The Sony EXMOR-R sensor, and a story...

cptrios · 12th of August 2009 (Wed)

Just saw this on DPReview. It's definitely interesting (though we'll have to see how it actually turns out on a still camera), but it made me think of a conversation I once had with a coworker who's spent most of his life as a pro photographer.

He told me that somewhere in the late seventies he'd been approached by a friend looking for people to test out a new device he'd been working on. Apparently this guy had found that the particular film he liked to use required some concrete number of photons to activate it before it could even start recording an image. Figuring that this meant that a decent amount of the light coming through a lens was wasted on "energizing" the film, he devised this little in-body insert that basically consisted of two LEDs that gave off exactly the number of photons it would take to get the film going. My coworker claims that the results he got in his brief bit of testing amounted to something like ISO 51200 film with very little grain.

He says the guy offered to sell him the device but he didn't have the money to buy it. Later, he found out that the guy was creating the thing for the military, and that the project had been scrapped once night vision rolled around.

Clearly this could be complete BS, but hey, who doesn't love a nifty little story like that?

GCGuy · 12th of August 2009 (Wed)

That is interesting, I'll give ya that.

ronmayhew · 13th of August 2009 (Thu)

I could certainly use that on my Elan 7

davidfig · 13th of August 2009 (Thu)

What no link to the schematic or youtube video showing it in use.

CyberDyneSystems · 13th of August 2009 (Thu)

It looks like a classic "well Duh" tech moment,..

ie: I had no idea we've been using CMOS sensors that were clearly made "upside down" in the first place.
Nice to see Sony taking the huge leap in logic to "turn it right side up"

Makes perfect sense!

bjyoder · 13th of August 2009 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberDyneSystems

It looks like a classic "well Duh" tech moment,..

ie: I had no idea we've been using CMOS sensors that were clearly made "upside down" in the first place.
Nice to see Sony taking the huge leap in logic to "turn it right side up"

Makes perfect sense!

I had the same thought. The guy just sitting there, goofing off, and going "Hey... wait a second!!"

It will be interesting to see the results in the compact form, and to see what happens with the D-SLRs.

12th of August 2009 (Wed)	#1
cptrios Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boston, USA / Burgundy, France Posts: 1,743 IMAGE EDITING OK	The Sony EXMOR-R sensor, and a story... Just saw this on DPReview. It's definitely interesting (though we'll have to see how it actually turns out on a still camera), but it made me think of a conversation I once had with a coworker who's spent most of his life as a pro photographer. He told me that somewhere in the late seventies he'd been approached by a friend looking for people to test out a new device he'd been working on. Apparently this guy had found that the particular film he liked to use required some concrete number of photons to activate it before it could even start recording an image. Figuring that this meant that a decent amount of the light coming through a lens was wasted on "energizing" the film, he devised this little in-body insert that basically consisted of two LEDs that gave off exactly the number of photons it would take to get the film going. My coworker claims that the results he got in his brief bit of testing amounted to something like ISO 51200 film with very little grain. He says the guy offered to sell him the device but he didn't have the money to buy it. Later, he found out that the guy was creating the thing for the military, and that the project had been scrapped once night vision rolled around. Clearly this could be complete BS, but hey, who doesn't love a nifty little story like that? __________________ Fuji X100 / Sony NEX-7 / Contax G 45mm f/2 / The ghosts of 3 Canon bodies past / A meagre amount of talent My weak lil' 500px

12th of August 2009 (Wed)	#2
GCGuy Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SW Michigan Posts: 579 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: The Sony EXMOR-R sensor, and a story... That is interesting, I'll give ya that. __________________ Just a guy with a few photography goodies that challenge me anew every day! PjsPix.com * Gear List

13th of August 2009 (Thu)	#3
ronmayhew Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gainesville, Georgia, USA Posts: 1,473	Re: The Sony EXMOR-R sensor, and a story... I could certainly use that on my Elan 7 __________________ flickr Canon: 40D, 16-35L, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2.0, 75-300mm IS, 35-350L , 135mm f/2.0L, Pro9000 . Sigma: 70-200mm f/2.8; Alien Bees: B1600 Tamron: 17-50mm, 28-75mm, 90mm fMacro,

13th of August 2009 (Thu)	#4
davidfig we over look the simplest things Join Date: May 2005 Location: Fremont, California USA Posts: 3,113 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: The Sony EXMOR-R sensor, and a story... What no link to the schematic or youtube video showing it in use. __________________ 5D \| (2) 550EX \| 17-40L \| Tammy 28-75 2.8 \| 28-135 \| 50/1.8 \| 85/1.8 \| 70-200L 2.8 IS Sigma 18-125 \| (4)AB B400 \| Load of Pentax M42's

13th of August 2009 (Thu)	#5
CyberDyneSystems Wait, all that time and all I get is "Cream of the Damn Crop" ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Providence RI Posts: 37,465 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: The Sony EXMOR-R sensor, and a story... It looks like a classic "well Duh" tech moment,.. ie: I had no idea we've been using CMOS sensors that were clearly made "upside down" in the first place. Nice to see Sony taking the huge leap in logic to "turn it right side up" Makes perfect sense! __________________ GEAR LIST CDS' HOT LINKS My POTN Share Threads Jake Hegnauer Photography

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My sensor cleaning horror story	tpatana	Canon EOS Digital Cameras	74	21st of October 2008 (Tue) 23:19
Canon 5D 12MP sensor vs New Sony 12MP CMOS sensor	Tee Why	Canon EOS Digital Cameras	37	7th of September 2007 (Fri) 17:14
Yet another sensor cleaning story	offtheroad	Canon EOS Digital Cameras	4	28th of April 2007 (Sat) 22:47
Have I hurt my sensor? (picture and story)	Ursula	Canon EOS Digital Cameras	12	17th of March 2006 (Fri) 09:53
New Magazine includes story on sensor cleaning	jimsolt	Canon EOS Digital Cameras	2	27th of April 2005 (Wed) 18:15