Sony sensors have been loved by photographers. The company has not only designed exceptional sensors for digital cameras, but also for phone cameras. Either way, they have excelled in their technology, and as part of their new breakthrough, the company has announced a new camera chip, the IMX927, which boasts 105MP megapixels and can also shoot up to 100fps. Yes, that is fascinating, but there is a catch. Have a look.
Announced by Sony (and reported via Asobinet), the new sensor is not designed for photographers but rather for industrial use. The sensor measures 2.5 inches diagonally, which makes it pretty huge to fit into a camera. However, it certainly offers something features:
- 105MP global shutter sensor, which means no jelly-like wobbly effect when shooting fast-paced subjects.
- 100fps at full resolution, which gives great slow-motion speed for a sensor of this size.
- Night-vision tricks, which enable a special back-illuminated design, help gather more light than 2.74µm pixels would normally allow.
- One-shot HDR is another feature that helps to capture bright and dark areas in a single frame. This is best used for shiny materials, such as metals, next to a conveyor belt.
- A 100-gigabit pipe to help transfer the data.
From the looks of it, if Sony creates a miniature 105MP camera, it can certainly be a hit among medium format users. Sure, a sensor like that will not feature a 100fps burst rate, since most medium formats do not exceed 5-6 frames per second. Sony introduced a global shutter with the a9 III, which means they are capable of breaking new barriers. Hasselblad already launched the X2D II 100C, which features full-time HDR for a medium-format sensor. But there are no medium-format still cameras with a global shutter. In fact, similar to the color variant of the Sony IMX927, there is also a monochrome version with comparable features.
With the way megapixel wars are unfolding, and there is stagnation in the full-frame camera market, Sony’s development of a medium format camera could be of help. Like the IMX927, there is also IMX925, which is a little sibling of the new sensor. Therefore, while the company possesses the technology, it must be designed in a way that benefits photographers. Sony has the capability to launch a monochrome sensor, like the one used by Leica, or a medium-format compact, such as the one offered by Fujifilm. Sure, a 100MP or 105MP can be expensive, but there are takers for such a device. If the company understands this more quickly, it will certainly dominate the mirrorless market.
