Last Updated on 07/01/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
You may have seen news about a new 31MP global shutter sensor from Sony, but don’t get your hopes up
In the world of digital photography one technology has eluded camera makers for years, yet still gets brought up over and over again by photographers as a fix to many issues we have with how current cameras capture a scene. That technology is the Global Shutter. The idea is that a camera sensor could capture a scene at once, and not in a top to bottom scan in conjunction with a shutter mechanism of some kind like most current cameras do. Well, a new report over on Sony Alpha Rumors indicates Sony may have a new 31MP APS-C sensor featuring a Global Shutter. But we don’t think you should pay much attention.
In the SAR reporting, they seem to try and tie this supposedly leaked Sony APS-C sensor to an upcoming A6700 camera. If that was the case, it would be impressive, no doubt. But don’t fall for that trap; this sensor hasn’t been designed for use in something like an A6700. Similar to some of those fun Canon sensors that have gotten press lately, these sensors are quite expensive and are meant to be utilized for industrial purposes, specifically in manufacturing automation and things like traffic cameras.
UPDATE: SAR has updated their post, noting that the aspect ratio of this sensor isn’t correct for an A6700 like they had originally reported.
Going further, if you take the time to look at the specs noted in the supposedly leaked document, the sensor appears to have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Unless Sony plans to change their cameras over to a 4:3 ratio, this sensor (at least in the form that we see in these documents) wouldn’t even work right for an A6XXX series camera. It’s unfortunate, and sorry to burst your hype bubble, but this simply just isn’t going to be a thing.
That said, could this technology be utilized in the development of another sensor? One that includes the correct aspect ratio and is cost effective enough to place into a consumer level product? Sure, that is always possible. Given that this is Sony, maybe down the line we will see something like that. But this sensor, if it is even real, is not that sensor. So, don’t go getting your hopes up for some ultimate Sony APS-C mega sensor, it’s not coming.
Although, given the reports lately indicating that this may be a big year for APS-C announcements from Canon, it would be a very ‘Sony’ move to swoop in and drop some crazy tech like this just to take the wind out of Canon’s sales. As fun as that would be to see, I just don’t see it happening… at least with this sensor.
Nice try, Rumor Mill, but I don’t buy it.