It detailed the lettering on an airplane flying over 11 miles away. It captures video at 30 times 4k resolution. It isn't the world's most interesting man or Chuck Norris. Nope, it's the new record-setting 250MP camera sensor, which was announced by Canon over the weekend.
Canon's new camera sensor, capable of capturing images at 19,580 x 12,600 pixels, sets a resolution record for CMOS sensors the size of a standard 35mm full-frame sensor or smaller.
As the pixel count increases, CMOS sensors can encounter problems managing the rising volume of signals, noted Canon. Such problems include mistiming and signal delays.
"The new Canon-developed CMOS sensor, however, despite its exceptionally high pixel count, achieves an ultra-high signal readout speed of 1.25 billion pixels per second, made possible through such advancements as circuit miniaturization and enhanced signal-processing technology," says Canon.
That miniaturization and signal refinement technology enables the 250MP CMOS sensor to capture five images per second. The camera sensor has also been developed to take advantage of scaled down pixels, which helps keeps the image noise low and its sensitivity high, Canon stated.
"When installed in a camera, the newly developed sensor was able to capture images enabling the distinguishing of lettering on the side of an airplane flying at a distance of approximately 18 km from the shooting location," says Canon.
As for who could use the 250MP sensor, Canon has several segments and sub-sectors in mind. Canon is mulling applications that include crime prevention technologies, pixel-perfect measuring, visual expression, surveillance and a range of industrial use cases.
Though not nearly as sharp or as high in pixel count, Canon unveiled another marvel in image processing ahead of the reveal of the 250MP sensor. Its new networked night time camera can produce full color images of dimly lit areas, using a "fast high-magnification lens capable of long-range color."
"The camera's imaging capabilities will make it ideally suited for such surveillance applications as crime prevention and the monitoring of natural disaster sites, enabling the viewing of scenes during either night or day," says Canon.
Canon didn't detail the availability of the 250MP Camera system. But the networked night-time camera will be available at some point in 2016.
