The early 2000s were a great time for digital photography, where the nascent technology was finding its footing through new innovations. There was, however, one sensor design that had the potential to change everything: A 6MP full-frame CCD sensor made by Philips. While it is largely forgotten, this sensor has made a resurgence in our shared consciousness, thanks to Reddit. Here is a look at what became the basis for modern DSLR, which is nothing but a missed opportunity.
According to a post on Reddit’s r/Cameras thread, we noticed how the sensor was mentioned in a lengthy post. In fact, in a 1999 article on DPReview, Herman Peek, a senior scientist at Philips, spoke at the International Electron Devices Meeting, introducing the 6MP sensor as, “This is the largest number of pixels and the smallest pixel size for a digital still camera ever published in the world.”
The sensor, according to the report, was manufactured using a 0.5-micron CCD process and measured 9.11 mm x 6.07 mm. Furthermore, they overcame dark current suppression with the new techniques. As a result, you get a dark current of 800 picoamperes/centimeter2 and a dynamic range of 63 dB. In fact, it was dubbed a sensor that could surpass CMOS in terms of quality, something that consumers would certainly seek out.
Pentax’s Lost Full-Frame Moment
The year was 2001, when Pentax built its first full-frame DSLR prototype, MZ-D, which was inspired by its 35mm SLR camera, the MZ-S. The design resembled Canon’s 1-D series, which was later introduced in 2001. However, the difference was that the Canon 1D featured a 4.1 APS-H sensor. In other words, it was not a full-frame, but featured a 1.3x crop factor.
While Pentax’s DSLR worked, the sensor from Philips did not. Challenges such as delays in manufacturing, high production costs, inconsistencies, and more pushed the project further, and the camera never truly reached its potential. In fact, this hiccup led the company to delay its full-frame launch for over a decade. It was not until 2016 that Pextax introduced the K-1, which was relatively late, given that mirrorless cameras had taken over not long after. In fact, if the project had not failed, Pentax could have easily ruled the early phase of digital cameras.
Contax N Digital: The DSLR That Arrived Too Late
Although Pentax was unable to reach its full potential, Contax tried to push more boundaries. The company introduced the Contax N Digital in 2002, marking it to be the world’s first full-frame camera, beating Canon’s 11MP 1Ds by a few months. The Contax N Digital was also built on Contax N1, a 35mm film camera, and it was possible to work with Carl Zeiss lenses.
However, shortly after, the Contax version began facing challenges, including noise in pictures, overheating issues, battery problems, and the need for a CD to process RAW files. It was due to this that Contax had to withdraw the camera within the next three years, and Kyocera had to shut down Contax entirely.
The Sensor’s Afterlife
Although the Philip sensor did not work out, it was not entirely abandoned. Despite the limitations, some media formats used digital backs. For instance, Jenoptik’s “EyeLike,” which was based on the 6MP sensor, and one where its 24×36mm size was more manageable at the time.
While Contax N Digital has a cult following, it remains a relic of a time when photography was all about taking unexpected directions. While Philip’s sensor had the chance to become something great, they continues to be a reminder that early does not necessarily mean that one is ready to explore uncharted territories.