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Sigma cameras are quite unique, as the company has been working on its own sensors for its cameras. One of the things that is still highly anticipated from the company is the launch of the new Foveon sensor, which has been in development for some time now. Although it may seem that the sensor will not see the light of day soon, Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki has revealed a new update about its progress. Here’s a look at the story.
According to Digital Camera Info, CEO Kazuto Yamaki told YouTube creator Matt Granger that the company is still developing it.
We are still working on the development of the sensor … we have not yet started the design of the actual sensor. We are still working on the design of the pixel architecture.
Yamaki was elected CEO in 2012, following the passing of founder Michihiro Yamaki. Since then, the new CEO has been shaping up Sigma to reach new heights. According to the interview, the Foveon project is now in its second round of test-wafer runs. This means the prototype sensor will be tested for new challenges, which will later be narrowed down and refined. Unless this stage is resolved, the company will continue to develop it until perfection is achieved. In other words, we are unsure when the sensor will launch, but the company states that the Foveon chip will appear “when the pixel is perfect”.
For the uninitiated, the Foveon sensor was introduced in 2002 as the company’s first big milestone. It was used with the SD9 SLR and provided high resolution in good lighting conditions. In 2006, they introduced the SD14, which offered a 4.7MP APS-C sensor, and the ISO only went as high as 800. Fast-forward to 2018, the company teased a new Foveon, which offers a three-layer color principle but will utilize stacked BSI pixels and on-chip phase-detect autofocus. The latter was previously absent, but when combined, it can help the next generation of Sigma fp cameras become powerhouses. As our review editor said in another article:
Imagine if a company like Fujifilm decides to invest in Foveon sensors for their GFX line of medium format cameras. Coupled with their amazing color science, they could totally corner the studio photography segment in this case.
Feroz Khan
Foveon sensors could be of help if they managed to compete on quality and speed. Sure, it will be expensive, but it is something that photographers won’t mind paying for. As long as there is innovation (one that is good), then the wheel of photography will go on.
