Does anyone on this forum know how phase detect AF sensors actually work and perhaps, how expensive they are to manufacture. I'm not talking about the general principals of splitting light beams and measuring the difference in phase, but the 'nitty-gritty' details. For example how does this pattern of silicon photodetectors:
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS5DMarkII/Images/features/af02.jpg
relate to the pattern seen in the viewfinder? And how does it relate to this:
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS7D/Images/whatsnew_afsensor.jpg
i.e. how exactly does one pattern lead to 9 AF points (1 cross type, 6 AF assist points) and the other lead to 19 AF points,all cross type?
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS5DMarkII/Images/features/af02.jpg
relate to the pattern seen in the viewfinder? And how does it relate to this:
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS7D/Images/whatsnew_afsensor.jpg
i.e. how exactly does one pattern lead to 9 AF points (1 cross type, 6 AF assist points) and the other lead to 19 AF points,all cross type?