DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Canon announced a 250MP APS-H-size CMOS sensor

Sep 7, 2015 by Liron Samuels 1 Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

A camera prototype equipped with the newly developed CMOS sensor and the sensor. Source: Canon

 

Remember all the oohs and ahhs when Canon announced the record-breaking 50MP sensor of the 5DS? Well, the company just revealed that it has developed an APS-H sensor with a whopping 250 megapixels.

According to Canon this is the world’s highest number of pixels for a CMOS sensor smaller than the size of a 35 mm full-frame sensor, and while it is likely to have some affect on consumer cameras, I wouldn’t expect to see a 250MP DSLR or mirrorless camera anytime soon.

The sensor size is approximately 29.2 x 20.2 mm, placing it between APS-C and full frame sensors, and it boasts a pixel count of 19,580 x 12,600 (so it’s actually “only” 246.7 megapixels).

Putting aside the technical measurements and getting to actual use, Canon added that “when installed in a camera, the newly developed sensor was able to capture images enabling the distinguishing of lettering on the side of an airplane flying at a distance of approximately 18 km from the shooting location”.

Canon did not specify with which lens the photo was taken, though the only photo released of the camera shows it with the EF 35mm f/1.4 USM lens.

The company went on to clarify that capturing the image described above “employed a combination of optical and digital zooming while distinguishing of image content was realized through the magnification of an approximately 1/40,000th-sized area of the captured image”.

So maybe not as impressive as it first sounded, but you’re still talking about a distance of 18km!

"Only" 50MP

“Only” 50MP

Advancements such as circuit miniaturization and enhanced signal-processing technology enable the ginormous sensor to achieve a signal readout speed of 1.25 billion(!) pixels a second, thus limiting “problems as signal delays and slight discrepancies in timing” often found in high-MP sensors.

Thanks to the crazy signal readout speed the sensor is able of capturing video at a resolution 125 times that of Full HD and 30 times that of 4K. Not bad, huh?

This should allow users to zoom in the video until their finger hurts, while maintaining high quality footage. Assuming you can find a lens capable of resolving 250MP, that is.

The downside is that the video only captures 5 frames per second, as you might have figured out by the readout speed, but the technology is constantly improving.

Discussing possible uses for the monster sensor, the statement adds the following:

“Canon is considering the application of this technology in specialized surveillance and crime prevention tools, ultra-high-resolution measuring instruments and other industrial equipment, and the field of visual expression.”

Consumer electronics aren’t mentioned specifically, and a 250MP sensor would be too much for computers, sensors etc these days anyway. That being said, the technological advances achieved while developing this sensor could come in handy while developing consumer-oriented sensors.

This is not Canon’s first time breaking the megapixel record for APS-H sensors. Back in 2010 the company announced the development of a 120MP sensor.

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Canon’s 250MP APS-H sensor probably won’t be coming to DSLRs The inventor of the CMOS sensor is working on a revolutionary 1-billion pixel sensor Nikon has announced a 17.8-megapixel square CMOS HDR sensor that shoots 1,000fps Canon M6 Mark II announced: 32MP APS-C sensor, 4K video, 14fps continuous shooting

Filed Under: Gear Tagged With: 250MP, APS-H, Canon, Record, Sensor

Liron Samuels: from diyphotography.net

About Liron Samuels

Liron Samuels is a wildlife and commercial photographer based in Israel.

When he isn't waking up at 4am to take photos of nature, he stays awake until 4am taking photos of the night skies or time lapses.

You can see more of his work on his website or follow him on Facebook.

« Olympus temporarily pause sales of the newly released E-M10 Mark II
How To Shoot Nude Photography (NSFW) »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Learn photography

Recent Posts

  • Adobe ordered to pay more than $33 million for patent infringement
  • Hands on with the Kelvin Epos 600 RGBLAC light
  • Hands on with the Godox MG2400Bi LED beast
  • Hands on with the Saramonic WiTalk
  • Another tourist falls off a cliff while taking a selfie

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 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.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy