Imaging Science and Technology

Our testing shows that Canon's EOS 80D features a sensor with greatly improved Raw dynamic range. The results appear to confirm that the company has moved to a new sensor design with lower read noise. Read more

A team of researchers at Rice University are developing a thin, lensless camera called FlatCam, which replaces the traditional lens with a grid-like coded mask essentially made of many pinholes positioned over the sensor. Read more

Sony has announced a 22.5MP Exmor RS imaging sensor for smartphones. The new stacked 1/2.6" CMOS sensor, called IMX318, is smaller than most used by current smartphones and includes on-chip processing for AF and video image stabilization. Sony has used pixels measuring 1.0µm, allowing for a smaller sensor with higher resolution to be included in likewise slimmer mobile devices. Read more

Why can't you just make them better? It sounds like a reasonable question until you start unpacking exactly what it entails, and that's exactly what Roger Cicala does in the latest LensRentals blog post. As usual, the closer he looks, the more complicated the question becomes. So why can't everyone just (repeatably and affordably) make lenses, you know... better? Read more

Panasonic claims that it has achieved 10x higher saturation (more than 3EV greater dynamic range) in a sensor using an Organic Photoconductive Film (OPF) developed by Fujifilm. In addition to greater dynamic range, the new sensor technology promises other benefits that should appeal to both photographers and videographers such as global shutter and more flexible lens design. Read more

Sony has just announced the APS-C a6300, an update to the immensely popular a6000. Its technological advances seem poised to break down some of the last remaining strongholds of DSLRs. Sony has released a few videos demonstrating some of these features. Have a look

After the official launch of the X-Pro2 recently in Tokyo, Fujifilm invited a select group of press to visit its Taiwa assembly plant in Sendai, to see the camera being put together. As well as the X-Pro2, we were also able to see the assembly lines for the X-T1, X100T and several lenses. So of course, being the nerds that we are, we took a bunch of pictures. Click through to check out our factory tour

Global tech giant Google could be joining the camera business if a patent it was awarded this month is anything to go by. Filed in June 2014 and just approved on the 12th January this year, the patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office is for a design for a folding camera that's hinged in the middle like a clamshell mobile phone. Read more

CES 2016 saw the announcement of two important DSLRs from Nikon, including an update to its flagship line, as well as an almost mythical product many had given up hope of ever seeing: a true D300 replacement. The D5 and D500 really refine the DSLR with a number of under-the-hood improvements. In case you missed any, we've compiled and analyzed some of the most important underlying technologies in these cameras. Read on

Processor maker Ambarella has announced its two newest and most powerful chips. The H2 and H12 are 4K (UHD) capable processors, with the more powerful H2 able to compress 10-bit 4K/60p video using H.265 HEVC compression or 4K/120p with the less efficient H.264 AVC system. The company says it's the drone market that's now pushing the capabilities it needs to offer - way beyond what compact cameras tend to need. Read more

Electronics giant Samsung has announced it will introduce a 2TB USB memory device that is ‘smaller than an average business card’. The Samsung Portable SSD T3 will measure 74x58x10.5mm/2.91x2.28x0.41in and will weigh 51g/1.79oz when it comes to market in February. The company claims that the device will offer read and write speeds of up to 450MB/s via its USB 3.1 Type C interface, and with AES 256-bit hardware encryption and password protection it will not be readable should it be lost or stolen. Read more

Epson has announced its latest electronic viewfinder panel: a 4.41m dot SXGA+ display, a spec that may sound familiar to anyone who's been reading about Leica's SL full-frame mirrorless camera. Epson had shown a mockup of the panel at CP+ back in February 2015, and says the unit is now in mass production. Read more

According to a report from the Nikkei Asian Review, Panasonic has decided to resume image sensor development in order to speed up the drive for 8K video. The company suspended its development program a few years ago, the report says, but now Panasonic is preparing to invest ¥10bn/$80.8m to get its R&D back up to speed. Read more

It seems like just yesterday that we were trying to come up with a sensible name for mirrorless cameras but 2016 will mark the eighth anniversary of the first Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera. In that time they've gone from being an interesting new development to being a credible alternative to APS-C and full-frame DSLRs. In this primer we explain what mirrorless cameras are, how they differ from traditional DSLRs, and what this means to a potential first-time buyer. Read more

As announced on Friday, Panasonic has just released new firmware that enables a post-capture refocusing feature in some of its cameras that run 4K video on a Micro Four Thirds sensor. We got hold of a pre-release copy of the firmware and have been able to try it out on the Lumix DMC-GX8 body. Read more

In July, Panasonic revealed plans to launch a feature it calls Post Focus for select camera models via a firmware update. Panasonic today announced that firmware update will be available via the Lumix Global website on November 25. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8, DMC-G7, and DMC-FZ300 will be supported. Read more

California-based startup LucidVR recently showcased its consumer-level camera for creating virtual reality content, LucidCam. The camera, which is nearing mass production, is one of the first to enable anyone to create VR content, something that has thus far been limited to those with expensive VR camera rigs. Read more

Startup InVisage has announced a smartphone sensor with global shutter for distortion-free video and greater dynamic range than its CMOS rivals. The Quantum13 is a 13MP sensor based on the company's Quantum Film technology that moves away from silicon as the light-sensitive medium. The sensor, now available in small quantities for testing by smartphone makers, can also be built into a smaller package for slimmer smartphones. We spoke to CEO Jess Lee about the sensor and what it brings to the market.

US-based startup Light has officially introduced its L16, a portable device packed with 16 individual cameras, ten of which capture an image at the same time at different fixed focal lengths. The resulting photograph is a composite of all the individual images combined, with a final resolution of up to 52 megapixels. An earlier prototype of this camera was shown off this past April. Read more

Sony has just announced that its latest cameras will gain the option to shoot uncompressed Raw files. Given the interest that was generated when we detailed the effects of Raw compression, we though it was equally important to make clear the benefits of the newly-added uncompressed Raw option. Here's what we've found so far. Read more

If you thought the pixel race was something that ended a few years ago think again. Canon has announced that its R&D team has developed a CMOS sensor of a similar size to that used in the EOS 1D Mark IV which houses 250 megapixels. Read more

A Raw file is a Raw file, right? Well, not exactly. Lately, there's been a lot of talk and a lot of anger about the compression Sony uses in its Raw files. Compressed Raw files aren't uncommon, but they're usually compressed in a way that retains all the original 'raw' data from the sensor. That doesn't seem to be the case with Sony's latest cameras. Read more

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have come up with a theory for a new way to solve the issue of bright skies burning out in a landscape photograph. Using what they call Unbounded High Dynamic Range photography they are working on the idea of pixels that reset themselves once they have reached their capacity for recording light so that they can carry on recording - and resetting if necessary. Click through for more details

There's a lot of new technology in the Sony a7R II, and here we were briefed on some of the salient features by Sony engineers during a recent Sony Digital Imaging event in Portland, OR. Join our Technical Editor Rishi Sanyal as he explains some of the capabilities of this camera, and why they matter to photographers. Click through to read more

One of this summer's biggest hits is undoubtedly 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. Its narrative is built around an extended car chase, brought to life through physical stunts and visual effects work. We spoke with a few of the film's visual effects supervisors about the gear used to shoot the film (from an Arri Alexa to an iPhone 6) and the impact it had on their work. Read more

Researchers at MIT and Google have developed a technique for removing unwanted reflections and obstructions from photos. Taking advantage of the parallax effect, this method could prove quite useful in locations where shooting behind glass or a fence is the only option. Read more

Olympus has patented a technology that records polarization information on the sensor itself, giving the effect of a polarizing filter but without the light cost. The patent is for a two-layer sensor that records color and brightness information on the top layer, just like a conventional sensor, but then has a second layer that captures information about the polarization of the light arriving at the camera. Read more

Chip makers Micron and Intel have announced a new form of computer memory that promises faster, more reliable storage than current technologies, in a smaller space and at similar prices. The technology could reduce the distinction between memory and storage within computers and provide a faster, more stable way of storing large Raw and video files. Read more

Alongside two camera announcements, Panasonic has gone public with plans for a new post-focus feature for selected cameras and two new lenses. Enabled by 4K video capture and its DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology, Post Focus will allow users to select a focus point after capture. New lenses on the way include a Leica DG 100-400mm F4-6.3 zoom and Lumix G 25mm F1.7 prime. Read more

DxOMark published its report on the 50MP sensor in the Canon's EOS 5DS and 5DS R. They're the best-performing Canon sensors to date, offering massive resolution along along with small dynamic range improvements. Do the cameras raise the bar relative to competitors though? Our technical editor Rishi does a thorough analysis, using DxO's data to pit the 5DS against the Nikon D810. Click through for more

Despite some sales growth, mirrorless isn't taking over photography. Equally, DSLRs aren't flying off the shelves the way they used to. But if you've found yourself arguing about whether mirrorless is the future, you've probably been addressing the wrong question. DPReview's Richard Butler argues that convergence is coming and that it's not the mirrors that matter. Read more

The DxO ONE is a 20MP camera with a 32mm equivalent F1.8 lens, which is designed to be used in combination with an Apple iPhone. As well as being DxO's first foray into photographic hardware, it's also - arguably - the first truly 'connected' camera, being designed to physically connect with a smartphone, rather than relying on a wireless connection. When we first heard about it, we almost fell into the apples. Click through for pictures, more information, and a smattering of poorly-researched French idioms.

Using a video feed to capture stills isn't a new idea - Nikon's first electronic camera, the QV-1000C, did it in the late 1980s - but the resolution of 4K makes it more useful. Panasonic has recognized this way of working and has introduced 4K Photo mode to its 4K cameras, to make things easier for the user. We took the feature for a test drive. Read more

UK imaging systems firm NCTech is to introduce a four-sensor, single-shot camera that it says can create a 360 degree image of a street scene or an interior in less than two minutes. The iris360 uses four lens units in front of four 10MP sensors arranged at 90 degree intervals, and images can be uploaded directly to Google Street View. The lenses are triggered simultaneously and the resultant images are stitched together automatically in-camera. Read more

Following on our look at the effects of shot noise, our attentions turn to the electronic noise added by your camera. In this second part of the series, we look at read noise and how your sensor's behavior defines what your camera is capable of and consequently, how you should shoot with it. Read more

Lily Robotics has unveiled Lily Camera, a self-flying drone designed to autonomously track and record its owner. Once it's thrown into the air it begins automatically following its target, which is anyone in possession of the accompanying GPS tracking device. Its camera captures 1080/60p HD video and 12MP stills, and the device itself is waterproof to 1 meter underwater. Read more

How would you react if you were told that the aperture and shutter speed you choose make more difference to image noise than the ISO setting? You might be surprised to discover that a lot of the noise in your images doesn't come from your camera at all: it comes from the light you're capturing. Our own Richard Butler explains. Read more

A 20MP Four Thirds sensor, a high-speed APS-C sensor, and a Stacked CMOS design for enthusiast compacts are likely to be just three of the sensors we can expect to see in cameras over the coming months. Sony's semiconductor division has made these products public with the creation of a new website, which lists some of the chips it offers to potential buyers. Alongside many familiar-sounding sensors are examples we've yet to see in any cameras. Read more

Columbia University researchers have created a self-powered video camera featuring a sensor that both captures images and powers the device. Although it can only record low-resolution 30x40 pixel images at 1fps, the photodiodes on the camera's sensor can switch between being photoconductive, and photovoltaic. In the latter mode - given enough light - the photodiodes supply enough power to a built-in supercapacitor to keep the camera operating indefinitely. Click through for more information

We're at CP+ in Yokohama, Japan, where Canon is showing off a prototype ultra high-resolution 120MP CMOS sensor. Canon is claiming it has a pixel count equivalent to the number of photoreceptors in a human eye. Its surface area is halfway between APS-C and full-frame, and it appears to be mostly directed at video applications, capable of recording at approximately 60x the resolution of Full HD. Click through to have a look

Google is working on an image identification technology at its Research Labs in Mountain View, California. The latest complex algorithm from the search engine giant is able to systematically 'produce captions to accurately describe images the first time it sees them', creating coherent sentences rather than individual tags. Read more

Sony has unveiled a new stacked CMOS image sensor for use in smartphones. Called the IMX230, it features 21 effective megapixels, on-chip phase detection AF and 4K video recording. The chip is a 1/2.4-inch type with square pixels measuring 1.12um x 1.12um each. Video of up to 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution is available with HDR function (also available in stills mode). Read more

Lytro has opened its doors to outside companies with a Lytro Development Kit (LDK), giving the likes of NASA and the Department of Defense - two of its first customers - access to its light field technology hardware and software. This is part of its Lytro Platform, and it starts at $20,000 USD. Read more

Reports from Japan's Display Innovation 2014 exhibition highlight a number of advancements and prototypes in camera LCDs. Included are a high-pixel-density 3.2" display using WhiteMagic technology, a high-resolution touch screen with in-cell touch sensors and a 31" cinema 4K wide-gamut display with 99.5% AdobeRGB coverage from LG. Learn more

It's not uncommon for a company to patent technologies that might be incorporated into products at some point, though the company might not have any plans to use it in the immediate future. Such a business move appears to be the case with a recent Canon patent, which details the use of variable lens elements in combination with traditional glass elements. Read more

Sony has introduced a new CMOS sensor, calling it the highest sensitivity sensor of its kind. Developed for automotive use, the new chip can capture color images in light conditions down to 0.005 lux. The sensor is 1/3-inch type with 1.27 effective megapixels, and supports a Wide Dynamic Range system that uses extended exposure times rather than using multiple exposures. Read more

Graham Rowan of Hertfordshire, UK has created a small camera dubbed the "fps1000", and as its name suggests, it is designed solely to record high-frame-rate videos. The goal is to open up high-speed shooting to a wider market by offering a relatively inexpensive product that is highly portable. Learn more

We're planning some post-Photokina content and wanted to understand what you're thinking. We've created two polls, both looking for your take on the products and trends of Photokina. Let your voice be heard. Cast your vote

Got a few minutes to spare? You've got enough time on your hands to help a group of researchers tackle a massive problem. Cities at Night is a project aiming to recruit help from ordinary citizens in classifying images of Earth at night taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. An effort of Universidad Complutense de Madrid staff and students, their main goal is to better understand and reduce light pollution. See how you can help

The European Space Agency's ATV-5 supply vessel docked a couple of days ago with the International Space Station. Not just loaded with cargo for the ISS, the ATV-5 is also carrying newly developed camera technology which will record the final moments of ATV-5's breakup on re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The Break-Up Camera was designed in only nine months and will relay images from the last 20 seconds of the vessel's life to a capsule that can survive the extreme heat of reentry. Learn more