September 28th, 2008 by
Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras
When the megapixel race unofficially started in the point-and-shoot world, it didn’t take long before every last camera manufacturer out there was cramming 14-megapixel sensors into any ole pocket cam. Now, it seems the same race is headed to the mobile realm. Of late, we’ve seen a new batch of 8-megapixel handsets and a 9-megapixel sensor, and a recent interview with LG’s sales and marketing director John Barton points to even more of those in the near future. According to him, “the megapixel race that we saw amongst camera makers is now being battled out between mobile manufacturers,” hinting that 10+ megapixel phones (not to mention handsets with HD video capability) are closer than we may have imagined. Mmm, the possibilities.
[Via Cell Phone Feeds]
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Posted in lg, sensor, industry, CameraPhone, cmos, camera, megapixel, megapixel race, MegapixelRace | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2008 by
Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras
We’ve seen 10-megapixel cameraphones. We’ve seen 8-megapixel cameraphones. But if you’ve been holding out for that oh-so-elusive 9-megapixel cameraphone, the wait is just about over. Digital Imaging Systems (DIS) has chosen Photokina 2008 to reveal its 9-megapixel (CMOS) DIS6931 camera module for mobile phones, which provides features such as auto-focus, a mechanical shutter and ND-filter with integrated actuators. Best of all, samples of the unit are shipping out right now, while volume production is on track for Q4 2008. Hey, handset makers — can we get some attention on this, please?
[Via UnwiredView]
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Posted in CameraPhone, cmos, photokina, photokina 2008, Photokina2008, 9mp, camera module, CameraModule, Digital Imaging Systems, DigitalImagingSystems, DIS, DIS6931 | No Comments »
June 18th, 2008 by
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Ready for some new terminology? Good, try on “3MOS” — Panasonic’s newest sensor adaptation which, judging by machine translated text, is a trio sensors capturing twice the light of a single CMOS of the same 1/6-inch size. Think 3CCD applied to CMOS sensors. The result is said to be superior image quality and impressive low-light recording capability — twice the sensitivity of its own 3CCD camcorders thanks to what Panny calls its new “heavy lifting iA.” That’s just a glimpse at what you’ll find inside the solid state HDC-SD100 (supporting up to 32GB of SDHC) and the HDC-HS100 hybrid offering both SDHC and a 60GB hard disk for storage. These 1080i AVCHD camcorders also features Panasonic’s improved optical image stabilization, a 12x optical zoom, 5.1-surround mic, and HDMI-out.The ¥130,000 (about $1,205) SD100 and ¥150,000 (about $1,390) HS100 should hit the Japanese retail block on July 12th.
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Posted in japan, panasonic, AVCHD, cmos, 3mos, hdc-hs100, hdc-sd100 | No Comments »
June 11th, 2008 by
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Well, there you have it: the BSI gauntlet has been officially thrown. Sony just announced its own backside-illuminated CMOS sensor meant to rival OmniVision’s achievment. Sony’s sensor features 1.75 micron pixels totalling 5 effective megapixels capable of 60fps and offers low noise at twice the sensitivity of traditional sensors at the same pixel size. That’s a signal to noise ratio of +8dB (+6dB sensitivity, -2dB noise), nerds. Nice Sony, but OmniVision’s 8 megapixel sensor targeting cameraphones (Sony’s is apparently targeting digital cameras and camcorders) brings the pixels down to 1.4 microns (with 0.9 micron pixels on the roadmap) albeit with an undisclosed SNR. Regardless, we look forward to seeing our friend’s chemically-spiked club shots in excruciatingly slovenly detail later this year.
BSI, learn it — it’s shaping up to do for imaging what perpendicular did for magnetic storage.
[Via FarEastGizmos]
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Posted in sony, cmos, bsi, omnivision, back-illuminated | No Comments »
May 27th, 2008 by
Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras
Digital Camera 101: As manufacturers continue pushing the Megapixel Myth by stuffing more and more pixels onto rapidly shrinking sensors, the outcome is poor performance on top of poorly lit images of increasingly low quality. Now OmniVision, the largest CMOS image sensor manufacturer today, says they’ve solved the pixel size problem though backside illumination (BSI) technology. In essence, BSI helps maximize photon collection by circumventing obstructive metal and dielectric layers on the top-side of the sensor die. The result is improved light absorption, thinner overall camera modules, and increased sensitivity and F stops with reduced crosstalk. However, as EETimes’ crack staff of Electrical Engineering super-nerds point out, BSI is not a new technology. In fact, several manufacturers lay claim to BSI patents. However, OmniVision seems to be the first to take the tech to mass production for consumers. To prove it, they’ll release an 8 megapixel OmniBSI CameraChip sensor brimming with the new tech for sample in June. Couple it with a decent cameraphone lens and image processing circuitry and we might be in for a treat.
[Via EETimes]
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Posted in breaking news, BreakingNews, sensor, 8 megapixel, 8Megapixel, cmos, bsi, camerachip, megapixel myth, MegapixelMyth, omnibsi, omnibsi camerachip, OmnibsiCamerachip, omnivision | No Comments »
May 22nd, 2008 by
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Every so often, we catch Sharp tooting its own horn in regard to sensor size. Needless to say, small is most certainly superior in this discussion, and the aforesaid outfit is patting itself on the back once more for the RJ63SC100. This 5-megapixel CMOS sensor is said to be the industry’s thinnest at 9.5- x 9.5- x 6.6-millimeters, and it should fit snugly inside the already cramped innards of tomorrow’s cellphones just fine. Samples are slated to ship out at the end of May for ¥10,000 ($96) a pop, while commercial production should get going a month later.
[Via Impress]
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Posted in world record, WorldRecord, sharp, sensor, cmos, 5-megapixel, WorldsSmallest, RJ63SC100, worlds smallest | No Comments »
March 18th, 2008 by
Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras
Measuring just 8.5-mm thin, you’re looking at what Samsung claims to be the slimmest CMOS camera module of its kind. The 8 megapixel module is expected to supplant the 5 megapixel job found in todays top-end cameraphones sometime in the second half of the year. Fortunately, this isn’t just a case of megapixel marketing as the module also features anti-shake, a 1-cm macro, and face tracking technology. It also packs a smile shutter feature to snap that picture just as soon as a smile, or vinegar, is detected.
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Posted in samsung, CameraPhone, 8 megapixel, 8Megapixel, cmos, small, smallest | No Comments »
February 4th, 2008 by
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Kodak claims to be “revolutionizing” image capture, though you always have to take press releases with a grain of salt. However, it does appear that the company has made some interesting advances in camera technology for mobile devices, which will hopefully lead to bigger and better images from our phones in the near future. The company’s new KAC-05020 snaps its proprietary Color Filter Pattern technology together with a redesigned CMOS pixel for the “world’s first” 1.4 micron, 5-megapixel device. The new sensor shrinks the pixels down, but manages to maintain picture quality by harnessing the aforementioned CFP. That technique adds a fourth layer of “clear” pixels to the red, green, and blue ones which already exist, thus collecting a higher proportion of light striking the sensor, improving low light photography, reducing blur, and generally making you look like Ansel Adams. The chip is also capable of 720p video at 30 FPS, as well as extreme low light settings, like ISO 3200. Kodak will be showing the new technology off at the Mobile World Congress this month, and then hopefully cramming it into phones for us very, very soon.
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Posted in kodak, cmos, 1.4 micron, 1.4Micron, 5-megapixel, image sensor, ImageSensor, KAC-05020, truesense | No Comments »
January 30th, 2008 by
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Oh boy pixel fans, Sony just announced a new 35mm full size CMOS sensor touting 24.81 million effective pixels. The new sensor is destined for future professional-level DSLRs “within this year” in an effort to mimic the aspect ratios and distortion of their film predecessors while keeping one step ahead of the pixel wars. Sony’s “Column-Parallel A/D Conversion Technique” used in the new sensor is said to achieve high S/N even while shooting 6.3, 12-bit frames per second at full resolution. What 6fps not good enough tough guy? There’s always Sony’s 60fps CMOS which Casio will sell you in their EX-F1. Just don’t call yourself a pro if that’s your preference, k?
[Via Impress]
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Posted in sony, dslr, cmos, 24.81 megapixel, 24.81Megapixel, full frame, full-frame, FullFrame | No Comments »
November 15th, 2007 by
Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras
You know all those 3 megapixel cameraphones out there? Well, they’re about to achieve 8 megapixel ubiquity. Samsung just announced availability of their 8 megapixel CMOS sensor which shares roughly the same 10.5 x 11.5 x 9.4-mm girth of its 3 megapixel cuz. Just make sure you’ve got plenty of light to frame those shots if you’re expecting anything close to a quality image.
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Posted in samsung, 8 megapixel, 8Megapixel, first, cmos | No Comments »
