Samsung's new 50-megapixel camera sensor packs in faster autofocus

Samsung has a new 50-megapixel camera sensor, and its primary focus is, well, its autofocus—and high resolution, of course. The Samsung ISOCELL GN1, which has entered mass production this month, is its first camera sensor that includes both dual-pixel autofocus and Tetracell pixel-binning. This means that smartphones that come with this sensor should offer fast performance and decent low-light image quality.

With a pixel size of 1.2μm, you get a sensor that's more typical to phone camera sensors that then high-resolution sensors we've seen lately. By default, the ISOCELL GN1 can take 12.5-megapixel photos with four pixels binned into one. And with dual-pixel phase-detection autofocus, we're expecting to see improved autofocus performance with this sensor. Samsung also equipped this chip with Smart-ISO, real-time HDR, and electronic image stabilization. If it delivers on these points, the Samsung ISOCELL GN1 gives users better smartphone camera options.

Source: The Verge + GSMArena

Samsung launches its 108-megapixel smartphone camera sensor

The future of smartphone cameras features hundreds of megapixels. Samsung and Xiaomi partnered to develop the 108-megapixel ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor. It's one of the largest smartphone sensors ever at 1/1.33-inches. That is about three quarters the size of the 1-inch sensor on Sony's RX100 VII compact camera and just a bit smaller than the sensor on Nokia's legendary Pureview 808 phone. The sensor will still feature small pixels. By default and with Samsung's Tetracell tech, it will gather the light from four pixels and transform this into a 27-megapixel photo. If you want to take 108-megapixel photos, you'll need to make sure the room is brightly lit, so you can get decent shots. The sensor also allows for recording 6k video at 30fps.

With Samsung's Smart-ISO mechanism, it'll automatically select lower ISOs in brighter light and high ISO in dim areas. Samsung has been criticized in the past for inferior low-light performance when compared to its competitors like the Huawei P30 Pro and other models that use Sony chips. But by putting in a bigger sensor, the company might finally have an answer. Production of the chip will start later this month.

Source: Engadget

Samsung builds on camera module work with ISOCELL brand

Samsung looks like they’re getting serious about developing camera modules for smartphones. The South Korean company is naming this image sensor brand as ISOCELL. This new division will be developing four types of cameras that bear descriptive names: Bright, Fast, Slim, and Dual. The last seems like a nod to the possible inclusion of a dual camera setup in the upcoming Galaxy Note8.

Bright refers to sensors aimed at low-light shooting. It’ll offer high color fidelity and low noise. Fast alludes to instant autofocus and the ability to track fast-moving objects even in the dark. Slim type will feature smallest pixels available so they can create modules that will fit into phones where space is limited. And dual provides several sensors that can be paired in different configurations to get that dual-camera setup.

Source: GSMArena

Sony debuts smartphone camera sensor with DSLR-like autofocus

Further encroaching on the camera space, Sony has just released a new “stacked CMOS sensor” that will reportedly place an effective 21 megapixels into a 1/2.4-inch-sized form factor. The Exmor RS IMX230 comes with a built-in 192-point phase detection autofocus, which means it can keep fast-moving objects sharp, as well as HDR and 4K video. This new sensor will debut in April 2015 and will most likely be seen in Sony’s new flagship.

Source: Engadget