New curved sensor from Sony (with pictures)

http://petapixel.com …leased-photo-nerds-giddy/

Looks like a very interesting development. Theoretically, it would make for far better corners, with better sharpness and less light falloff, and allow the use of simpler lenses with fewer glass elements and fewer aberrations.

But the real problem will be in lens selection - current lenses (except fisheyes) would be useless on curved sensors, the shift function on tilt-shifts wouldn't work and the only rectilinear lenses you'd be able to use would be ones custom-designed for a sensor with the same curvature.

even with all the limitations. I like to see the experimentation of new ideas like this. It might not go where they want it, but learn something useful for other areas.
thanks for posting

I won't hold my breath on much becoming of this, at least till someone who actually bothers to make and release a lens lineup gets behind it as well and puts some serious backing into building a reliable and reasonably priced lens lineup. Cool new sensor tech isn't worth much if there is barely any glass to focus light onto it.

Luckless wrote in post #16970089
I won't hold my breath on much becoming of this, at least till someone who actually bothers to make and release a lens lineup gets behind it as well and puts some serious backing into building a reliable and reasonably priced lens lineup. Cool new sensor tech isn't worth much if there is barely any glass to focus light onto it.

It can be used in camera/lens combos like the next RX1.

thenextguy wrote in post #16970329
It can be used in camera/lens combos like the next RX1.

Of course. It can also be used in a line of interchangeable lens cameras that only have a handful of lenses made to work with it.

However, neither of those options really appeals to me at all.

It could significantly boost the performance of single-purpose cameras where lens selection isn't an issue.

Webcams, phone cameras and point-and shoots could all benefit from this.

Innovation is always a good thing.

Everything is going curved these days what next !

Well curved phones and TVs I never really got but having a curved sensor where all the pixels recieve light at 90° means sharp corners, less CA, less color shift etc... would possibly, I am no expert, mean less elements inside a lens as less correction is needed for abberations. So let them start using this in a compact and see where it goes, cos it has the potential to make your pictures better and your lenses lighter. Bravo Sony, again....

Neilyb wrote in post #16974452
Well curved phones and TVs I never really got but having a curved sensor where all the pixels recieve light at 90° means sharp corners, less CA, less color shift etc... would possibly, I am no expert, mean less elements inside a lens as less correction is needed for abberations. So let them start using this in a compact and see where it goes, cos it has the potential to make your pictures better and your lenses lighter. Bravo Sony, again....

Lighter, less complex, and presumably, cheaper!

Shadowblade wrote in post #16969432
But the real problem will be in lens selection - current lenses (except fisheyes) would be useless on curved sensors, the shift function on tilt-shifts wouldn't work and the only rectilinear lenses you'd be able to use would be ones custom-designed for a sensor with the same curvature.

That's why I doubt it would be used on a camera with an existing lens system.

mystik610 wrote in post #16974869
Lighter, less complex, and presumably, cheaper!

One can hope but for now it would be limited to compact or fixed lens systems. Wide aperture lenses are harder to build I guess as angles of light have such extremes. Certainly will sell I suppose.

It will great simplify lens design and lower the cost of lenses able to product very high resolution with practically no CA.

I have always thought this a great idea - in fact I imagine sensors would eventually be part of the lens.

Maybe this is why Sony has been horrible about making new lenses for their cameras. Maybe they hope to build a system around a curved sensor.