This is the official Samsung press text to present the new 28 Megapixel APS-C sensor:
Samsung Launches Industry’s First 28-Megapixel APS-C CMOS Image Sensor for Digital Cameras
Utilizes advanced back-side illuminated (BSI) pixel technology and 65-nanometer (nm) copper process technology to offer outstanding image quality and energy efficiency
Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, announced its new 28 megapixel (MP) APS-C* CMOS image sensor for digital cameras. Currently in mass production, the new S5KVB2 is designed into Samsung’s new compact system camera, the NX1, and will be showcased along with the camera at Photokina 2014 held in Cologne, Germany, September 16 to 21.
Utilizing Samsung’s advanced BSI pixel technology, the new S5KVB2 sensor offers superior light absorption. By using 65-nanometer (nm) low-power copper process as well as fine design technology, this new imager satisfies the requirements for power efficiency and noiseless high quality imaging in high-end compact system camera formats.
“To satisfy the increasing market need for high-end image sensors in digital cameras, Samsung has introduced this new imager, which features excellent higher resolution, superior image quality, and faster shooting speed with low power consumption,” said Kyushik Hong, vice president of System LSI marketing, Samsung Electronics. “Based on its leadership in CMOS imaging technologies, Samsung will continue to address new trends in camera sensor markets.”
The new S5KVB2 is the industry’s first APS-C sensor to adopt back-side illuminated (BSI) pixel technology. The BSI structure moves the metal layers to the rear side of the photodiode to reduce the loss of light. Applying BSI pixels, Samsung’s newest imager improves the light sensitivity of each pixel and increases light absorption in peripheral areas by approximately 30 percent, resulting in crisper, sharper images compared to a conventional front-side illumination (FSI) pixel-based imager.
By moving the position of the photo diode, the sensor’s metal wiring layout is better optimized for faster continuous speed. As a result, the S5KVB2 offers 30fps** video recording at Ultra HD resolution, being capable of delivering ultimate video quality on a camera.
In addition, the imager adopted Samsung’s advanced 65nm low-power copper process, which is well ahead of 180nm aluminium process, generally used in the camera sensor industry. Based on the finer ICs and the use of copper, the 65nm copper process enables power consumption to be reduced dramatically compared to an imager based on a previous process technology. As a result, the new S5KVB2 imager has less thermal emissions.
Through the advanced fabrication process and IC design, the S5KVB2 also decreases random noise significantly.
*All functionality features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.
– See more at: http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/?p=42253#sthash.Haw01jpP.dpuf
11 Responses
Now we need to know how it compares to the glorious Sony 24mp.
In low light video mode i believe the Samsung would be far superior. As far as i know the Sony uses line skipping and thus only a fraction of the sensor area.
Yeah ! Full sensor readout for Samsung ! Truly amazing !
Looking at techradars comparisions of the rx100 ii and samsungs nx mini both with with bsi 1″ sensors, both perform about the same. I think Samsung has caught up with Sony in regards to iso performance anyway. So given this aps-c is bsi and sonys isn’t, its going to be a improvement, but how much of one? (We are talking sonys aps-c not the FF?)
I’ve been comparing Sonys rx100 iii with Nikons v3 which has a non bsi sensor via dxomark. The sony iso is 495 and the nikon 384, which is approx 1/3 of a stop improvement. So can we expect something simillar with the samsung sensor v the sony aps-c sensor?
Very nice, I love the subtle slam against Canon “In addition, the imager adopted Samsung’s advanced 65nm low-power copper process, which is well ahead of 180nm aluminium process, generally used in the camera sensor industry.” (best Canon process is 180 nm, but I think most are 500 nm).
@rjbell, they say 30%. in terms of f/stops that is a little more than 1/3 f/stop (Log 1.3/log 2), 1.3 comes from 130%. It sounds like it has other improvements too.
I am hoping that reduced thermal emissions, lower power, etc mean better long exposures. A weak point with the older 20 MP sensor was that it wasn’t very good for long exposures.
can’t wait to see the test result from dxomark
@rjbell, the difference between Nikon 1 V3 and Sony RX100 III is far more than just ISO 384 against ISO 483, the color depth and dynamic rage also feature great difference, which can not be explained by simply using BSI on the CMOS, not to mention the 1″ CMOS on V3 only has 18.3 MP while RX100 III has 20MP
The 30% number could mean that ISO 1300 on this camera looks similar to ISO 1000 on a previous Samsung camera. Not bad, but what does “in peripheral areas” mean? It makes sense if this is talk about better chief ray angle absorption from the BSI architecture then from FSI. Right on light probably wont have anything near 30% better light absorption. This improvement might only have notable effect with large aperture lenses.
it seems apparent that large aperture lenses or lenses at their widest openings would get the most benefit from a BSI sensor considering the light absorption to the sides or corners of the sensor are increased. increased resolution or perceived sharpness in the corners and less vignetting perhaps.
I tried the nx1 yesterday at samsung’s booth. I never had a samsung camera. Nikons, canons, fuji’s and olympuses…
After I tried the nikon d750 and d810, the 7d II and the nx1, all I can say is that samsung focuses faster than any of the three other cameras… and the continuous af at 15 fps is just amazing. There was a girl on a swing and she was coming to me than backwards… on three attempts (40-45 pictures) i saw maybe one picture where the girl wasn’t in focus !!!
Just amazing !
Some samples from Korea:
http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/samsung-officially-presents-the-new-28-megapixel-bsi-sensor-tech#view-comments
Last two ones are Iso 25k and 12k respectively. Very high noise banding, but also very high Iso.
I’m waiting impatiently for Iso 3200/6400, where Fuji is still quite decent (not to mention latest ff sensors).
Some other samples (beta firmware) which are very bad looking, especially at mid/High ISO. Even my nx300 can do better than this:
http://www.optyczne.pl/7466-news-Samsung_NX1_i_NX_50-150_mm_f_2.8_S_ED_OIS_-_pierwsze_zdj%C4%99cia.html