As you know the newest [shoplink 3003]NEX-3/5[/shoplink] and [shoplink 3617]A33/55[/shoplink] cameras do make use of the “Exmor” sensor. And a few weeks ago we told you the new A77 will feature the new “Exmor R” CMOS sensor with backlit technology. Funny, with the recent Sony Ericsson Xperia announcements Sony published the teaser I posted on top of the article that indirectly confirmed that future Alpha cameras could/will use the new Exmor backlit technology! We can’t provide you the source because it has been sent to me anonymousely. Please drop me a message at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com if you find it at Sony Ericssons website!
List of all Sony compact cameras with Exmor R sensors at Amazon (Click here).
New Sony Xperia products at Amazon (Click here).
Read more about the Exmor R technology at Sony.net (Click here).
26 Responses
Aren’t they just saying that results has been proven in some Alpha models? Doesn’t mean all future ones right? o_O
Not all of course. But there are no ALpha models with Exmor R sensors yet 😉
theyre saying that its proven technology, but then they mention the alpha.
theyre saying that it is proven to be correct in all those cameras using the exmor sensor, including the alpha cameras.
they could either be saying that the new ones will use the exmor sensor, or they could have just been referring to the a33/a55
I thought backlit tech only really worked on small sensors? I remember reading an interview where one of their execs said as much.
Cheers, J
Yep. It’s cause relation between wiring and light-sensitive surface is far better in APS-C sensors than it’s in compact or cellphone sensors. There would be some advantage but very minor, certainly not 50 % noise reduction as advertised, more like 5% if even this.
Sony hx5v uses ExmosR and its not better than it’s rivals. Who knows if there is a real benefit.
I also have feeling that it can’t be used for video.
Are the rivals using similar technology, or even the same image sensor from Sony?
No, but in DSLR area sensors are very close to each other in terms of noise. I assume it’s same in P&S.
The only possibility is that sensor itself is bad and they getting much more out of it using backlit.
With backlit tech small pixel (for PS camera) light sensitive area could be increased for 20-40%. For large pixels in APS and FF sensors benefit is some 5-10%. There is no substantial reason to produce APS sensors with backlit tech, which it is more expensive. Except if FF sensor is 100-200Mpix and pixels should be pretty small.
so what about the rumored 24MP APS-C A77 sensor?
Ezio – it still have much bigger light sensitive area than the compact. Not much of a differnce.
LEdgars
Where it does make a difference (for larger sized photodiodes as found in DSLRs) is the design flexibility for sensor design. For example, the more recent Foveon-like patents are based on the Exmor-R chips. That is, the multi-tiered structure of the pn junctions and various doping levels in those Foveon-like structure is harder to accomplish in a typical sensor design, ie. the ones with the additional circuits on the light-facing side of the sensor. (I would be interested to know of Foveon’s own design uses a back-illuminated structure or the typical front-illuminated structure. If it uses the typical front-illuminated structure, that could explain some of the resolution issues they have a hard time conquering. )
Another example I’ve seen is the use of waveguides to help channel and/or trap even more light in the photodiodes. Again, this is easier to accomplish without the extra circuits on the light facing side.
LEdgars
oops – typo – meant to say: (I would be interested to know IF Foveon’s own design …)
Foveon type sensor is much complicated than CMOS or CCD. First of all, light capturing sensor area is note equal for all (blue, green, red) sensing silicon. It is rather backlit, but also some controlling stuff are in around each pixel.
Sony patented Foveon type sensor for sure is backlit type, however similar to original Foveon sensors light sensing area for green (second layer) and especially for red (third layer) is much smaller than for blue light, which is at least 3 times smaller than whole pixel area. Therefore compared to Bayer sensor, Foveon each pixel is less effective. I’m still bit sceptic about low noise and high DR performance.
Hahaha, that picture comparison in the article is “no flash” and “with flash”. Besides, the darker sample looks better.
Exactly! That was my very first thought, too. The right hand photo has at least one more light source — with a different temperature. Probably a speed light in the lower right corner. Not very prfessionally made: Look at the blueish shadows at her throat, the hard-edge cross-shadows at the collar and above her right arm, as well as the reflections on the sofa…
Looks to me like a fake…
… and the logos are scattered around the ad, instead of being placed in the lower right corner, where they belong to…
For me, it’s a miserably made fake…
Isn’t this confirmed “rumor” about three years old? This was known a few years ago, ever since 2008…how bout something more juicy, like the fact that the sigma 85mm f1.4 is now available.
One of the official site pages from CP+ last week mentioned the A700 replacement as having an Exmor sensor. At the time I thought that was a yet unconfirmed spec, but figured if that was true then someone else would have picked up on it. Guess not!
A lot of Sony Alpha cameras have Exmor sensors. But Exmor *R* (backlit) sensors can only be found in Sony compact cameras for now (reasons mentioned by LEdgars above me).
“And a few weeks ago we told you the new A77 will feature the new “Exmor R” CMOS sensor with backlit technology.”
REALLY ?!?
Look at the A77 teaser Sony Japan showed before the CP+. On this add it’s already stated that this camera will feature an Exmor sensor.
Yes, but not “R”
The exmor R won’t be in A77 – at least so say the official materials from Sony which clearly point Exmor HD.
BUT There’s one possible good advert point in it – imagine this: Sony says “we give you the A700 replacement with SLT but have used the backlit sensor to help compensating the loss of light” -> this might hit people, eve if wouldn’t be completly true and certainly would attract some of people with doubts (though I guess most of doubts come from EVF not the noise, anyway.)
Those two photos seems more like one without flash and one with. 😀 From what I saw, backlit doesnt give anything.. but, maybe Sony will be able to squeeze something, they are after all very good in engineering (APS-C used in K-5/D7000/A55 proves that).
admin, the gal look nice! is that you 🙂
btw, the rumor is getting confuse someone quote CP+ sony statement its used exmor and this rumor says used exmorR. I will say it does not important because many of us will still buy the A77 right?
but i still like to wait for the review of still & video comparison before buy it. my expectation is this A77 must be score highest in APS-C segment in both still & image. hope it wont fail me for the long wait (8months). if it turn out diff result, then pick up gh2 is not bad with the lens lineup also 😀