60MP and 36MP sensors with 8K video could be coming to the Sony A7III, A9II and A7RIV
Nov 24, 2018
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Share:
With the flood of new mirrorless cameras on the market offering 10-bit video, and those expected in the new year, it looks like Sony is taking no prisoners. Sony Alpha Rumors is reporting that Sony is about to announce two 36-megapixel and 60-megapixel sensors capable of shooting 8K video at up to 6o frames per second. And they may even offer 16-bit RAW stills.
According to SAR’s source, which they say has been 100% correct in previous information shares, the specs for the two sensors are very impressive.
Sensor 1
- 60-megapixel
- 16 channels
- 4.6fps @ 16-bit
- 12fps @ 14-bit
- 8k30p @ 12-bit
- 8K60p @ 10-bit
- 4K60p @ 12-bit
- FHD300p @ 10-bit
Sensor 2
- 36-megapixel
- 10fps @ 16-bit
- 60fps @ 10-bit
- On-chip PDAF
The 36-megapixel sensor will be a CMOS with a 4.88µm pixel pitch, shooting 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratios in 10, 12, 14 or 16-bit depth.
SAR says that their source also told them that the new sensors will have…
- Weighted pixel binning: improve the image quality when shooting videos with pixel binning. Already featured in a lot of Sony sensors.
- A new dual-gain ADC mode: improve the dynamic range by almost 2 stops. The sensor loses 50% speed when using it. Details not known yet. Already in XT3’s sensor.
- Digital Overlap HDR (DOL-HDR): It’s like bracketing, but you can shoot 2 frames almost at the same time! (The minimum time interval is only 1/6000 seconds). All the new sensors with 3.76um pixel size have this function.
8K does seem like it might be a little excessive. The bitrates required for recording quality 8K video are pretty ridiculous. Although, CFexpress would soon solve that particular issue. But the editing systems you’d need would be pretty immense – far beyond those of most that would typically be shooting Sony mirrorless (or any mirrorless, for that matter) cameras for video.
But Sony will apparently also make these sensors available to third parties. This means they could also appear in dedicated video cameras, and not just Sony’s own line of mirrorless cameras. In fact, SAR doesn’t believe these sensors will even make it into Sony mirrorless cameras. But I think it’s still possible. Just because a sensor is capable of a certain spec doesn’t necessarily mean the camera will make full use of it. Throttling hardware isn’t that uncommon.
But if a hypothetical A7SIII is to receive this 36-megapixel sensor, it might explain why it’s taken them so long to announce it. Of course, such high resolutions and the kind of ISO performance that made the A7SII so popular rarely go hand-in-hand.
So, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. The new sensors are expected to be officially announced soon.
[via Sony Alpha Rumors]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Join the Discussion
DIYP Comment Policy
Be nice, be on-topic, no personal information or flames.
15 responses to “60MP and 36MP sensors with 8K video could be coming to the Sony A7III, A9II and A7RIV”
Hummmm
8k video?? BRING IT
16k video?? BRING IT
32k video?? BRING IT
64k video?? BRING IT
128k video?? BRING IT
256k video?? BRING IT
512k video?? BRING IT
stupid shit
The video will be so clear, that it won’t be able to be seen by humans. The video will literally vanish into the matrix, like a spousal support payment.
…But I still want the Sony a7 rX. It’s gonna be rad.
Let the wait begin for people to upgrade to new processors, hard drives, monitors, and new televisions.
Makes the current models look like baby toys, …can’t wait! Hoping the A7RV & A7IV will be able to shoot in 3d… maybe 2020 for Olympics?!!!
3D is toast. Went out in 2014
When will we have enough K? WHEN?!
You can never have enough K.
Even 4K is too much yet.
OMG what in hell do you want to improve, cameras already have a lot of bs a true photographer doesn’t even use.
Seriously! I want Sony to focus on actual useable features. 2018, and they don’t include an intervelometer? No built in ND type feature? Give a photographer something like that where they can save money not needing filters or a remote in 2018/19. Or how about a freaking tilty flip screen. So many times I have been out shooting that an articulating screen would be very handy.
Do we seriously need all this resolution when 99% of photos end up on Instagram and 8k videos are just going to be compressed on YouTube? Heck most American phone carriers cap mobile video streaming to 720p. So what is the point?
For godsake, stop it!
No good if you “STILL CANT SEE YOUR FOCUS POINT SONY!”. Whats the betting this will be corrected on a new body. Man if that happens, and they dont sort this with FW it will really pi** me off.
FLIP-EEE SCREEN! FLIP-EEE SCREEN! FLIP-EEE SCREEN! FLIP-EEE SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!