Moreover, these sensors allow you to shoot HDR video on the fly, and the first one found its place in the 13MP Sony Xperia GX, which is bound to hit Japan next month.
Apple, Samsung and, of course, Sony, are using the company's sensors in their smartphones, so it will be interesting to see whether the "stacked" tech will make its way into the new iPhone 5 that is bound to arrive in the fall.
It might not be accidental that the Japanese are investing $994 million to expand plant production to 60, 000 wafers a month for making many of those stacked camera sensors.
Sony increases production capacity for stacked CMOS image sensors
- Increasing total production capacity for image sensors to approximately 60,000 wafers per month to supply image sensors mainly for smartphones -
June 22, 2012, Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced that it plans to invest in Sony Semiconductor Corporation's Nagasaki Technology Center ("Nagasaki TEC") from the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 through the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, to increase the production capacity for stacked CMOS image sensors.*1
This investment is intended to provide for new wafer processing equipment for stacked CMOS image sensors, and to increase and transform wafer lines capable of manufacturing CMOS image sensors.
With this development, Sony plans to increase total production capacity for CCD and CMOS image sensors to approximately 60,000 wafers per month by the end of September 2013.*2
In light of the rapidly expanding demand for smartphones and tablets, Sony plans to continue to solidify its leading global position in CMOS image sensors by strengthening its production capabilities for stacked CMOS image sensors, which provide greater performance in a more compact form. Furthermore, Sony intends to accelerate its growth strategy by incorporating superior core technologies, including stacked CMOS image sensors, into a wide range of products for its digital imaging and mobile businesses, which are priorities within its electronics business.
The investment amount is approximately 80 billion yen, of which, the amount to be invested in the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 (approximately 45 billion yen) was included in the forecast of the capital expenditures for semiconductors in the current fiscal year announced at the annual earnings release on May 10, 2012. In addition, Sony will utilize a governmental subsidy in its investment plan which will be provided by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan, through the "Subsidy for Domestic Location Promotion Projects" program.
Adding more and more megapixel doesn't mean it changing the picture revolutionary...Everything depends on sensor...That's why Apple and Samsung uses Sony camera sensors....
I wonder why Sony didn't use their best camera sensor to all of their XPERIA phones. XPERIA ray, neo V, mini/pro/live/active, U, sola cameras quality are still behind iPhone 4S (which sensor was also made by Sony)
Sony Mobile Communications AB is a separate company.
if they decided to use Sony camera sensor, then they must bought the sensor from Sony Corporation (ソニー株式会社).
and knowing their current financial condition, i don't think Sony Mobile has the money to bought the best camera sensor available.
20.cepcamba(Posts: 717; Member since: 27 Feb 2012)
There was a quake in Japan that destroyed a lot of lenses. The original Xperia Arc and Xperia Neo used to have the same sensors, but after the quake they had a shortage of the 8MP sensors. Sony Ericsson was forced to change the sensor of the Neo, hence the birth of the Neo V which is exactly a Neo but with a 5MP sensor.
Also, about the other xperia devices not getting the top-end sensor, it's because they needed variety. Just like how other manufacturers have top-end phones with better sensors than their low-end ones.
21.bayusuputra(Posts: 963; Member since: 12 Feb 2012)
if you know better, like the way you SOUNDED, you should know that more megapixels doesn't mean better image quality..
that's called the Megapixel Myth, just so you know in case you are still behind us..
23.cepcamba(Posts: 717; Member since: 27 Feb 2012)
Yep, higher megapixels does not mean better image quality. But have you seen the 8MP pics captured on the pureview mode? Blows any other smartphone out of the wate.... no earth! Even holds it's ground against dedicated cameras.
7.whothisperson(Posts: 102; Member since: 06 May 2012)
Very nice, I like. It's going to be a war like back in the days when Sony and Nokia had the BEST cameraphones in the world. I.e. Sony Ericsson K lines (k800, k850, etc.) and Nokia N lines (N50, N80, etc.)
12.osanilevich(Posts: 286; Member since: 29 Sep 2009)
Honestly if there is one manufacturer who can break into this apple vs Samsung thing we got going on its Sony. Always got great build quality and cameras now they just gotta get up to date processors and such and maybe tweak their proprietary UI a bit. Also, japan isn't the only country in earth, a few more international releases of high end devices can't hurt
15.cepcamba(Posts: 717; Member since: 27 Feb 2012)
Yep pureview is awesome. But too pricey. Sony sensors are among the best (if not the best and excluding the pureview) among mobile phones in the 8mp category so continuously improving on it is of course a good idea. Besides, I want the good camera in a droid!!!! :p
22.bayusuputra(Posts: 963; Member since: 12 Feb 2012)
I remember that SIGMA has done this Foveon sensor, where they stack up the pixels instead of using the conventional Bayern pattern.. and indeed, the image looks more fantastic, since one color-subpixel gets the area of the whole sensor, and not just a third of it.. it improves the noise handling capability of the sensor, too.. maybe it's the dawn of the era when smartphones will finally replace PnS..
