Sony and their "formidable sensor technology"

[Solares]

It's been quite a while since I heard a tech journalist use superlatives for describing a particular company's technology.

In this case, they describe Sony's sensor technology as "formidable"

So, why is Sony's sensor technology formidable?

https://www.ft.com/content/0d6b80ed-964a-4783-aab5-0e7bb68ba5e5

[gamalot]

Subscribe to the FT to read ......

[Solares]

sorry, going via google.com if you type

"sony honda ft"

it comes up immediately.

(direct link does not take you there - sorry)

[magic]

So, why is Sony's sensor technology formidable?

It's formidable that they paid this poor journo struggling for survival in a world where printed press goes the way of the dodo and all you get online is piracy and adblocking

Other than that, well, yes, Sony is big on the image sensor market.

[tooki]

It's been quite a while since I heard a tech journalist use superlatives for describing a particular company's technology.

In this case, they describe Sony's sensor technology as "formidable"

So, why is Sony's sensor technology formidable?

https://www.ft.com/content/0d6b80ed-964a-4783-aab5-0e7bb68ba5e5

Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of image sensors. Their customers are a veritable “who’s who” of camera and phone makers, from Apple to Nikon (and of course Sony’s own cameras). The only major exception is Canon, which makes its own sensors.

[Solares]

It's been quite a while since I heard a tech journalist use superlatives for describing a particular company's technology.

In this case, they describe Sony's sensor technology as "formidable"

So, why is Sony's sensor technology formidable?

https://www.ft.com/content/0d6b80ed-964a-4783-aab5-0e7bb68ba5e5

Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of image sensors. Their customers are a veritable “who’s who” of camera and phone makers, from Apple to Nikon (and of course Sony’s own cameras). The only major exception is Canon, which makes its own sensors.

Thanks!

So what is so formidable about Sony image sensors?

[tooki]

I think you’re reading way too much into the choice of word. “Formidable” simply means “capable”, “impressive”, etc., not necessarily “superior”. All the journalist is saying is that Sony has a strong portfolio of sensors.

[PartialDischarge]

Hasselblad cameras also use Sony sensors in the size of what they call "medium format"

[perdrix]

Thanks!

So what is so formidable about Sony image sensors?

Let's list a few things about the IMX455 sensor:  60MP; Quantum Efficiency 87%, dark current 0.014 e-/pixel/second; full well capacity of 51,000 electrons in standard mode and 85,000 electrons in extended mode (6011 full well / um2); at lowest gain, the IMX 455 achieves read noise as low as 3.7 electrons, at high gain 1 electrons read noise; dynamic range 14000:1; readout time 1/3 second.

So I'd say pretty formidable.

D.

[Solares]

PD thanks - interesting to know that the "Rolls Royce" of cameras use their sensors also.

Perdrix - thanks for that detailed answer. Never heard of quantum efficiency before. Very interesting to learn about the different parameters used to describe the attributes of an image sensor. Cheers.

[Someone]

IMX455 sensor .... readout time 1/3 second.

So nothing at all to do with the article talking about Sonys "play" in the automotive space:
https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/e/products/IS/automotive/technology.html
https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/e/news/2021/2021090601.html