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Watch: Video explains why your camera’s sensor sees the world like an octopus

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Camera sensor technology has come a very long way since it was first developed in the 1970s. And while they’ve gotten much smaller and faster since Steven Sasson’s original 3.6kg, 0.01-megapixel digital camera, the basic principle of how a sensor records an image is still pretty much the same – as explained in this wonderfully technical and geeky video from IMSAI Guy.

In it, he begins by explaining the difference between standard sensors and rear-illuminated (BSI) sensors – and how the latter is basically the way an Octopus’ eyes work. He illustrates how a pixel “sees” the light that hits it and how a sensor arranges all these pixels using just a standard (albeit very large) matrix array in order to make up the final image.

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TowerJazz is not selling their controlling stake in Panasonic sensor partnership

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Recently, Panasonic announced they were getting out of the chip business, selling their semiconductor business to Taiwan’s Nuvoton Technology or $250 million. Israeli chip manufacturer, TowerJazz has a 51% stake in a joint venture with Panasonic, and there was some confusion about whether this joint venture was included in the sale.

Some reports had said that Panasonic’s sale would include the TowerJazz joint venture, which operates three chip-manufacturing facilities in Japan. To squash any rumours, TowerJazz has now announced that they are not selling their controlling interest or giving up board control.

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Panasonic has sold its semiconductor business for $250 million

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Panasonic has announced that they have sold their semiconductor business, so they won’t be making any more sensors. The press release, via Reuters, says that Panasonic is selling its semiconductor unit to Taiwan’s Nuvoton Technology Corp for $250 million, as they struggle to increase profit.

This means that the Fuji/Panasonic organic sensors mentioned back in 2013 and finally realised just last year may have a somewhat uncertain future now. We don’t know if this tech will now continue to develop and come to Panasonic or Fuji’s future mirrorless cameras. If it does, though, it’s unlikely to be Panasonic that’s manufacturing them.

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Sony has published the specs for a full-frame Quad Bayer and five other sensors

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Sony has published specifications for six new sensors, all of which are full-frame, including several stacked sensors and a 15-megapixel sensor that uses Sony’s Quad Bayer design – a design typically implemented in Sony’s smartphone sensors.

The new sensors include the IMX521CQR, which appears to be a Quad Bayer variant of the 61-megapixel sensor found inside the new Sony A7R IV. The other five range in resolution from 24 to 48.96-megapixels with some pretty impressive features.

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RED Helium 8K sensor scores 108, highest ever on DxOMark

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The RED Epic Dragon prototype was the first sensor to score over 100 on DxOMark sensor score scale, and it hit 101. But they has recently given RED’s 35.4MP Helium 8K sensor the highest overall score so far: 108. It means that this is not the first to exceed the 100 point bar, but it set up a new record.

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Good-Bye Polarized Filters: Olympus Patents Polarized Sensor Technology

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Polarizing filters are almost mandatory for landscape photography, but they have a few drawbacks.  The first is obvious:  the hassle of having to carry filters with your to fit each lens.  The second is not quite as obvious but has a vital impact:  loss of light within your scene.

Olympus is aiming to change that with a new patented sensor technology that essentially has a built-in polarizing filter within the sensor itself.  This technology would automatically analyze a scene for light values and adjust accordingly, allowing you to basically have a polarizer for each one of your lenses without the hassle (or expense) of carrying them around or losing valuable light from critical scenes.

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Understanding Full-Frame vs Crop-Sensor Impacts on Depth-Of-Field And Perspective

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There has been a lot of discussion going on about what are the impacts of using a crop sensor vs full frame when using a particular lens. How are crop factor sensors impacting depth of field and what are they doing to composition. In fact if you went to any photography forum on the web, you are likely to get as many answers as forum members.

Of course, the answer to that question really depend what you are comparing and how you are doing your tests. Photographer Neil van Niekerk did a thorough test accompanied with clear explanations on what actually makes a difference when using a crop sensor vs a full frame and  the answer is not that simple.

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Here’s Our First Look at a Picture Taken With Sony’s New Curved Sensor

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I’ve been following news on Sony’s curved sensor since they first announced it back in April, and I’ll be honest; I didn’t think we’d be getting a look into it nearly this quick, but this is shocking to me. I must have forgotten that Sony started on this project back in 2012, because they’ve just uploaded the first official picture from the sensor online – and here it is.

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New Chemical Iris Technology Aims to Innovate Smartphone Camera Aperture

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As advanced as smartphone cameras are today, they’re still limited by the size they need to be. As a result, most smartphones have a fixed aperture to save space; the iris itself is mad from fixed blades that set the aperture for each camera. But as always, in a time where mobile devices are so engraved into the modern lifestyle, technology is constantly reaching higher ground. In this case, that higher ground is reached by a new type of iris – one made of chemicals that eliminate the need for physical blades.

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