Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time
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.
Samsung has announced today the world’s first 64-megapixel sensor for smartphone cameras. The ISOCELL Bright GW1 expands Samsung’s 0.8μm image sensor lineup from existing 20Mp to ultra-high 64Mp resolutions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A few weeks ago, we posted an article over Sony’s introduction of the Xperia Z2, coming with what they claim as the world’s best smartphone camera. Right now, HTC is in the middle of its announcement for its new flagship: the HTC One (M8).
You can find out more about John on his website and follow his adventures on YouTube and Facebook.
can change a lens mid-rappel, swap a memory card while treading water, or use a camel as a light stand.
To see more of his work please visit his studio website blurMEDIAphotography, or follow him on Twitter, 500px, Google Plus or YouTube.
JP’s photography is available for licensing at Stocksy United.
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