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RAW Photo Capabilities Come to Cellphones Via OmniVision

Chris Gampat
No Comments
02/16/2010
2 Mins read

Last Updated on 02/16/2010 by

Just when cameras like the S90 and others were making a strive forward, OmniVision has announced today at Mobile World Congress the introduction of a 1/4 inch 5MP sensor that will shoot RAW photos and will be available for cell phones. The sensor is also complete with backside illumination. If that wasn’t enough, it can also shoot 1080p HD video at 30p and 720p at 60p. Let’s also keep in mind that this is a much smaller sensor.

Showing ultimate megapixel restraint, it will allow photographers and users that always have a phone in their pocket to take better pictures and have more flexibility in the editing process. Next to the new sensor in the photo above is a Micro Four Thirds sensor.

While technology like this is great news, let’s keep in mind that most of America also doesn’t know that much about photography so something like this may hopefully encourage them to do more with their photos. It will also boost citizen journalism. Hopefully photo editing apps will be able to keep up, like those on Android. Let’s also keep in mind that processors need to keep up as well. More is available on the press release and technical specs are after the jump.

Via Wired

Features

* 1.4 x 1.4 Îĵm pixel with OmniBSI technology for high performance (high sensitivity, low crosstalk, low noise)

* optical size of 1/4″

* automatic image control functions: automatic exposure control (AEC), automatic white balance (AWB), automatic band filter (ABF), automatic 50/60 Hz luminance detection, automatic black level calibration (ABLC)

* programmable controls for frame rate, AEC/AGC 16-zone size/position/weight control, mirror and flip, cropping, windowing, and panning

* image quality controls: lens correction, defective pixel canceling

* support for output formats: 8/10-bit raw RGB data

* support for video or snapshot operations

* support for LED and flash strobe mode

* support for internal and external frame synchronization for frame exposure mode

* support for 2×2 binning for better SNR in low light conditions

* post binning resampling filter to minimize spatial/aliasing artifacts on 2 x 2 binned image

* support for horizontal and vertical sub-sampling

* standard serial SCCB interface

* digital video port (DVP) parallel output interface

* MIPI interface (two lanes)

* 32 bytes of embedded one-time programmable (OTP) memory

* on-chip phase lock loop (PLL)

* embedded 1.5V regulator for core power

* programmable I/O drive capability, I/O tri-state configurability

* support for black sun cancellation

Taken from the product site.

cameraphones hd video mobile mobile world congress omnivision raw sensors
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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