Sony Full Frame Sensor - 24 Megapixels

[ShaolinTiger]

Coming soon, apparently will be in production by year end.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/30/sonys-24-81-megapixel-cmos-sensor-going-pro-this-year/

Is this the sensor for the Nikon D3x? What say you?

It can still maintain 6.3fps at full res with 12-bit output! Faster than the 1Ds MKII at 5fps.

[tools4fools]

Interesting stuff. Wonder if Nikon will use it with Sony having their own dSLR line now too.

Or is it a joint venture? I think D3 sensor was developed by Nikon but am not sure if produced by Nikon?

In any case it shows that FF is coming more and more into the market...

What I predicted years ago when only FF was Kodak. Will have to remind some of my old discussion buddies of it...:D

Me thinks FF got bright future ahead...there will always be a small dSLR with crop sensor simply because some people like to keep it small and light - and smaller sensor means smaller lenses, etc..but that for those who like D40's and 18-200mm zooms.
A D80 size body is probably big enough to accommodate a FF...D300 certainly, it is about same size as 5D...

Just wait and see...:cool:

Looking forward to more FF sensors...
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[apophoto]

I feel the mp technology race has come to such a stage where 12mp and above is more than adequate enough for 35mm format. If one needs to blow up to billboard size, the medium format sensor plays its role in this aspect. All major brand names like Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Sony should concentrate on what Fuji did with their Super CCD sensor by having a wider dynamic range to tackle the highlights in a high-contrast scene. The wedding photographers trying to nail their shots right on the groom with a dark suit and the bride in her white gown has always been a challenging prospect. The objective goal is no longer how sharp an image could be; even noise at high ISO has been adequately handled by the likes of the new D3 and the 1Ds series. Time to shift the goal posts away from the sharpness issue and address the basic dynamic range expounded in the zone system (especially for b&w application) to extract the details in the shadows without blown-out highlights. That's my 2 sen.

[SooHK]

Some company need to buck up or become a dinosaur... :) and consumer will have fun....

[noordin]

Surprised that the news is leaked only now because the Nikon D3X is already in beta testing now. In fact the existence of such FF Sony sensor was bandied around late last year. The specs for this new Sony FF CMOS is the same specs as rumored in the D3X. So that is certainly the CMOS that will be used by Nikon.

Better start saving from now. ;)

[tools4fools]

I think dynamic range, noise and more pixel go more or less hand in hand. At one point it is gonna be limited to the glass we put in front of those sensors thou.
More pixel mean not neccessarily just bigger printing - you can crop more and still have good image...
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[ShaolinTiger]

Pixel Acuity and Pixel Pitch matter a lot too, I guess the manufacturers need to see how they they can push a FF sensor, the optimal quality for a crop sensor seems to about 12mp, although you can push it to 16.

Like pixel density is higher on D300 than D3 so it can seem more detailed and sharper.

D3 is fairly low MP for a FF camera though.

It'll be interesting to see where it goes, and I'd certainly hope manufacturers go the way of Fuji, stop with the megapixel race and concentrate on dynamic range, accurate colour, white balance and detail.

These high MP DSLRs are already encroaching on the medium format realm (1Ds MKIII and soon D3x)...there will be no real reason to use a MF camera as the speed, handling and image are better from the camera with the SLRs.

[tools4fools]

Hmm, dunno. Have seen samples of MF 22MP (or was it even more??) and doubt that any FF sensor can do that even with 24MP. It's those huge lenses in front of those huge MF that make a difference me thinks...

As said the lens has to be able to cope with all those MP. I wonder if regular glass on a 22MP EOS is capable to use all of its senors resolution capability.
If the glass isn't up to the task all those Mp in the back are for nothing...
There's a limit somewhere and I think we have reached that with those over 20MP sensors.

No I'm all for more dynamic range and better ISO performance instead of more pixels. Loved the D3 approach, suits me perfect, can do large enough prints and can shoot in little available light with good quality. Hope it will be more improved along with dynamic range as I got of light soucres in dark environments. For selfish little me that is more important than more pixels.

Of course I will take more pixels anytime if they throw it in for free along with, I can crop more than, but not on priority for me. And as said dunno where that edge is between resolution of affordable glass and MP...
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[ShaolinTiger]

Yah agree, from what I've seen top level glass from Nikkor and Canon can easily go to 20mp, above that I'm not sure.

I'm pretty sure they will get to 30mp before they start out resolving the lenses.

Then you'll be looking at F mount Zeiss or Leica lenses :)

[tools4fools]

There will be a point where it reaches a $$$$ limit for most people.

Even if a 30MP FF camera would be "only" 3000$ it would make no sense for me if every single lens costs 2000$ to be able to use full 30MP potential of body.
Simply too much dineros needed...more than in my wallet...
:(

[Mavik]

Looks like Sony is releasing their Sony Alpha Full Frame series here some time this year.

Source:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08013109sonypma.asp

[tools4fools]

Shoot the designer...

No, not the one responsible for the sensor, the one for the looks...
Cameras can have good ergonomics and still look hot. Like 1D or D3 series. That mock-up thing looks like out of Frankensteins Clinic....:D
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