Canon has developed a new sensor that uses a clever trick to increase dynamic range.
The new CMOS sensor has a dynamic range of 148 dB, which the company calls the largest dynamic range in surveillance cameras. However, the sensor’s “Area Exposure” function makes it particularly appealing.
The sensor is a stacked type with one pixel layer and one CPU layer. Combined with the “Area Exposure” design, it can capture different exposures in different areas at the same time by dividing itself into multiple zones, each with its own specific parameters. This means that instead of having to frame exposure times to handle high dynamic range, the sensor can process a large dynamic range at once, helping to reduce blur in moving subjects.
While this is currently being developed for surveillance cameras, it is quite an intriguing technology that could be a real boon if it is applied to consumer models. For example, landscape photographers can use it to expose the sky and ground separately, eliminating the need to use graduated ND filters or for multiple exposures. This can greatly increase the effective dynamic range of the sensor. Hopefully we’ll see it on more cameras soon.
