It sure would be good for consumers if Samsung started producing camera sensors for Mirrorless and/or DSLRs again.
Over the last few years Sony have emerged as the the world’s leader when it comes to camera sensor manufacturing and supplying. The Japanese powerhouse develops and keeps the very best sensors for use in their own cameras of course, but they also supply sensors to most other camera manufacturers too, with the likes of Nikon, Canon’s point and shoots, Fujifilm, etc relying heavily on their technology. There is one company though that could take the crown from the current sensor kings, and that company is Samsung.
Samsung are no strangers to sensor production. For many years Samsung developed and used sensors in their own cameras like the NX500. These sensors were ahead of their time and they were capable of producing stunning images. Samsung also produced sensors for the likes of Pentax too before they switched over to Sony based sensors along with just about every other camera manufacturer.
As it stands Sony claim just a tad over 50% of the camera sensor market. The tech giant is pumping out roughly 100,000 camera sensors per day, but a recent post on Mirrorless Rumors suggests that Samsung have decided that they want to surpass their rivals by increasing their sensor output from 45,000 units per day, to over 120,000 units. To do this Samsung have converted computer memory production lines into lines that will create the camera sensors needed to claim the sensor throne.
While there is no evidence to suggest that Samsung intend to start making Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, Full Frame, or Medium Format sensors any time soon, it sure would be welcomed. Not that Sony make bad sensors; they have shown time and time again that their tech is fantastic, but from a consumer standpoint, more competition can only be a good thing.
The likes of Nikon and any other camera manufacturer who use Sony’s tech know that they don’t have access to the latest and greatest sensors as Sony keep those for themselves, so by default users of non Sony cameras are at somewhat of a disadvantage. If Samsung ever decides to go all in on camera sensors once again but stays out of the actual camera game, ground breaking sensors that meet and beat the best that Sony keep for themselves would be available to anyone manufacturer who wants to pay to use them.
Did you ever use, or do you still use Samsung cameras? How do you think the market would be impacted if Samsung were to start making sensors for Mirrorless and DSLR cameras again? Let us know in the comment section below.