.

The video below by Tech/NickBrazer shows the frame rate interface on the Red Magic 3!

Nubia Red Magic 3 Unboxing & Initial Review – The Everything Smartphone by Tech/NickBrazer:

The phone could, in theory, do the 90fps 4k feature of the IMX 586 some justice but the current 60p at that frame size is probably the limit of the frame buffer. However, being able to shoot 8k means that it should easily pump that many frames to a file. There is also the horrible rolling shutter performance when shooting 8k, any slight motion creates a wobble effect that ruins the 8k video feature. You are much better of recording in 4k and getting usable video.

The Video below claims to be a real sample from the 1920fps feature of the Red Magic 3. It looks like 480fps slowed down by 4x which would make sense but we are unable to authenticate the veracity of the footage.

Nubia Red Magic Mars 3 1920FPS Super Slow motion and 8k Support by Sparrows News: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Announcements, Hardware Development, Hi Speed Phone Video

SONY IMX586 Stacked Sensor 48MP and High Frame Rates!

July 23, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Sony has released specs for a new IMX Cellphone oriented sensor that has a whopping 48 Megapixel photosite grid with a new Bayer altered pattern of quad pixel colors that aims to quadruple the dynamic range of the signal and increase detail retention significantly by supersampling every photosite and creating a final 12MP image with excellent characteristics.

As far as frame rates go we were glad to see very high-end read-out speeds for this sensor as full 4k video can max out at 90fps and other high fps settings include 1080p 240fps full area downsampling and 720p 480fps but with a cropped windowed frame extraction. At 48MP or 12 regular De-Bayered then we expect the crop to be quite extreme at the 720p mode unless they do a 4 or 6MP downsample.

Sony IMX586 Stacked Sensor Frame Rates:

Full Sensor Read-out at 48MP 30fps
4K(4096×2160) : 90fps
1080p : 240fps
720p : 480fps(w/crop)

We do not expect this sensor to be the best match for high-speed imaging, more related to high-end still image quality. Other Sony IMX Sensors capable of 960fps at full HD 1080p should be available in phone designs going forward as in the Xperia XZ2.

Some experts expect the Sony Xperia XZ3 or XZ4 to feature the first use of this sensor to have a real upper hand on the image quality front. Now that supersampling is a clear direction for phone sensors due to hitting an upper limit on what traditional pixel sensors can do, we expect to see this technique used in more CMOS designs as phones evolve. Looking at the image data and samples below you can clearly see that the detail may even rival professional cameras when it comes to dynamic range and detail in good light.

The following data is a direct quote from the official Sony site for the IMX586 here: https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201807/18-060E/index.html

Sony IMX586 Stacked Sensor Main Features:

1.World’s first^*3 0.8 μm ultra-compact pixel size enables industry’s highest^*1 pixel count at 48 effective megapixels^*2

Generally, miniaturization of pixels results in poor light collecting efficiency per pixel, accompanied by a drop in sensitivity and volume of saturation signal. This product was designed and manufactured with techniques that improve light collection efficiency and photoelectric conversion efficiency over conventional products, resulting in the world’s first^*3 0.8 μm pixel size, with both high sensitivity and high saturation signal level.
This smaller pixel size allows the new product to deliver 48 effective megapixels^*2 on a compact unit with 8.0 mm diagonal, which can be fitted on many smartphones. The increased pixel count enables high-definition imaging even on smartphones which use digital zoom. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

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OnePlus 5 Slow Motion Video Samples!

August 7, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Now that the OnePlus 5 Phone has been shipping to customers for a few weeks it is time to re-visit the phone and the slow motion footage it can record. We were disappointed by the 120fps 720p limitation on the phone since most new flagship handsets aim at the 120fps 1080p and 240fps 720p spec as a competitive plateau. Still, the OnePlus phones are very popular worldwide with the mix of great optics, lack of software bloatware and true performance unencumbered by ROMs that slow the phone down.

It is true that the phone slow motion will not win any prizes due to slight compression artifacts and aliasing that shows the sensor is skipping lines and applying a lower bitrate at the end. Slow motion seems to be an afterthought in the OnePlus 5 while stills and 4k recording are solid. We are sharing new examples for you to judge.

OnePlus 5 Slow Motion Video Samples:

OnePlus 5 Slow Motion Video Sample of River + Flowers + BluePoppy by Sandeep Godiyal:

oneplus 5….slow motion by m.shanny nur iman ap: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Announcements, Availability, Camera News, Hi Speed Phone Video, Media Showcase, Slowmo Samples

One Plus 5 Debuts With Only 720p 120fps!

June 21, 2017 admin 2 Comments

There were a lot of expectations for the phone that would replace the One Plus 3T which was a mighty seller for the performance hungry crowd without the high price tag that typically goes along with the best phones. The new One Plus 5 is a good upgrade from the One Plus 3 and 3T in that the performance goes neck and neck with the best of the best out there and tied with the Samsung Galaxy S8 in benchmarks.

The tale, however, is not completely rosy as the camera module taking a page from the iPhone 7 Plus includes two camera sensor modules, one for wide-angle at 16MP and the other for telephoto with 20MP resolution. We say it falls short because the slow motion frame rates are pegged to a 720p resolution and only at 120fps. This is not flagship performance for video even when it ticks off all the other boxes like 4k 30p and 1080 60p.

The Apple iPhone, Galaxy S7, S8 leave it behind at 240fps 720p while the Sony Xperia XZs and Premium absolutely destroy it at 960fps 720p due to the new stacked sensor contained in those phones. Sony it seems are keeping their best cards close to their sleeves as to not loose the performance edge.

It is clear slow motion video, while touted in the specs, was never a big design choice for the One Plus 5. The 120fps 720p spec is so 2014 and on a phone that has so much power inside it simply seems out of place. It may be the choice of sensor in the Sony IMX 371 which may not be able to capture faster speeds.

OnePlus 5 slow motion video by Antonio Monaco:

In the video above by Antonio Monaco, you can see the 720p 120fps video from the One Plus 5 is adequate with good levels of detail and few resolution artifacts.

OnePlus 5 Slow Motion video 1 by Nagaraj:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pV50sQNiWs

Good color, good detail and lack of noise are all good attributes of the One Plus 5 slow motion image. However, we see a tendency to defocus and focus continuously. Probably can be avoided by using focus lock on the camera interface.

One Plus 5 Main Specs:

Dimensions 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25 mm
Weight 153g
Material Anodized Aluminum
Color : Midnight Black / Slate Gray
Operating System : OxygenOS based on Android^™ Nougat
CPU: Qualcomm^® Snapdragon^™ 835 (Octa-core, 10nm, up to 2.45GHz)
GPU: Adreno 540

Display:

Parameters
Size: 5.5 inches
Resolution: 1080P Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) 401ppi
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Type: Optic AMOLED
Support sRGB, DCI-P3
Cover Glass:2.5D Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass 5

Rear Camera Wide-angle:

Sensor: Sony IMX 398 (Same as 3T)
Megapixels: 16
Pixel Size: 1.12 µm
EIS: Yes
Autofocus: DCAF
Aperture: f/1.7

Rear Camera Telephoto:

Sensor: Sony IMX 350
Megapixels: 20
Pixel Size: 1.0 µm
Autofocus: PDAF
Aperture: f/2.6

Video Specs Main Camera:

4K resolution video at 30fps
1080P resolution video at 60fps
1080P resolution video at 30fps
720P resolution video at 30fps
Slow Motion: 720p videos at 120fps*
Time-Lapse

Front Selfie Camera:

Sensor: Sony IMX 371
Megapixels: 16
Pixel Size: 1.0 µm
EIS: Yes
Autofocus: Fixed Focus
Aperture: f/2.0
Front Video
1080P resolution video at 30fps
720P resolution video at 30fps
Time-Lapse

OnePlus 5 – Dual Camera. Clearer Photos by OnePlus:

Pricing depends on hardware storage/memory version:

The Phone will come in two variants that will share most components including screen but will differ in memory and storage.

One Plus 5 Option #1:

6GB LPDDR4X – RAM
64GB UFS 2.1 2-LANE Storage
Slate Gray Color
Price: $479 / €499

One Plus 5 Option #2:

8GB LPDDR4X – RAM
128GB UFS 2.1 2-LANE Storage
Midnight Black Color
Price: $539 / €559

When you compare the phone to other options like the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S8 which are above $700 USD it is clear the One Plus 5 offers a lot of value for a Snapdragon 835 phone which goes head to head in performance figures. It will find a home in a lot of pockets when it comes to 99% of users. The phone is a performance monster but not a video shooters dream when it comes to high frame rates. Which may or may not impact you much. The camera application, however, is good and has great features, for 4k shooters it should be more than adequate.

For us, however, it is just one more missed opportunity for slow motion prowess to be delivered in mobile form. We will not be covering the One Plus 5 going forward as it barely includes the minimum slow motion spec we cover. -HSC

More information about the One Plus 5 here: https://oneplus.net

Xiaomi Yi II New 4k Camera Boosts Frame Rates!

May 16, 2016 admin Leave a comment

The Xiaomi Yi Camera offered most of what the low end GoPro Hero cameras brought to the table but for much less money. Now Xiaomi is releasing the Xiaomi Yi II which is a 4k capable action camera sporting the Ambarella A9 chip with a Sony IMX377 sensor and an f2.8 lens.

For the price of $249.99 which is extremely low for a camera of this caliber; you get a 30p 4k capable imaging body with the added benefit of 240fps at 720p resolution, 120fps at 1080p and 960p and the 2k 60fps spec to boot. For giggles there is also a pink version of the camera that might appeal to the female users.

Technical Specifications for Xiaomi Yi II:

CPU	Ambarella A9SE75
Sensor	Sony IMX377, 12MP, 1/2.3″
Lens	7 layer optical glass lens, 160°wide angle
Aperture	F2.8, f=2.68mm
Display	2.19″ touch display
Remote Control	Bluetooth remote controller (not included)
Battery	1400mAh, 3.85V, 5.39Wh
Microphone	Two-channel microphone
Speaker	Built-in
Wi-Fi	Supports both 5GHZ and 2.4GHz Wifi frequency band
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0
Interface	Micro USB
Video Mode	Normal photography, time-lapse, looping recording
Video Format	H.264 codec; MP4
Video Resolution	4K/30fps, 2.5K/30fps, 1440P/60fps, 1080P/120fps, 960P/120fps, 720P/240fps, WVGA/240fps
Photo Resolution	12 million pixels
EV Compensation	Support manually set the EV value
Image Stabilizer	Six-axis gyro electronic image stabilization
Waterproof	40m waterproof (need to use with waterproof case which is not included)
Working Temperture	-10℃~40℃
Size	65mm42mm21mm
Weight	95g(included battery)

The camera has a 2.19″ Touch screen which is a great addition and supposedly has enough battery power to record up to 120 minutes of continuous 4k video. In practice this might be dismissed as a best case scenario spec but it is good to see these Action Cams get better battery life.

A general idea of whats inside YI 4K Action Camera by Sami Luo:

Another cool aspect of the camera is the 1/4″ standard tripod mount for the body which is in an ideal location since the lens is centered to it. This makes the camera usable with any 1/4″ support system. The User Interface (UI) design is also extremely easy to use and a clear step up from other offerings. Xiaomi is creating an incredible package here.

We can’t wait to see footage from this camera and if it is as good as the competition and the reliability and ruggedness are up there; we don’t see an easy path forward in sales for either Sony or GoPro with their offerings. Sony however does have a benefit by getting an IMX377 sensor sale for every camera.

“Sony: The IMX377CQT is a diagonal 7.81 mm (Type 1/2.3) CMOS image sensor with a color square pixel array and approximately 12.35 M effective pixels. 12-bit digital output makes it possible to output the signals of approximately 12.35 M effective pixels with high definition for shooting still pictures.”

MSRP: 249.99 USD

Estimated Release Date June 15th 2016

We will keep you updated on the Xiaomi Yi II 4k camera and footage samples as they surface. Now we shall see what Sony and GoPro have in store to compete with this shot across the bow from China!
Raw footage slow motion in 720P – YI 4K Action Camera:
→ Continue Reading Full Post ←

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