Building your own camera? You can buy Canon's 120MP APS-H sensor

If you’re building a camera that requires some serious resolution, then you’re in luck. Canon is now selling their 120MP APS-H sensor to third-party camera builders, including you. If you’re wondering how powerful this sensor is, let’s just say it has 60 times the resolution of full HD. It’s pretty impressive for a small chip a tad bit bigger than a quarter.

The 120MXS CMOS sensor has 13,280 x 9,184 effective pixels and is equivalent to a 29.22mm. x 20.20mm APS-H sensor. Although it’s not a full-frame sensor, it still offers way more detail than a full-frame DSLR. If you need help visualizing how a 120MP sensor looks like compared to a DSLR, then watch this video below:

Although they used an old 16MP Canon Eos 1D Mark IV for the test, nothing changes the fact that the Canon 120MP APS-H sensor’s resolution is unbeatable. What’s impressive is that it’s not even the highest resolution they have to offer. Canon also announced a 250MP APS-H sensor back in 2015, which is even more mindblowing.

Unfortunately, the 120MP version can only currently shoot 9.4fps. It’s so slow that you’ll notice it in the sample shots as well. According to Canon, its possible uses include “wide area monitoring” for security purposes. Due to its extremely high-resolution images, security personnel can seamlessly zoom into anyone without losing any detail. However, because of the low fps, I think only surveillance companies would be interested in it for now. Of course, the cinema industry would find it pointless to 8K+ video sensor that lags like an old webcam.

Now that you can buy the sensor from Canon, possibilities are endless. Of course, that’s if you can figure out the infrastructure to create a 100MP camera using other off-the-shelf components. Otherwise, you’ll need a small team of engineers to do it. Either way, it’s available to you if you’re willing to pay.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Sensor size: APS-H (29.22mm x 20.20mm)
Filter types:
120MXSC: RGB
120MXSM: Monochrome
Number of effective pixels: 13280h x 9184v, approx. 122MP
Pixel size: 2.2µm x 2.2µm
Progressive Scan
Rolling Shutter
188pin ceramic PGA
Sensitivity:
120MXSC (Green): 10,000e/lux/sec
120MXSM: 20,000e/lux/sec
Saturation: 10,000e @ gain0.5x
Output Channels: Data 28 lanes, Clock 14 lanes
Dark Random Noise: 2.3e rms @ gain x8, Room Temp.
Dark Current: 8.1e/sec @ gain x8, 60°C
Number of output channels: Data 28 lanes, Clock 14 lanes
Main clock frequency: 45MHz (Recommended)
Output format: 720Mbps in LVDS output 9.4fps @ 10 bit
Built in column amplifier (Pre-amplifier gain mode: x0.5, x1, x2, x4, x8)
Serial communication
All pixel progressive scan reading function, Region of Interest (ROI) reading function (Vertically)
Vertically intermittent reading function (1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, 1/15)
Power consumption: 2.5W (under recommended operating conditions)
Power supply voltage: 1.7 V, 3.5 V
Package size: 55.0mm x 47.8mm x 4.49mm