Image of the Sony 101MP sensor by Exclusivearchitecture
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Sony conquered the medium format world with their new CMOS medium format sensor. The biggest sensor is the new 54x40mm 101 Megapixel sensor which is also a referred as to be a true Full Frame Medium format. Unlike the one used by the Hasselblad X1D and Fuji GFX which do use a smaller44x33mm sensor.
The new Sonys ensor has a 2.5 larger area than Full Frame. And the question is…does it really make a difference? Well both Dpreview and Imaging Resource posted a first review of the Phase One IQ3 back with the Sony 101MP sensor. And that’s what they say:
Dpreview writes the performance is “sensational”:
- The amount of detail it can capture is astonishing, but what I appreciated more was the 3D quality that so many pixels dedicated to a tonal transition can create
- One of the greatest elements of the back is the dynamic range though, which allows the deepest shadows and the brightest highlights to be recorded in a single frame and made visible (via tonemapping) in the fabulous Capture One software.
- The need for neutral density graduated filters with this camera is greatly reduced, and it is actually quite difficult to get an exposure so wrong that a decent image can’t be produced: just like the days of color negative printing
Imaging Resource writes the performance is “stunning”:
- Holy moly, this camera can capture some insanely detailed photographs! I could pretty much just stop there. The images are incredible.
- I was able to recover tons of detail in the highlights, if I found myself with blown-out, overexposed areas. On the other end, I was also able to lift up the shadows to reveal lots of detail without introducing much noticeable noise.
It is interesting to note that both sites mention that handheld shooting is a challenge mainly caused by the big mirror movement. I can see the market for a mirrorless system camera with such a sensor. Why don’t you do it Sony? :)