Sony A1 now shipping out in the USA!

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Preorders:
Sony A1 at BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon. Focuscamera.
Sony XPeria 5G PRO at BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon.
Sony A1 in Europe at FotoErhardt DE. Calumet DE. Fotokoch DE. Park UK. WexUK.
Join the Sony A1 Facebook group here.

Today the Sony A1 preorders started to ship out in the USA. And Dpreview published the initial review with the following key takeaways:

  • JPEGs retain very high levels of detail at both low and high ISOs
  • Noise reduction strikes a slightly different balance compared to the a7R IV, opting to reduce more luminance noise at the slight cost of fine detail as light levels drop
  • Colors are improved: richer yellows, less magenta-tainted blues, warmer greens
  • Class-leading Raw dynamic range compared to professional action / sports cameras
  • Almost class-leading dynamic range compared to high-resolution full-frame peers
  • ISO invariant over two ranges: 100-400, 500-102,400

Sony also presented the new A1 sensor at the ISSCC 2021 (More info ay Image Sensor World).

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Impressive: Sony just announced a medium format 128MP global shutter sensor!

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This is impressive folks! Sony announced a 128MP global shutter sensor. The sensor has a 56.73mm diagonal which is about the size of the sensor used by “large format” Fuji GF cameras like the new GFX100. Sony writes the sensor is designed for industrial use but I guess it could be easily find it’s way in cameras too (maybe in modified version).

For us E-mount owners it also means that maybe a FF Full Frame Global Shutter might not be far out! Here is the press text:

Sony to Release Large Format CMOS Image Sensor with Global Shutter Function and Industry’s Highest Effective Pixel Count of 127.68 Megapixels

Delivering Increased Pixel Count, High-Speed Imaging Performance, and Contributing to Solutions in the Field of Advanced, Diversified Industrial Equipment

Tokyo, Japan — Sony Corporation announced today the upcoming release of a large format 56.73mm diagonal CMOS image sensor “IMX661” for industrial equipment with a global shutter function and the industry’s highest*1 effective pixel count of 127.68 megapixels.*2

This product features an increased pixel count that yields an optical size nearly 10 times larger than the common 1.1-type image sensor corresponded to the C mount*3 for industrial equipment. It also features Sony’s original global shutter pixel technology “Pregius™”, which enables capture of motion distortion-free images. Furthermore, the Sony’s original device configuration and interface technology employed enable high-speed image readout at a data rate nearly four times faster*4 than conventional products.

Sony expects that the new sensor, when used in industrial equipment cameras for a wide variety of applications, will help to solve a variety of complex challenges, thereby contributing to the development of industry.

  • *1Among CMOS image sensors equipped with a global shutter. According to Sony research (as of announcement on March 9, 2021).
  • *2Based on image sensor effective pixel specification method.
  • *3The joining mechanism between lens and the camera body.
  • *4Compared to Sony’s “IMX253” 1.1 type, 12.37 effective megapixels CMOS image sensor equipped with a global shutter function.
IMX661 CMOS Image Sensor (left: color model, right: black and white model)IMX661 CMOS Image Sensor (left: color model, right: black and white model)
Pregius
Model name Sample shipment date (planned)*5
IMX661 3.6 type (56.73 mm diagonal) 127.68-effective-megapixel CMOS image sensor April 2021
  • ※5The dates given for sample shipment date (planned) are for the color model. Black and white model samples will be available for shipment approximately one month later.

Needs for automation, labor-saving and other benefits of digital transformation continue to grow in recent years in various fields of industrial equipment. This has accelerated the adoption of cameras for a wide variety of applications, driving demand for CMOS image sensors with higher imaging performance.

The new product couples Sony’s Pregius technology with the 3.6-type (56.73mm diagonal) large optical size, delivering an increased pixel count and motion distortion-free imaging. The original device configuration, which employs a chip-on-wafer process, together with Sony’s original interface technology, enables high-speed readout nearly four times faster than conventional products*4 in full-pixel readout mode. This design delivers highly efficient imaging that captures a wide viewing angle with no motion distortion in a single imaging operation. It also improves recognition precision thanks to the high-resolution imaging and delivers a high level of processing performance. It can contribute to solutions for a variety of industrial equipment applications, for example, inspection processes for production of displays and electronic substrates, wide-area monitoring, and aerial photography, where its improved precision and quicker readout will help meet the need for a high level of productivity.

Main Features

The industry’s highest effective pixel count of 127.68 megapixels

This product features a large optical size of 3.6-type (56.73mm diagonal), nearly 10 times larger than the common 1.1-type image sensor corresponded to the C mount lens for industrial equipment with a pixel size of 3.45 μm, resulting in a massive pixel count of 127.68 megapixels, which is the industry’s highest for a CMOS image sensor equipped with a global shutter. It enables a wide viewing angle and high-resolution imaging by increased pixel count, and the motion distortion-free imaging demanded on cameras for industrial equipment, thereby improving imaging efficiency and recognition precision.

Image sensor optical size (imaging area) comparisonImage sensor optical size (imaging area) comparison*6, area ratio about 10 times (1.1-type comparison)
*6: When a lens with the same focal length is used

High-speed image readout

Generally, increased pixel count means increased signal processing volume, which causes issues such as a drop in frame rate and longer readout times. In order to realize high-speed readout, it is necessary to improve the processing functionality of the AD converter which converts the analog signal output from the pixel to digital signals, and at the same time, increase the speed of the output interface.
This product features Sony’s original device configuration employing a chip-on-wafer process where chips with certain functions are stacked on top of the pixel wafer, allowing for optimal positioning of the AD converter. This design improves AD converter processing functionality without increasing the size.
The new sensor also employs the Scalable Low Voltage Signaling with Embedded Clock (SLVS-EC™)*7 high-speed interface standard developed by Sony, in order to make output interface faster. These two original technologies enable 127.68 megapixels,10bits,21.8fps, which is a high-speed output data rate nearly four times faster than conventional models*4.The dramatic increase in multi-pixel and readout speed greatly contribute to the improvement of productivity in industrial applications.

Device configuration using chip-on-wafer processDevice configuration using chip-on-wafer process
  • *7A data transfer method that uses an embedded clock signal. This eliminates the need for skew adjustment between lanes and reduces the amount of wiring needed, making board design simpler and suitable for higher speeds.

Equipped with signal processing capabilities needed for a variety of industrial applications

The new product is equipped with a range of signal processing capabilities required for industrial equipment CMOS image sensors to meet diverse applications and needs. These include such as; trigger synchronization for controlling imaging timing during high-speed inspections; Region of Interest (ROI), which reduces post signal processing load by only reading out the required regions; gradation compression, which reduces data volume while outputting required information; multi-exposure, which is capable of detecting the trajectory of moving objects; short exposure time for blur-free imaging of objects moving at high speeds; pixel binning readout, which can enhance sensitivity in low luminance situations.

Key Specifications

Model name IMX661 (color, black and white)
Unit cell size 3.45 μm x 3.45 μm (H x V)
Effective pixels 13,400 x 9,528 (H x V), 127.68 megapixels
Image size Diagonal 56.73 mm (3.6-type)
Active area 46.2 mm x 32.9 mm (H x V)
Package Ceramic LGA
Micro lens EPD -100mm (CRA 15.8 degrees)
Power supply Analog: 3.3V
Digital: 1.2V
Interface: 1.8V
Output 4.7Gbps/lane SLVS-EC 16/8/4 lane
891Mbps/lane SLVS 16 lane
Frame rate 14 bit: 12.9 fps
12 bit: 19.6 fps
10 bit: 21.8 fps
Main functions Global shutter, trigger synchronization, ROI, gradation compression, multi-exposure, short exposure, pixel binning readout
  • Notes:Pregius and SLVS-EC are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
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Big saving ending soon on the new Topaz Video Enhance AI v2.0

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Topaz released a big update to Video Enhance AI this week (Click here). You can try it for free and if you buy it use the code “ENHANCE15” to get an additional 15% discount on top of the $100 off you get in the first place.

This is what’s news:

Major Features

  • Two new model updates: Artemis v11, and Dione v2
  • Artemis LQ and MQ v11 evolve from Artemis v10 with added ability to handle over-sharpening artifacts in medium or low-quality progressive input videos
  • Dione TV and TD v2 are enhanced from v1 that also remove over-sharpening artifacts in medium or low quality interlaced input videos
  • UI has been updated and overhauled to provide for a better experience

Improvements

  • Menu toolbar has been added on Mac
  • When multiple videos are selected, settings in the right panel now apply to all selected videos
  • Able to open videos in their containing folder when videos are done processing
  • Model parameters and post process settings have been changed to sliders to provide for better fine-tuning
  • Reset Settings button has been added
  • Output FPS has been added to the footer at the bottom of the program
  • Reset Trim button has been added to the scrubbing toolbar

 

Here are some video samples:

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