Sony Introduces Small 4K Sensor That is Capable of Shooting RAW and 21.6 Stop of DR - Y.M.Cinema Magazine

Sony has announced a new small CMOS sensor (1/1.7 inch) capable of shooting RAW and has a 21.6-stop dynamic range. Although the sensor is aimed at automotive applications, it can be utilized on small action cameras and smartphones, thus allowing the shooting of high-DR RAW footage.

As titled in the press release: “Sony Semiconductor Solutions to Release the Industry’s First CMOS Image Sensor for Automotive Cameras That Can Simultaneously Process and Output RAW and YUV Images Contributing to Simplified Systems by Expanding Single-Camera Applications”. The new sensor is capable of a dynamic range of 130 dB. A reminder – decibels are, like f-stops, a logarithmic system, so 6.02dB equals double the signal level. Hence, to convert the dynamic range from f-stops into decibels (dB), multiply the dynamic range in f-stops by 6.02 (20 log10). For instance, the 17-stop of the ALEXA 35 equals the dynamic range of 102.34dB (17×6.02). That’s considered a very high value. Now, for comparison, take the 130 dB declared by Sony regarding its new sensor, and you are getting a pretty high value of the dynamic range, which is equivalent to 21.6 stops (130/6.02) which is more than the human eye. That sounds pretty amazing for a small sensor.

Although the sensor was developed for automotive applications, the potential is huge for the cinema world. For instance, this sensor can be implemented in smartphones, and also inside action cameras. Now imagine that: Smartphones and small action cameras that can shoot 4K RAW and with 21.6 of DR.

The new sensor product has a proprietary ISP inside and can process and output RAW and YUV images simultaneously. RAW images are required for external environment detection and recognition in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving systems (AD), while YUV images are provided for infotainment applications such as the drive recorder and augmented reality (AR). By expanding the applications a single camera can offer, the new product helps simplify automotive camera systems and saves space, cost, and power. Sony adds that the roles of automotive cameras continue to diversify in line with advances in ADAS and AD and increasing needs and requirements about the driver experience. On the other hand, there is limited space for installing such cameras, making it impossible to continue adding more indefinitely, which in turn has created a demand to do more with a single camera.

This sensor’s design allows a single camera to provide high-precision detection and recognition capabilities of the environment outside the vehicle and visual information to assist the driver as an infotainment application. When compared with conventional methods such as a multi-camera system or a system that outputs RAW and YUV images using an external ISP, the new product helps simplify automotive camera systems, saving space, costs, and power.

Although the sensor was developed for automotive applications, the potential is huge for the cinema world. For instance, this sensor (which costs only 600 USD – just for the sensor) can be implemented in smartphones, and also inside action cameras. Now imagine that: Smartphones and small action cameras that can shoot 4K RAW and with 21.6 of DR. That would be awesome!

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Yossy is a filmmaker who specializes mainly in action sports cinematography. Yossy also lectures about the art of independent filmmaking in leading educational institutes, academic programs, and festivals, and his independent films have garnered international awards and recognition.Yossy is the founder of Y.M.Cinema Magazine.

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