Sony has introduced some great sensors, which offer not just good colors but also great speed. Pair this with AI processors, you get yourself a camera that can withstand anything. Look at the a7 V or the a1 II. While there have been reports of the company introducing a 105MP sensor, there are no reports of when it may actually result in a new camera. Adding to this list is the report of a new full frame sensor, one that will be adored by hybrid photographers.
Additional reporting was provided by Chris Gampat.
What’s the New Sensor About?
First reported by Sony Alpha Rumor, the platform notes that a 67MP stacked sensor is likely to be launched soon, with the ability to shoot 10K video at 60fps. Some other features include 3.6µm pixels, 8K60, 4K120, DCG-HDR dual conversion gain, and the latest SLVS-EC v3.0 interface. This represents a massive leap over anything in the current market, which makes the announcement exciting.
There is also some sort of confirmation on whether this is a partially or fully stacked sensor. It likely could be a partial sensor, which allows one to composite data at different gain settings in a single frame. This would be ideal for a7R VI, whenever it is going to be announced. While the rumor could be correct about the 67MP sensor, it is unclear whether the company will use the sensor for its own cameras. Or, they can use it but not allow others to use it.
What are People Saying?
The big question remains: which camera is it used for? Some say the a7R VI, but it could also be for a completely new lineup of the device. There is also the fact that the a7R VI, if it has the same sensor, can result in making the a1 II look outdated. As a result, this could make sense for something bigger than the a1.
However, there are also some who are dismissing the 10K capability, since there is no open-gate recording and proper thermal management option available now, even for high-end cameras. In fact, the latter has seen overheating during extended video use without a dedicated cooling fan.
Then, about the debate about the fully or partially stacked debate, enthusiasts have been digging up the leaked roadmap to see (on Weibo) whether stacked sensors have been listed yet or not. And, it seems to be listed as “Stacked” with “Super High-Speed AD.” As a result, blazing-fast readout speeds will make rolling shutter a non-issue.
There are also comments on whether Sony will actually sell the sensor to the other brands. While Sony has a history of supplying to Leica, Nikon, and Panasonic, it is possible they will introduce a superior version of the same soon. An example is a7 V’s partially stacked sensor. There is also another thing: that this is not true, and that it could just be an April Fool’s joke.
Either way, the news of a partially stacked sensor is great, especially since there are reports of a 28MP MFT sensor from Sony. Sony may be revolutionizing this for the better, but it remains to be seen how Sony will push its cameras as well as others’ at the same time. They managed to do it so far; perhaps they will do so in the future.
Considering that Nikon has done the partially-stacked sensor tech with some of their cameras and had success, we can see how Sony would want to do it too. However, Sony would do it with one of their highest megapixel sensors to date. And that, if anything, would be something truly fascinating. Sony is bound to use it to try to push through both video and still capabilities. But we find that frivolous. Some cameras, like a Sony a7r VI of some sort, should really just be for photographers and not try to make it an all-around beast.