Chipworks confirms: Nikon D800 sensor is from Sony
Finally we have the proof for a statement I make from the day one of the Nikon D800 announcement. Chipworks analyzed the sensor and it has indeed been made by Sony! The sensor name is “IMX094AQP” 
Via Nikonrumors
Arnold
9 months ago |Now it would be funny to see the same sensor in the Leica M10 !
Booe
9 months ago |More likely Leica will use 24 Mp sensor instead of 36 Mp one — larger pixels have better angular response, that is, less colorshift.
Dee
9 months ago |Here is another article worth reading:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/07/11/is-sony-going-to-be-the-digital-kodak
admin
9 months ago |Hi! I alreayd linked to the articel of Robert Cicala on Lensrentals.com. That’s why I didn’t post it now
adam
9 months ago |SO MUCH WIN!!
Thomas
9 months ago |Please be more clear about “make” and “design”.
The Chipworks site says: “At the heart of the D800 is a brand new Nikon-developed sensor” [...]
Yes, it is made by SONY, but it was developed by Nikon. Sony is just the manufacturer like a 3rd party “semiconductor fab”.
Don Cox
9 months ago |Things that can be varied are the exact colours of the red, green and blue filters (a narrower passband gives better colour separation, a wider passband lets more light through), the AA filter if any, the microlenses, the analog amplifier, the digital processor chip.
So it can be correct to say that the sensor was made by Sony and (further) developed by Nikon.
john
9 months ago |The more important question is who designed/developed the Auto focus system for the D800?
Sky_walker
9 months ago |Nikon obviously.
At least on the stage of software – which was the thing that failed in many D800s as far as I know.
Although it wasn’t manufactured by them – Nikon doesn’t have any plants producing linear sensors required for AF systems.
Nikon is kinda like Apple – can’t make anything themselves, but got outstanding Marketing and PR divisions.
john
9 months ago |I think there is a hardware issue as well.
Lots of speculation of the forums that focus sensor is being warped when installed. Only speculation because Nikon is silent on the issue.
Maybe we will see a D800s soon with re designed/developed mirror box to go with their designed/developed sensor…..cheaper than doing a recall
Carl
9 months ago |My understanding is that Nikon manufactures its own photolithographic steppers.
Who knows, Sony’s chip fab might even use Nikon’s steppers, wouldn’t that be incestuous?
john
9 months ago |yes they do
yes they do
Joe
9 months ago |Seymour Cray, the founder of Cray Research and architect of many supercomputers, found it very funny when Apple bought a supercomputer to simulate the chips they designed for their Apple computers. The reason he found it to be very funny is: He was designing his supercomputers on an Apple computer.
FEM2008
9 months ago |Nikon makes Photo lithography units for semiconductor chip manufacturing. They innovated UV exposure techniques (for chip masking and etching) for fine pitch and small gate CMOS device manufacturing. This equipment is used in the SONY fabrication facilities.
So, the development and manufacturing relationship between Nikon and Sony goes both ways and beyond the photographic sensors alone. It’s probably how the sensor business relationship got started in the first place.
LAPR
9 months ago |It would be fun to learn the serial numbers from the D800 that you guys own, by the property you talk about something you heard that someone said he read once in some place that somebody told them to. So please, let us see your photos with proof of what you’re saying, not some post on the internet, but rather things that happend to you, ’cause really, this thing is getting old already.
LAPR
9 months ago |Oh by the way, mine is 30016xx, I’ll be glad to share whatever you’d like to see to show you how off you are… How about a lego minifigure’s face 100% crop or a bug or whatever.
john
9 months ago |Denying that the D800 doesn’t have a problem won’t make it go away.
This guy has had 5
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1021&thread=42324529
LAPR
9 months ago |I am not denying it, I am just saying please show us your experience with it to make such statements. Or the percentage of cameras affected, I am just saying it is so easy to talk, and the next guy talks and you just feel better trashing something you have never even held in your hands. So while I am not denying it, I am saying it has not happened to me, it would be fun to see what has happened to you, ’cause my friend just saying it or reading it or forwarding an address, won’t make any Alpha better either…
john
9 months ago |I have ZERO experience with anything Nikon much like you do with Sony but have lurked on many boards Nikon being one of them.
Unlike you I don’t troll on foreign boards.
Here is a Nikon guru that I’m sure can fill you in with numbers and percentages.
http://bythom.com/2012%20Nikon%20News.htm
Until Nikon fix their left focus issue he will not recommend the camera.
Book sales are OK though.
LAPR
9 months ago |Wow John you know just too much… Too much, everything you say is very true, congrats.
hagraven
9 months ago |There is no way it’s a Nikon designed sensor. IMX-series imaging sensors has always been Sony product… regardless it’s for camera, mobile phone camera, video camera, webcams, etc.
If it was designed by Nikon, they would have already patented it and give a Nikon naming scheme to it, regardless where they choose to manufacture it.
Steve Jones
9 months ago |The correct term will be specifications by Nikon, but within the limits of the image sensor and the manufacturing capability of Sony. So, as is pointed out earlier, things like the density and hue of the Bayer filter, spec of the anti-alias filter, microlenses, bit depth or readout and so on will be Nikon-specced, but the fundamental sensor and electronics will have been developed by Sony.
So, it’s basically a customised version of the Sony sensor and will reflect Nikon’s view of the best optimisation.
However, why people get so concerned about this, I’ve no idea.
acolyte
9 months ago |You guys are missing the point!!!
Chipworks does NOT confirm that Nikon develops the sensor.
That’s the public statement from Nikon.
That’s just a snippet Chipworks took to their site.
If you google the phrase, that’s the same phrase dpreview used.
Your point is invalid.
Nikon may ‘claim’ to ‘develop’ the sensor.
Chipworks only confirms that it’s made by Sony.
They never agreed that it’s developed by Nikon.
tony
9 months ago |Key word is developed. Sony Designed and created this chip and nikon merely developed it. We knew sony was making this sensor last year, nikon merely improved on it. Lamborghini designed and created the engine for the R8, audi merely “developed” it. Hence tweaked it.
lolol
9 months ago |wait for the nikon fanboys to come crying..start hating
admin
9 months ago |Exactly. Where are they now? Attacked me for months anytime I said the D800 uses a Sony sensor
Sky_walker
9 months ago |They probably are saying something in line of “Who care who made the sensor?”
jon
9 months ago |ok so now it is proof that nikon is the master and sony is the slave who do all nikon work
john
9 months ago |a very well paid slave
Booe
9 months ago |@john
do you know how much these sensors cost?
please share your knowledge!
Mike
9 months ago |Where are they?
They’re out making a living along with Canon who represent the largest percent of professional gear.
People in this forum care more about Sony manufacturing a sensor designed by a different company then they do about actual photography.
It is always a “who is” better and “who will” be crushed by camera companies.
Talking about a focus issue that you read somewhere as makes up less then 5% of the d800 units in photographers hands is pointless.
Ripping on people because Sony will have something better in thier camera doe nothing to make you better photographers.
The same article was posted in Nikon Rumors but the replies were much more friendly, encouraging, and supportive than what you find in here. You talk about who made the sensor and that Nikon is blessed to have Sony make the sensor they designed. The Nikon users say good job Sony then go out to work with their Nikon cameras.
Huge difference in forums.
john
9 months ago |Go back to other forum and read again.
Same circus different clowns.
Tom Whogan says early D800 samples had greater than 20% left auto focus problems.
For a camera he cant recommend but still finds it good enough to pimp his own book about it.
Joe
9 months ago |the Canon C100 just came out let’s hope the new NEX full frame and A99 doesn’t disappoint
admin
9 months ago |They will not!
Joe
9 months ago |how about some more video related rumors?
Sky_walker
9 months ago |Well, nothing surprising here. Nikon fanboys still cry out about this sensor being “Nikon designed”… eh… they never learn.
Carl
9 months ago |Like the “Sony designed” Samsung panel in my Sony TV?
tony
9 months ago |no no you got the word play wrong. It’s “sony developed” hahah. samsung designed
lolol
9 months ago |haha.. patience, they will come
Alan Dean Fisher
9 months ago |Who care who made the sensor? Fanboy-ing for any company always leads to disappointment. I use Canon, Nikon, Sony… whoever can get the job done, and get me my paycheck. Absolutely do not care what brand name is on the camera / camcorder if it delivers what my clients want!
john
9 months ago |EVERYONE would care if Sony made shit sensors.
zstan
9 months ago |So the next question is… when will we see this chip in a Sony body?!!!
Sky_walker
9 months ago |2013, my bet goes for late summer.
admin
9 months ago |2013
john
9 months ago |So Andrea we have all heard the Nex 5r/Nex6/A99 and Nex FF will have PDAF on sensor.
What does that mean for the 2013 release of 36MP camera.
Same sensor as Nikon or new with PDAF?
David
9 months ago |Not to be rude…but is this really newsworthy? Sony is a manufacturer. They manufactured the sensor for Nikon, it does not mean that Sony designed the sensor or the algorithms associated with processing and noise reconcilliation. It’s just a wafer, but with Nikon’s proprietary design. There is a difference between the words “designed by” and “manufactured by”…if they were the same then they would perform the same…and Sony is obviously still catching up with regard to dealing with noise. I should know…I own an A850, which I love, but it’s a totally different animal than a Nikon…granted they share similar color rendering though. Clear?
Sky_walker
9 months ago |It is newsworthy because there was a lot of accusations towards SAR and loads of FUD spread by Nikon fanboys.
“It’s just a wafer, but with Nikon’s proprietary design” – that’s not truth.
Steve Jones
9 months ago |The fundamental design will have been Sony’s with Nikon providing the detailed specification for those elements which can be customised (of which there are quite a few). However, the core part (the semi-conductor construction, readout, ADC and so on) is undoubtedly Sony design. It will basically be a customised version of the sensor for Nikon where the great majority of the core technical capability will have been down to Sony.
So for those who keep asking whether we’ll see this sensor in a Sony camera, well yes and no. This particular customised version is almost certainly going to be only seen in Nikon cameras. However, the core sensor will almost certainly be seen in a Sony camera in a different customised form (as it might for other manufacturers).
shamb
9 months ago |Its newsworthy because +90% of the sensor design is almost certainly licenced to Nikon rather than owned by them. The rubbish about Sony ‘only manufactoring it’ is just that. Given the choice, Nikon would not want to be reliant on a serious competitor in this way.
It is more likely that Sony has licenced *sunstantial Sony technology* to Nikon, and part of that licence stipulates that Nikon get first use of (say)24 months.
The point being that after that time, a near exact sensor will appear in a Sony product: differences will be cosmetic and more down to marketing differntiation than any real technology differences, except maybe ADCs and firmware.
roger48
9 months ago |Oh dear zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Dav38
9 months ago |Nikon designed the sensor, here is below the RFP :
Please mr Sony i would like a 36 mps FF cmos please
Thank you
Ben
9 months ago |Such a worthless news. Honestly saying, I don’t see any point that we should waste of time discussing about this news. It’s just nothing about photography.
It’s like who made LCD panels for IPAD or IPHONE? Ok Samsang. Also, Volk and AUDI share parts to one another. So…then what next????
kysham
9 months ago |If it is worthless and deemed a waste of time discussing this, then why are you even posting anything? *grin*
acolyte
9 months ago |Yup. If it’s worthless then why the usual flames?
‘waste of time’ point disqualified XD
tony
9 months ago |The point is that sony is not a lost hope. They designed the sensor for the most raved camera out right now “the D800″. Only thing to boast about the D800 is the sensor. For us sony users it gives us hope in future Cameras. That is why this news is important.
Rob
9 months ago |Is there a chance that this is a multi-faceted relationship. New high-end Sony lenses (the 500 mm so far) have, or will have Nikon-based micro coatings. The relationship will produce highest quality sensors AND lenses for both parties eventually (for Sony, exactly when is a mystery).
Proud of Sony
9 months ago |This is great news. I can’t wait to rub this in the faces of D800 users. How do they feel every time they take the picture, it was taken by Sony’s sensor? hahaha, they must be throwing away their D800 right now. hahaha
Rooru S.
9 months ago |I don’t see this just like that. It’s ok to know that a Sony sensor is inside one of the best camera from Nikon line up, but is better to know, Sony is capable of doing great things, so everytime a discussion comes up, about Sony being just crap, then I will remind them that some of the best Nikon cameras uses Sony sensors.
Sebastian
9 months ago |Me too. I use Samsung’s Tab and sometimes happily ask my friends who use IPAD which has top-grade LCD from Samsung. Hahahaha
Matt
9 months ago |Sony makes sensors to Nikon >>>>> Nikon should make lenses to Sony … simple !!
Rooru S.
9 months ago |Nikon and Olympus should make lenses to Sony, or at least, give them tips about how to make lenses (Sony is doing great, but they’re taking up so much time to increase the number of options in the A-mount lineup).
Booe
9 months ago |Which lens would you like to buy for A-mount?
ronin
9 months ago |Not that it matters overmuch… but who cares?
There is much more to a Sony than consumer cameras. They fabricate imaging and electronic products for many companies. I don’t know that Nikon is in that business to the same extent.
But my real question is who is Chipworks when they are at home, and how is it that postings at their website constitute ‘proof?’ Not denying it, because again, who cares, but how is this Chipworks’ word the end all?
b shaw
9 months ago |What’s remarkable is the number of different CMOS sensor designs that Sony has cranked out the past few years. Back in 2005, the Nikon D200 used the IMX007 series of sensors, a few years later, IMX021 for the A700, then the IMX028 series sensor was used in the A900. Now, the A77 has the IMX096 and the the IMX094 in the D800. I know that not all of their designs make it to production, but it shows that they put a lot of effort into designs. I think they are up to the IMX140s or IMX150s right now.
zinkplated
9 months ago |Who gives a stuff if Nikon is using a Sony sensor? Point is that Sony isn’t and the big question is why not?
Ridiculous thing is that judging by what I’m reading here is that when the ‘new’ A99 comes out with its ‘new’ 24mpxl sensor, Nikon is releasing a budget Nikon FF 24mpxl using the same Sony sensor – that’s professionally embarrassing.
Its been 5+ years waiting for an A900 replacement and what are they replacing it with? another 24 mpxl sensor, not a new camera just an upgraded improvement with no big deal video, hi ISO, that’s just catching up – not new. Forget all the other stuff, will image quality improve? dynamic range, resolution? that’s what counts at the pro end – that’s why there’s so much interest in the D800 – resolution.
I got sick of waiting, I’m writing from the road where I’m pursuing a long planned photo project, waited for the new camera till I couldn’t no more, also wanted to buy a bunch of CZ prime lenses to build the system and I was prepared to make a substantial $$ investment. New Sony never happened so My A900 is now relegated to my knock around road / backup camera and will not be upgraded. I’ve invested my dough in upgrading to a very expensive Hasselblad 50mpxl, its all camera and it knows what it is. In some respects its overkill and way too heavy, not the lighter DSLR system I wanted to carry for travel but its a sure bet that I can depend on and invest in the H system and not loose out or get screwed around.
Sony is too undependable, you say 2013 for the A99 36mpxl replacement? judging by Sonys glacial slowness producing a A900 replacement says who? by the time the 36mpxl version surfaces Sony will have given its ‘next’ next gen hi res sensor to Nikon again and screwed its loyal users .. again. Sorry,couldn’t wait and I’ve bailed out from the Sony circus.
Ryan_900
9 months ago |It’s funny to see this kind of discussion. From my own experiences in Japan company, this is a normal thing among Japan hi-tech companies. I don’t see this kind of discussion in any Japan photography magazine or any Japan’s photography website.
Sebastian
9 months ago |If Sony makes or designs it, why Nikon owns this sensor license? It doesn’t make any sense.
Dav38
9 months ago |Good boys
wowgold
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