Fast and Reliable AF is one of the key features for the success of the mirrorless NEX cameras. And Egami spotted a new Sony patent that describes an innovative technique where every pixel has on top a polarizer. The patent is in Japanese so let me know if I do a mistake here. But from what I understood the main advantage would be that every pixel would have phase detection ability and that will dramatically improve the quality and speed of the Autofocus. Smart idea if it works!
P.S.: April fools patent 😉
22 Responses
Thanks for the update – I’ve actually been waiting for this innovation from them. I believe this was the reason they have stood firm with their DSLT designs. That is, they know that sometime when they’ve matured this technology, they will be able to get rid of the pellicle mirror.
“every pixel has on top a polarizer” so they want to reduce the amount of light to the sensor in a half?
I’m sure the polarizers on top of each photosite wouldn’t cut down on as much light as the traditional polarizing filters that we’re used to do. Though… Even if they did, it would be marvellous to compose an image and move your AF point to anywhere that you pleased within the viewfinder. Cause when you’re shooting with your aperture wide open on a fast prime lens, it’s actually safer to manually focus than it is to set focus and then recompose using one of the AF points located in the APS-C region of the a99, a900, or a850.
If this gets employed properly in a Full Frame, interchangeable lens, A-Mount DSLR, I might be willing to forgive some of the downsides of an EVF and upgrade! Exciting news.
It might decrease the light but polarizers also increase contrast and eliminates reflections. So in very bright light to normal this would be good. But in very low light situations, it remains to be seen how this will affect AF performance.
It won’t increase contrast when performing individually on each pixel
To use the polarizing layer as you would normally use a polarizing filter, you’d have to be able to rotate it. I don’t see how this can work on the sensor.
Do you know why you cannot see how it may work?
Because it will work on a way that you could not think of.
It is that simple.
Obviously it can’t.
It’s 1st April joke. Don’t try to play smart.
Sony has lots of great sensor patents.
When will they actually use them?
They’ll use them when they’re useful. Most patents don’t result in a product, but if Sony wasn’t researching in this direction they would never have new technology they can use.
Just because you have a patent doesn’t make it into a commercially viable technology.
It is not ALL pixel, by google translate:
Placed in the pixels which are not read out at the green pixels and videos of the Bayer array
and it is not phase detection. Looks like it can’t determine back focus or forth focus, it would be as slow (or fast) as contrast AF.
The advantage of this method is it can focus on white wall, while contrast/phase af can’t
I believe the Fuji x100s is a little bit similar – in this case all the green pixels around the center of the sensor are translucent, and mounted behind each one are phase-detect wells.
April fools???
April Fools!!!
april fool?
A rumor about coming (this year) camera using this technology could be an April fool…
$
A simple patent citation… No.
(what would be the goal of an April fool based on that?)
how about cpl filters with such sensor? 1st april – april fool?
The patent is available in English at the Japan patent site. Follow the directions here: http://www.jpaa.or.jp/english/patent/how_to_search.html. Enter “A” for Kind Code and patent number 2013-57769.
Let’s hope it’s not an April’s fool. Anything that can improve AF speed is still very much needed for mirrorless. For me that will be the only reason to upgrade my NEX and kiss my Eos goodbye.
Not surprising to see, from the comments, that your readership, on average, doesn’t have a high school level physics education. Hell, they probably didn’t even teach physics in their high schools.
+1