MELVILLE, NY, June 20, 2019 – As image sensors are a driving force in innovating industries, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is pleased to announce two new CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductors) sensor products, the ultra-high resolution 120MXSI and ultra-high sensitivity 35MMFHDXSMA. These sensors help expand the company’s lineup of industrial vision products, and offer integrators and end users additional capabilities when developing solutions in a variety of applications1.
“As a result of Canon’s success in developing and manufacturing advanced CMOS sensors for our own purposes, we expanded to create a business platform offering select sensor capabilities for use in industrial vision applications,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “These two new CMOS sensors reflect Canon’s dedication to this new business, and reinforce our commitment to developing high-quality imaging solutions.”
120MXSI
The 120MXSI sensor is built with the ability to produce clear, high-quality images, making it a great fit for integrators and end users developing applications such as machine vision, security, robotics, precision agriculture and healthcare. This 120-megapixel sensor is capable of simultaneous and discrete image capture in both the visible and near-infrared spectrums2 at a maximum frame rate of 9.4 frames per second.
35MMFHDXSMA
The 35MMFHDXSMA sensor is capable of capturing monochrome imagery in extreme low-light environments where subjects would be near impossible to recognize with the naked eye. Removal of the color filter array doubles the sensitivity of the previously announced 35MMFHDXSCA sensor, providing even greater low-light capabilities. This sensor can meet a wide range of ultra-high-sensitivity needs when used as a component to support a multitude of applications developed by integrators and end users, including astrological observation, natural disaster monitoring, security and object detection, molecular and cell biology, and industrial vision.
The 120MXSI and 35MMFHDXSMA CMOS sensors will be showcased in the Canon Booth #1611 at the Sensors Expo & Conference, which, according to its organizer, is the industry’s largest event dedicated to sensors, connectivity and IoT, taking place from June 26-27, 2019 at the San Jose McEnergy Convention Center in San Jose, California.
For more information on Canon sensors, please visit canon-cmos-sensors.com.
I'm no troll, but since I added an A7R III, I now know what we've been missing out on for years. While Canon lenses area amazing, Canon sensors SUCK. They really do. The difference between a Canon and a Sony sensor is literally day and night (as far as shadow detail is concerned).
Here is hoping Canon will catch up, and I don't need to switch to Sony completely.
Technically, wouldn't a camera with literally no dynamic range not be a camera at all? As in it could generate only one on/off response? Could it even do that? Trying to figure out what a camera with no DR would actually be is beyond me.
These sensors are very likely not for photography applications - either pro, prosumer or consumer. Those are industrial sensors; and I have no doubt that they have plenty enough dynamic range for what they are meant.
Yes, Canon has had sensors with less than stellar dynamic range, but please don't be one of those lazy whiners. Instead, find ways to overcome the limitations - exposure stacking, mean stacking, natural-looking HDR... Yes, it gives you extra work, but it will make you a more capable image producer, which is not a bad thing, no matter what your next camera is going to be.
There are scenes in which not even the best of Hasselblad or PhaseOne will have enough dynamic range. There is no good substitute for skill.
A couple of stops more in deep shadows (much less advantage in well exposed areas - and especially if you shoot ETTR - exposed to the right [of the histogram, before clipping useful detail]), but I wouldn't call it day and night. Especially if you compare the 5D4 with the newest of 35mm Sony to date.
Have you ever seen what it does to the resolution of tonal transitions and the resolution of textures if you lift heavy shadows? I suggest you to try this and then you might actually change your mind about how big the DR issue actually is.
If you want really crisp images with great texture and tonal detail across the tonal range, little noise and great colors for pixel peeping (because for ordinarily-sized prints it very rarely matters), you need to apply extra work in postprocessing, often even if you use the newest of Sony sensors including medium format ones. Also, don't forget to color-profile your camera & lenses (extra tip)... using something like the ColorChecker Passport from X-Rite. That will make way more difference to the quality of images than a little improved dynamic range of your sensor.
Let me repeat: THERE IS NO GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR SKILL.
Lastly, talking about Sony vs. Canon... what do you think is more waterproof, dustproof and shockproof? What do you think is more ergonomical and fun to shoot? (Forget about the weight, because the lens you mount on your camera will effectively eliminate any significant benefits from using Sony's lighter bodies).
Jack
Exactly. If you're going to compare Canon to Sony sensors, you need to know which sensor you're comparing. The Sony A9 vs. Canon 1Dx II? I'll take the Canon all day long. If you're talking about the Sony A73 vs. Canon 5d4, I'd say the Sony is better, but the Canon is respectible. Now if you're comparing the Sony A73, to the Canon 6D2, then I'd say the Sony is significantly better.
In general Sony makes better sensors, but Canon has closed the gap considerably with the 5D4 and 1Dx II.
'When there is poor lighting, you find light and readjust." Cheers!
True. But it doesn't mean there's a good substitute for good DR. Exposure blending and HDR are not a good substitute for images taken in one shot. I always prefer to minimise the amount of shots needed to produce one image, and ideally it's just one shot.
And no, knowing and using HDR and blending DOESN'T make you a better photographer. If your car often breaks and you know how to fix it and work around its issues, it doesn't make you a better driver on the road.
No far from the S1R ~187MP multishot mode I tried recently with Canon lenses, which held up just fine.
Of course if the 175MP EOS R had similar sensor IS multi-shot, we'd get ~700MP in a shot which comes to an image of roughly 32700h x 22600v
That's too big for jpeg files and would need to use a format like .PSB (300k pixel limit). I'm by no means sure it could be used with any of the current RAW formats - perhaps time to borrow FITS from the astronomers?
I guess we'd still get the customary whinging about needing new cards/computers/disks...
...That and the usual "I don't need it, so no-one needs it" comments ;-)
Not entirely sure what I'd use the images for - perhaps two shifted up/down and stitched to get square gigapixel images... ;-)