Canon has released details of its latest developments in CMOS sensor technologies, support for 8K video recording and a new processing technology for image printing.
The Cinema EOS System 8K camera features a 35 mm-equivalent CMOS sensor with a resolution of 35.39 million effective pixels and up to 60 frames/second.
The first announcement is the development of a 29.2 x 20.2 mm CMOS sensor with approximately 250 million pixels (19,580 x 12,600 pixels), the highest pixel count for a sensor below 35mm ‘full-frame’ size. This sensor has the potential to resolve lettering on the side of an airplane flying at a distance of approximately 18 km from the photographer. Such a high pixel count can create problems such as signal delays and slight discrepancies in timing. However, these are being addressed by an ultra-high signal readout speed of 1.25 billion pixels per second, achieved through circuit miniaturisation and enhanced signal-processing technology. Video footage captured by the 250-megapixel CMOS sensor claims a level of resolution approximately 125 times that of Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) video and approximately 30 times that of 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) video. This will allow users to crop and magnify video images without sacrificing image resolution and clarity. The new sensor also has potential applications in surveillance and crime prevention tools, ultra-high-resolution measuring instruments and other industrial equipment. Details can be found at https://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/About-Canon/News-Events/News-Press-Releases/Canon-develops-APS-H-size-CMOS-sensor.
Canon has also announced the development of a Cinema EOS System 8K camera (above) and professional-use 8K reference display that will support the production of next-generation 8K video content, along with a still-image single-lens reflex camera equipped with a CMOS sensor featuring approximately 120 million effective pixels. The camera will be equipped with a Canon Super 35 mm-equivalent CMOS sensor with a resolution of 8,192 x 4,320 pixels (approximately 35.39 million effective pixels) plus at a maximum frame rate of 60 frames/second with up to13 stops of dynamic range and a wide colour gamut. The camera will also support EF mount lenses. Also in development is an EOS system SLR camera with a resolution of approximately 120 effective megapixels. Details can be found at https://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/About-Canon/News-Events/News-Press-Releases/Canon-developing-next-generation-imaging-devices
The third Canon announcement is of a material appearance image-processing technology that can reproduce the appearance characteristics of fine-art originals, recreating characteristics as gloss, plasticity and transparency, all of which can change in appearance depending on the orientation of lighting or the angle from which an object is viewed. The acquisition of this information, such as surface contours and reflectance, in addition to colour data, is essential for reproducing an object’s texture in photographs and other forms of printout. The main application of this technology will be in reproducing historically significant oil paintings and other valuable cultural properties. However, it has potential for use in areas such as wallpaper and other interior-use materials, advertising signage and product packaging. Details can be found at https://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/About-Canon/News-Events/News-Press-Releases/Canon-develops-material-appearance-image-processing-technology.
No release dates have been provided for any of the new technologies revealed in these announcements.
