Canon and multi-layered sensor design

[memoriaphoto]

I've read on several places (including this one) that Canon has patented a new sensor design similar to the Foveon style with three (R-G-B) layers instead of a traditional Bayer filter.

If true, when do you think it will be available in future models? If I understand it correctly, a big challenge with that design is to keep the noise levels down.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Until now, the only manufacturer that made real cameras and launched into the market with Foveon sensor was Sigma. They managed images with amazing depth of color, but the results were poor at high ISO, and black and white images. The fact that Canon has a patent does not mean that there is a final product, and does not guarantee that will ever exist. For now, Sigma invests timid and failed to revolutionize the market for cameras. Hopefully some day Canon will do better than that.

 

[CarlTN]

Until now, the only manufacturer that made real cameras and launched into the market with Foveon sensor was Sigma. They managed images with amazing depth of color, but the results were poor at high ISO, and black and white images. The fact that Canon has a patent does not mean that there is a final product, and does not guarantee that will ever exist. For now, Sigma invests timid and failed to revolutionize the market for cameras. Hopefully some day Canon will do better than that.

You're being a bit unfair to Sigma. Their new Merrill sensor is amazing in its resolving power. Merrill himself, was from California...the Foveon sensor is AMERICAN in its origin. (Not a bad thing!) I plan on buying one of their DP Merrill cameras at some point. I've owned the older DP series, and it was fantastic too, regarding image quality. The color was tricky, mostly towards the borders and corners, but it could be dealt with. The resolving power was basically the same as the total pixel count, if you apply common sense when upscaling the image (either in PS or PR7).

That might mean the new Merrill sensor can allow 45 megapixels of resolution...and from a tiny 1.5x crop sensor no less. I'm aware of those that say the actual resolving power is more like 30 MP...but I'm withholding judgment on that until I get my hands on one and use it a while.

As I understand it, that is the main challenge (besides noise)...the color. The problem with the stacked color sensing diodes, is that as the light enters them at an increasing angle (toward the borders, corners)...there is less light getting to the bottom two diodes, as to the top one. This causes weird color tinting...again mostly noticeable toward the corners.

As for when Canon releases a camera with such a sensor...who knows? It could be soon, it could be never. The better models of camera that Canon have available now, are plenty good at most everything anyway. Just buy the best one you can afford and go take pictures!

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Right now, it appears that Canon is going to concentrate on the dual pixel design. It has some fantastic potentials for doing away with the mirror and penta prism if they can continue to improve it.

I might even find video with a DSLR to be practical for a casual shooter. I used my 5D MK III for a few minutes of video last Thursday. The results were good when the subjects were in focus, but it was very dark in the theater, and depth of fields was shallow. My 70-200mmL is not only NOT parfocal, it changes focus drastically when I zoom, and I can't get critical focus during a clip, I'm manual focus compromised. My 24-70 is closer to being par focal, but still not that good. I also did not put the camera in manual, so the aperture would change causing flickering of the image.