Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

8-Megapixel Mini-Cameras Coming

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

May 18, 2006, 3:05 PM

8-megapixel resolution images, traditionally restricted to high-end digital SLR cameras, will soon be possible with small point-and-shoot cameras and cell phones, thanks to a new sensor developed by Micron. The CMOS chip will also eliminate lag between taking pictures.

Micron is expected to begin production of the sensor starting early next year, and the technology could make it into consumers' hands by the end of 2007, the company said. No partners have been announced, but Micron has designed the chip to be included in cameras priced around $200 to $300.

Most current point-and-shoot cameras utilize CCD sensors, which require more power and are more expensive than CMOS chips, but typically perform better. Micron says its 8-megapixel CMOS will change that, bringing high-quality digital video and photography to the consumer market.

Micron has also worked to lessen the delay when taking pictures using non-SLR cameras. Thanks to a faster processor, the sensor can take 10 pictures per second at 8-megapixel resolution, and shoot 30 pictures per second when lowered to 2-megapixel.

“With the 8–megapixel image sensor being designed with our latest 1.75-micron pixel, and the encouraging results we’re seeing with the next-generation smaller pixel at 1.4-microns, Micron leads the industry in both smaller and higher performance image sensors, enabling our customers to create new and exciting camera products,” commented Bob Gove, vice president of Micron Technology’s imaging group.

Add a Comment (14 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By tscar12

edited May 21, 2006 - 2:08 PM

maybe I am old fashion but this movement to all in one approach is silly but then I still use a film camera with my own darkroom. If a company would make a SLR that takes as good B&W pictures as film and gives you the same flexability than I might enter this century.

Score: 0

By davidm_moore

edited May 21, 2006 - 8:40 AM

How is this really such a big break through? Minolta has had an 8mp ultra compact camera on the market for almost a year now. It only cost me $250 after rebates and is loaded with great features. http://www.dpreview.com/.../05071501kmdimagex1.asp

Score: 0

By dosdan

edited May 19, 2006 - 7:27 PM

Small invididual sensor element size (I don't know if "pixel" is appropriate here - as there may not be a 1:1 correspondence with the output) means lower light sensitivity.

Look at the pathethic state of current comsumer DV cams:
Small (1/6") sensor arrays, smaller array chip area = more sensor chips on silicon die = lower cost;
Megapixels on each chip to suit photos (that usually look shoddy compared to a proper photo camera) = less light on each sensor element = terrible low light performance.

Lame attempt to fix problem:
Don't increase sensor element size - that would reduce the marketing "megapixel" count on a fixed-size chip area (memgapixels can't be used by SD DV anyway - it's only for photos);
Don't increase the chip-area - smaller is cheaper;
Use electronic spatio-temporal smoothers ("3D") to hide the extra noise and accept the loss in sharpness.

What an irony: consumer DV cams that can't take a decent picture inside the home without extra lighting. And the family is typically spending more time inside the home than ever before.

Score: 0

By UTAKER

posted May 20, 2006 - 6:39 PM

I must agree with you.
It's just a way to sell and sell more to the people who do not research so much (noone should).
Increase in Megapixels does not make a SLR type thingy.
They're talking about faster processor from what is stated above and not in terms of ISO
Use smoothers = less-sharp/little-blurry
Removing noise also tends to diminish the colors
When they make something, atleast they should tell all the specifications so one really knows what they have made and not just boast about megapxels
The aim should have been to what you see, you catch it as it is without using extra lights.

Score: 0

By UTAKER

posted May 19, 2006 - 2:17 PM

doesn't tell the ISO sensitivity?

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted May 19, 2006 - 4:05 AM

If you give rijp the benefit of the doubt, you might conclude that he's suggesting that cameras with a poor lens yet 8mp is overkill. I know I can shoot a 1mpx shot with my mobile, but I know it looks like crap.

Score: 0

By BIL

posted May 18, 2006 - 6:29 PM

Why would you say that an 8mp camera is to small to be taken seriously? Am I missing something here? I know several professional photographers that use digital cameras with 5 and 6 mP and turn out excellent quality work. As for physical size I can see applications to use miniature cameras where you do not want to be obtrusive. It really depends on the quality of picture (resolution, clarity, color and etc.)People used to swear that vacuum tube stereos were far superior to transistors. You don't really hear that anymore.

Score: 0

By Crispy777

posted May 18, 2006 - 5:58 PM

Does this just mean we get bigger crappy pics? Isn't CCD quite superior to CMOS qualitywise? How does this new CMOS chip perform in low lighting etc?

I would really like some further reading on this, anyone who could shed some light on the subject?

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted May 18, 2006 - 8:47 PM

The limitation for picture quality now rests more with the lenses used than the sensor. That's why some 3MP cameras give better quality pictures than 5MP cameras.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted May 18, 2006 - 6:57 PM

Good article here: http://www.dalsa.com/markets/ccd_vs_cmos.asp

Looks like what you heard had some validity before, but not so much now.

Score: 0

By spiked

posted May 19, 2006 - 1:56 PM

I don't see any advancements for low-light situations. Cell phone photos are plagued by 2 major things: poor lighting and being held by shaky hands. Although technology exists to address both issues, they haven't made their way into cell phone cameras yet, and I don't see that this chip will change anything about that. I agree with Crispy777; we will simply get bigger crappy pics. The cell phone makers sell mostly to carriers; they don't care about the end consumers, and the carriers don't care about quality; they simply want to sell you airtime. In fact, big dark (mostly black) pictures will compress tightly but they will count the uncompressed bytes in your xfer stats. Carriers will be able to charge more and/or cap your usage more and/or reduce your real xfer speed (because you will "perceive" more xfer happening).

Score: 0

By rijp

posted May 18, 2006 - 3:36 PM

Well this isn't much for future use, you can't get much out of a miniature 8mp camera for any real use. Its too small to really be taken serious..

Score: 0

By ogman

posted May 18, 2006 - 6:59 PM

I just can't resist...

What rijp heard at the end of his last date:

"Its too small to really be taken serious."

Score: 0

By photonboy

edited May 19, 2006 - 9:21 PM

The Holy Grail of photography is to have a High Definition Video camera built into a high Megapixel camera that is small and cheap.

This is the first time that such a device has been possible. This is truly a breakthrough if it works as advertised. Another important point is storage. The camera hopefully will end up storing video in an MP4 compression format (or blu-ray??). Even so, at 720p video storage will be important. Luckily, by the time the camera is released, relatively cheap cards will be available. Depending on the codec and quality, about 3GB per hour for 720p may be realistic. I expect a mini 20GB card (possibly hard drive based) may be ideal.

I wonder if the low-end models will have proper image stabilisation and other important features that today's digicam's have.

Score: 0

Nov 21 - 6:51 PM ET Coalition urges better laws for e-mail and cell phone privacy

Nov 21 - 6:42 PM ET How is Internet advertising faring in this bad economy?

Nov 21 - 6:15 PM ET From out of the Amazon Cloud, an AWS winner emerges

Nov 21 - 5:20 PM ET Mufin music finder enters public beta, adds widgets

Nov 21 - 5:01 PM ET Google launches its SearchWiki semantics plug-in

Nov 21 - 4:57 PM ET Asus previews a slimmer, less costly Eee PC

Nov 21 - 4:32 PM ET New Adobe Media Player ushers in AIR 1.5

Nov 21 - 2:11 PM ET AT&T to add Pantech's low-cost C630 phone to 3G lineup

Nov 21 - 1:11 PM ET iPhone gets firmware 2.2 update

Nov 21 - 11:51 AM ET The Dell surprise: Higher earnings on lower revenue