C100: Canon develops 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor for video capture

Erik Naso

Veteran
I saw this this morning and even thought it's not surprising It's very interesting, and I can't help but wonder where this new sensor will be used. New Cinema EOS model? A full frame HD sensor is amazing and the sensitivity makes this easier to control the depth of field by shooting around F8 more often. Very interesting.

http://www.canon.com/news/2013/mar04e.html


TOKYO, March 4, 2013—Canon Inc. announced today that the company has successfully developed a high-sensitivity 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor exclusively for video recording. Delivering high-sensitivity, low-noise imaging performance, the new Canon 35 mm CMOS sensor*1 enables the capture of Full HD video even in exceptionally low-light environments.
The newly developed CMOS sensor features pixels measuring 19 microns square in size, which is more than 7.5-times the surface area of the pixels on the CMOS sensor incorporated in Canon's top-of-the-line EOS-1D X and other digital SLR cameras. In addition, the sensor's pixels and readout circuitry employ new technologies that reduce noise, which tends to increase as pixel size increases. Thanks to these technologies, the sensor facilitates the shooting of clearly visible video images even in dimly lit environments with as little as 0.03 lux of illumination, or approximately the brightness of a crescent moon—a level of brightness in which it is difficult for the naked eye to perceive objects. When recording video of astral bodies, while an electron-multiplying CCD,*2 which realizes approximately the same level of perception as the naked eye, can capture magnitude-6 stars, Canon's newly developed CMOS sensor is capable of recording faint stars with a magnitude of 8.5 and above.*3
Using a prototype camera employing the newly developed sensor, Canon successfully captured a wide range of test video,*4such as footage recorded in a room illuminated only by the light from burning incense sticks (approximately 0.05–0.01 lux) and video of the Geminid meteor shower. The company is looking to such future applications for the new sensor as astronomical and natural observation, support for medical research, and use in surveillance and security equipment. Through the further development of innovative CMOS sensors, Canon aims to expand the world of new imaging expression.
Canon Marketing Japan Inc. will be exhibiting a prototype camera that incorporates the newly developed 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor and sample footage captured with the camera at SECURITY SHOW 2013 (www.shopbiz.jp/en/ss/), which will be held from Tuesday, March 5, to Friday, March 8, at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center in Tokyo, Japan.
*1
An imaging element (aspect ratio: 16:9) that supports the largest image circle size possible when shooting with a Canon EF lens.
*2
A CCD sensor with a readout mechanism that multiplies electrons after being converted from light. Applications include nighttime surveillance and the capture of astral bodies and nighttime nature scenes.
*3
The brightness of a star decreases 2.5-times with each 1 magnitude increase.
*4
Recording of test video footage was made possible through cooperation from ZERO Corporation.
 
It looks like this sensor has limited IQ. For now they're marketing it towards surveillance but it wont be that long until they figure out the IQ part and a new Cinema EOS will be born.
 
There were lot of scenes that I couldn't shoot with the C300. This sensor in the C300 would have done wonders and help achieve my vision. Whenever this sensor comes into a production camera, it will revolutionise wildlife filming.
 
There were lot of scenes that I couldn't shoot with the C300. This sensor in the C300 would have done wonders and help achieve my vision. Whenever this sensor comes into a production camera, it will revolutionise wildlife filming.

Odd, because there's plenty of material in Planet Earth that was shot with 2/3" sensor cameras and 35mm film (which is a 1.5x crop from photographic full frame).
 
They don't mention anything about frame rates, or dynamic range. There is a reason why it is being pitched towards Science and Industry. I am guessing that it uses a form of multislope exposure in order to get these bright images from the dark, but the frame rate would be quite low.

It probably also has large area pixels. It might only be 1920x1080 +10% pixels on that 35mm sensor area.
 
The essence of Canon's press release about this sensor is about its amazing sensitivity and hence its application in low light. Why on earth do you assume that I am talking about 35mm? Even the previous posters have talked about the moon light scene. Is it not odd that you are talking about only the 35mm size of the sensor and forgetting the main part ie low light ability when the discussion here is clearly about the low light abilities?
Odd, because there's plenty of material in Planet Earth that was shot with 2/3" sensor cameras and 35mm film (which is a 1.5x crop from photographic full frame).

In one stroke, you seek to undermine the credibility of a person. Why so? By pulling me down, you don't automatically raise yourself up. IN the long run, a person can only be known by his or her work.

We focus on different genres and not even competitors. We live in different geographies as well. If you had doubt you could have simply asked, rather than commenting in such a manner to hurt the other person. Why this antagonism? To say the least, I am offended.
 
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My mistake. I thought you were referring to full frame and not just low-light abilities. I didn't intend to be antagonistic, just pointing out that if your vision was reliant on full-frame, I wasn't sure what you were waiting on.
 
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