Tag Archives: Stacked Sensor

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

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

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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 ←

Announcements, Articles, Development, Hardware Development, Science

Nikon Stacked CMOS Sensor Will do 1000fps in 4k!

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Nikon Stacked CMOS Sensor

Nikon Japan has been busy creating the next generation of 1″ stacked sensors.  The latest is a 17.84 Megapixel stacked design with hyper-fast memory interconnect that shoots up to 1000fps at 4k resolution which is no slouch. The sensor is still in development but it will be a possibility to see it in a camera that could compete head to head with the Sony RX series which now dominate prosumer P&S sales.  It was announced at ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference) held in San Francisco, February 15, 2021.

The sensor works by shooting in buckets of 16 x 16 pixels as one block, and then subsequently 264 x 264 pixel blocks (4224 x 4224 pixels) are conformed to form the final image at nearly 18MP.  It is unclear at this time if 4k video will be a windowed resolution or a supersampled then reduced final image from the full sensor.  The market for this sensor goes beyond consumer cameras as it is aimed at other applications like self-driving cars and production lines. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Announcements, Hardware Development, Hi Speed Phone Video

SONY IMX586 Stacked Sensor 48MP and High Frame Rates!

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SONY IMX586 Stacked Sensor

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 ←

Development, Hardware Development, Rumors, Slowmo Samples

Samsung Exynos Camera Rumor With Super Slow Motion!

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Samsung Exynos Camera

The folks at Mirrorless Rumors have a new story based on an anonymous source that claims to know information about a super camera being tested at Samsung’s labs that can do among other things 480fps at 1080p resolution.  Its also claimed to be 4k 120fps ready and using the Exynos 9810 SoC which is reserved for their high-end phones up to now.

These claims are too detailed and too extraordinary to be believed but the Exynos Chip should be able to process all of that data.  The Rumor also states that it will be an APS-C chip with ISOCELL Technology on a stacked design capable of 30.1 Megapixels or 6720*4480px at 30p frame rates. The camera is a prototype according to the source and it is not known if it will be released as a real product in the future.

Samsung Exynos Camera Rumor Highlights:

  • – Full sensor (6720*4480) @ 30fps
    – 5376*3024 @ 60fps
    – 3840*2160 @ 120fps
    – 2688*1512 @ 240fps
    – 1920*1080 @ 480fps
  • – full width of the sensor is used up to 480fps 
  • -Dual Pixel AF System with Phase detection
  • Accelerometer-based shutter
  • H.265 codec
  • Up to 120fps should be full sensor read-out, 2.7K and 1080p at higher frame-rates is 2×2 pixel binning and then down-sampling
  • Full rumor specs here: https://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/good-true-high-end-samsung-aps-c-camera-based-exynos-9810-soc/

Our Take:

When you get outlandish rumors with a list of features that leapfrog everything in the current camera landscape you have to remain a skeptic.  However, the frame rates touted are already possible my much lesser processors out there but they have to be paired with super fast RAM buffers in the several GB range and record for very limited time frames.

Super Slow Motion Movie Taken by 3-layer Stacked CMOS Image Sensor with DRAM by Sony:

A Samsung camera with those specs would need a huge stacked sensor cache module and a secondary memory module in the 16-32GB range for just a few seconds or record time.  We also have to expect a sensor with that many pixels to be full of rolling shutter distortion unless they have implemented a Sony RX like electronic shutter 1/32000 which could be also possible.

What is the Exynos 9810 – Gary explains by  Android Authority: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Action Cameras, Announcements, Camera News, Development, Hardware Development, Rumors

Samsung 1000fps Sensor and GoPro Hero 6 240fps FHD!

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Samsung 1000fps Sensor

A new Samsung Rumor estimates that Samsung has been working on a 1000fps capable sensor for years now but the latest aims to have it present on their next 2018 flagship phones. These will be able to compete with the Sony Stacked Mobile sensors present on the Xperia XZ Premium and XZs Phones.   The Korean Site ET News has the information on a 3 layer stacked sensor that will allow for 1000fps frame rates on the next generation imaging systems for the Samsung flagship smart-phone line.

If Samsung’s Galaxy S9 debuts with this new stacked sensor technology it will be a first for Samsung to get really serious about slow motion performance on mobile phones.  Apple, Google and Sony have been far above Samsung in Performance for many years and this will be a way for the Korean manufacturer to get the foot in the door and compete with Sony on their own turf.

Article Quote by ETNews Korea:

Full article here at their site!

“Samsung Electronics developed and is going to start mass-producing super-fast image sensor that can take up to 1,000 pictures in a second. With this sensor, Smartphone camera will be able to implement images such as ‘Slow Motion’ that is used to decide whether or not a referee made a correct decision in pro baseball. It is expected that Smartphone camera equipped with this sensor will be useful in capturing an object’s movement in detail such as fixing posture of a person who is swinging a golf club.

According to industries on the 17th, Samsung Electronics is going to start mass-producing ‘3-layered image sensor’ in November. This image sensor is made into a layered structure by connecting a system semiconductor (logic chip) that is in charge of calculations and DRAM chip that can temporarily store data through TSV (Through Silicon Via) technology. Samsung Electronics currently ordered special equipment for mass-production and is going to start mass-producing ‘3-layered image sensor’ after doing pilot operation in next month.”

HSC- As you can see we will probably see a Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus sporting this chip in early 2018.  The fact that they will ramp up production before year’s end bodes well for slow motion enthusiasts that need a dependable top performing Android phone.    As to the recording time

As to the recording time, buffer size and quality of the recording we cannot really speculate at this time but since Sony has a 1000fps 1080p smartphone chip in the pipeline; Samsung should be at least working on a 1080p solution that could record crisp resolution.  Recording time on the Xperia XZ phones was not ideal at 0.27 seconds which is really limiting. If Samsung can break the 1-second barrier it would become the new king of mobile phone high-speed imagers.  We will be watching closely as this develops.

Go Pro Hero 6 Leaks:

GoPro Canada leaks images of Hero 6

Looks like the GoPro Hero 6 will have 4k 60fps like the Yi 4k+ camera and as you can see below 240fps 1080p recording will also be present. At this stage with Best Buy leaks flowing with finished packaged cameras showing up it is fair to say this Rumor is pretty much fully cooked.

It will be interesting to see the quality delivered at 1080p 240p and if 720p 480fps is present in the camera considering it shoudl have the bandwith performance to do it.  As an interesting tidbit; the Ambarella SoC is not part of the new Camera with GoPro ending the relationship to create their own chip “codename GP1”.  This makes sense since Ambarella has been providing competitors in China like Yi Technology the same exact SoC chips which in turn yield the exact same imaging performance. This, in turn, erodes GoPro sales and creates a climate of over-supply of copycat action cameras.

Pricing estimated at: $499 US and $649 Canada

If GoPro can create a performance gap with the Hero 6 it will be on their own merit with leapfrog specs that should not be easy to copy. What they now have to watch is Sony with their stacked sensor technology and what we saw on the RX0 last week may just be the beginning.  If the Hero 6 delivers what is promised in the packaging it may become our action camera of the year recommendation.  Many will point out that Sony’s X3000 Action Cam is due for a refresh and Sony stacked sensor will probably be included in some way.   It is a win-win situation for high frame rate enthusiasts when companies are one-upping each other to generate high-speed performance. What’s not to love?

We will be covering this and all other high-speed camera releases as they are released. -HSC

Action Cameras, Announcements, Camera News, Drones, Hardware Development, Media Showcase, Slowmo Samples

Sony RX0 Slow Motion Aims at Pro Action Market!

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Sony RX0 Slow Motion

As expected by recent rumors, Sony unveiled the RX0 a compact action camera that is more high-end oriented than any action camera before it. A Crash cam for video production that has a large 1″ sensor with high sensitivity and S-Log 2 flat profile.  It also has features like focus assist, full 4k 4:2:2 HDMI output to an external recorder and a 1/32000 shutter like other RX series cameras that gets rid of most of the rolling shutter distortion apparent in other action cameras.

While the GoPro Hero 4 and 5 have access to a Pro Tune Log style video profile; the camera is not really geared for high-end production. The RX0, however, is limited to 1080p 60fps internally with 4k output from HDMI to an external recorder as the only 4k output option. This gives GoPro, Yi 4k+, and Sony’s Action Cam series an edge of internal 4k recording.

Sony RX0 Main Features:

  • Ultra-Compact, Lightweight Body
  • 21MP 1″ Stacked CMOS Sensor 15.3MP Effective
  • 15MP maximum Still Image Size-RAW
  • Anti-distortion shutter of up to 1/32000 sec.
  • 33ft (10m) waterproof without housing
  • Timecode-Sync Multiple Cameras
  • Internally Records 1080p60 Video
  • High frame rates up to 960fps/1000fps
  • Picture Profile and S-Log2 gamma setting
  • 16fps Still Image Shooting at 15MP
  • Zeiss 24mm-Equivalent Lens, f/4 Aperture
  • XAVC-S, AVCHD and .MP4 Recording
  • Control via App or VP1K Remote
  • NTSC/PAL Switchable
  • Shockproof Body from heights up to 6.5 ft (2.0 m)
  • RX0 is crushproof under weights up to 440 lbf/2,000 N (200 kgf).
  • Outputs Uncompressed 4:2:2 UHD 4K Video via HDMI
  • MSRP: $699.99 USD available now!
  • LENS TYPE: ZEISS Tessar T* Lens, 6 elements in 6 groups (6 aspheric elements)
  • F-NUMBER (MAXIMUM APERTURE)F4.0 (Fixed)
  • FOCAL LENGTH (F=)f=7.7mm;Still Image3:2 f=24mm;Still Image4:3 f=26mm;Still Image16:9 f=25.2mm;Still Image1:1 f=30.7mm
  • FOCUS RANGE (FROM THE FRONT OF THE LENS)Approx. 50cm (1.7 ft.) to Infinity
  • Fixed Focal – NO ZOOM!

Recording Modes:

STILL IMAGES:

  • 3:2mode:15M(4,800×3,200) / 7.7M(3,408×2,272) /
  • 3.8M(2,400×1,600)、4:3mode:14M(4,272×3,200) /
  • 6.9M(3,024×2,272) / 3.4M(2,128×1,600) /
  • VGA,16:9mode:13M(4,800×2,704) / 6.5M(3,408×1,920) /
  • 3.2M(2,400×1,352),1:1mode:10M(3,200×3,200) /
  • 5.2M(2,272×2,272) / 2.6M(1,600×1,600)

Video Mode:

  • 24p, 25p, 30fps, 50fps, 60fps 1080p continuous
  • 720p 120fps Video Continuous Recording

Sony RX0 Slow Motion:

HFR Slow Motion Recording Modes:

“Super slow motion at frame rate of up to 960/1000fps is available to capture split-seconds of action in movies. Slow motion shooting at 480/500fps and 240/250fps especially maintains fine images at nearly HD quality with the choice of Quality Priority mode. End trigger mode lets you capture the decisive moment in super slow motion starting from two or four seconds before the REC button is pressed.”

[PAL] mode XAVC S HD 50Mbps recording:

50p 50 M (1,920×1,080/250fps), 50p 50 M (1,920×1,080/500fps), 50p 50 M (1,920×1,080/1000fps) / 25p 50 M (1,920×1,080/250fps), 25p 50 M (1,920×1,080/500fps), 25p 50 M (1,920×1,080/1000fps)

[NTSC] mode XAVC S HD 50Mbps recording:

60p 50M(1,920×1,080/240fps)、60p 50M(1,920×1,080/480fps)、60p 50M(1,920×1,080/960fps) / 30p 50M(1,920×1,080/240fps)、30p 50M(1,920×1,080/480fps)、30p 50M(1,920×1,080/960fps) / 24p 50M(1,920×1,080/240fps)、24p 50M(1,920×1,080/480fps)、24p 50M(1,920×1,080/960fps)

Quality Priority 2 Seconds Record Time:

  • 240fps/250fps(1,676×942)
  • 480fps/500fps(1,676×566)
  • 960fps/1000fps(1,136×384)

Shoot Time Priority 4 seconds record Time:

  • 240fps/250fps(1,676×566)
  • 480fps/500fps(1,136×384)
  • 960fps/1000fps(800×270)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blxMlJA6NJ4

Battery Life Video and Image Mode:

  • BATTERY LIFE(STILL IMAGES)Approx. 240shots / Approx. 120mi
  • BATTERY LIFE(MOVIES ACTUAL SHOOTING)Approx. 35min.
  • BATTERY LIFE(MOVIES CONTINUOUS SHOOTING)Approx. 60min.

Other Features:

“MF Assist and Peaking functions refine focus

To help you fine-tune focus, Manual Focus (MF) Assist magnifies the area you are focusing on to enable more precise adjustment while Peaking highlights the sharpest or most in-focus area with your choice of color to help determine whether further focusing adjustment is required.”

“Auto Power OFF Temperature can extend movie shooting duration

You can choose an internal temperature level at which the camera automatically powers off. For example, movie shots tend to run longer when a tripod is used, so by setting Auto Power OFF Temperature to “High”, movies can be shot for extended durations.” → Continue Reading Full Post ←