More Inside News

Thanks for the update, I appreciate your info.

Interesting :-)

How will the CCD work if it can get twice the resolution, how can 1 pixel act like 2? Does it calculate the other pixels in between in a blok of say 8x8? I really like the idea of the cropped mode switch/button that could actually give a really broad lineup to choose from, that could be great.

ClearVid CMOS is :
rotated by 45 deg (same way as Fuji)
1R and 1B pixels per 6 greens (ie 6:1:1), while traditional Bayer is 2:1:1

Regarding the 6:1:1, the idea is basically to keep the same color resolution as now, while increasing the luminance resolution (as luma is mostly using green information)

note: I also think that such a disclosure of information (with what would obviously be a severe breach of non disclosure agreement) is a bit strange. When under NDA, it means non disclosure to anyone not covered by the same nda, thus no disclosure to family.
I would perfectly understand if this thread was removed to protect the Sony employee.

I think that it is different than in the video cameras - I mean the percentage of the green pixels - I am not really sure and can't find out anymore - but the diagonal pattern and the scanning process is the same. I am under no NDA, and believe me, there are so many concepts and prototypes going on within the Alpha project that no one is really sure how things will shape up. One thing is sure and that is that Sony is determined to use its technological advantage to dominate the market at time when there will be better marriage of photography and video. Just as now a cell phone has many functions, this concept will be carried into the future imaging products. One of the things they are working hard on is 3D TV that works without glasses, and as electronic display technology will replace photographs in the future, guess what? Already now there are prototypes of 3D cameras being developed by Sony.

The 2 DSLR prototypes that were shown at different shows by Sony were no wooden mock ups, but the actual cameras that will be produced. The same goes for the lenses. All these were pretty much final prototypes, but Sony could not disclose this due to its competition. The main thing that is holding these projects up is development of SSS which has to work harder with larger sensors; the insides of the cameras may be a little different than on the prototypes shown, not the outsides. That was finalized before showing them to the public.

Sony was originally going to buy the Contax brand from Kyocera, but then used this info in its negotioations with KM, from whom they managed to get the DSLR division with all its expertise for pennies on the dollar. KM really wanted the DSLR division to be in the best hands; they cared about it more than about anything else; the Minolta portion of the KM team wanted to see the legacy of the system to continue and to improve as much as possible. The decision to sell to Sony was rather emotional.

Edited by akio mizumi - 11 August 2007 at 11:51

same way as Fuji

I hope this isn't true...have you ever try to get sharp images from Fuji's pictures; absolutely no way; colors and dynamic range is good (if not even the best), but sharpness is awful.....

If true then those cameras will be monsters. Lets hope he has great info!

Edited by almassengale - 11 August 2007 at 12:50

Of course, this post suggests that other Sony employees are liars, since I recall those employees at PMA stated that the mockups were just wooden bodies.

One fraud vs. many liars?