Canon has unveiled a new 410MP 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor, marking the “largest number of pixels ever achieved” in a sensor of this size. It offers a staggering output of 24K resolution (24,592 x 16,704 pixels), which is 12 times the detail of 8K and 198 times that of standard HD.
To achieve such unprecedented resolution in a 35mm sensor, the company implemented a host of technical advancements. A redesigned circuitry pattern and a back-illuminated stacked formation, where the pixel segment and signal processing segment are interlayered, allow for a readout speed of 3,280 megapixels per second. This in turn enables the sensor to capture full-resolution images at eight frames per second, ensuring high-speed performance.
Canon says it is also introducing a monochrome variant of the sensor, which includes a four-pixel binning feature that enhances low-light sensitivity by treating four neighbouring pixels as a single unit. While this reduces overall resolution, it allows the sensor to record 100-megapixel video at 24 frames per second, making it particularly effective for applications requiring enhanced brightness and clarity in dim environments.
Unlike medium-format sensors traditionally associated with ultra-high resolutions, Canon’s new sensor can integrate with existing full-frame lenses. This compatibility promises greater flexibility and portability, potentially reducing the size of equipment required for tasks that demand extreme resolution.
However, the new sensor is not intended for consumer-grade cameras, at least for now. The company instead is targeting specialised fields such as surveillance, medical imaging, and industrial applications that demand extreme levels of detail. By demonstrating the feasibility of ultra-high-resolution sensors in a compact format, Canon is laying the groundwork for future innovations that could one day make their way into mainstream photography and videography.
(Source: Canon)
