Fujifilm's new revolutionary Super CCD EXR image sensor
Fuji launches its next generation Super CCD EXR image sensor. In the past Fujifilm has developed
high Resolution sensors through its '
HR' CCD technology and
high sensitivity / wide dynamic range through '
SR' CCD sensors. Fujifilm now combines the HR and SR technology into one sensor suitable for all high quality photography.
The Super CCD EXR will offer three main changes:
1. A new arrangement of the mosaic colour filter
2. A complete revision of the electronic charge control
3. A new method of pixel binning...
PRESS SUMMARY
A 'three-in-one' sensor for high resolution, high sensitivity and wide dynamic range
Made by photographic specialists for photographic specialists
FUJIFILM
Corporation, on the anniversary of 10 years of FinePix cameras, has
developed "Super CCD EXR," a revolutionary new sensor developed in the
rigorous pursuit of high image quality.
There is strong demand
in the digital camera market to increase the number of pixels on a
sensor, which, all too often, is used as a convenient yardstick for
image quality. While introducing excellent 12-megapixel cameras such as
the FinePix F50fd and the FinePix F100fd, Fujifilm has had great
success in increasing pixel density while at the same time controlling
noise and optimising sensitivity. Fujifilm's campaign to improve
overall image quality, while at the same time increasing sensor
resolution, has been coordinated under the program of 'Real Photo
Technology.'
'Real Photo Technology' is underpinned by the
belief that experienced photographers, many brought up using famous
reversal films like FUJICHROME Velvia or PROVIA, understand that true
image quality is about a combination of many factors like tone, hue,
colour fidelity, dynamic range, sharpness, and resolution. It is well
known that increasing the pixel count on a sensor actually makes it
more difficult to achieve high sensitivity and wide dynamic range. As
the photodiode gets smaller, the problems of increased noise,
Blooming
and clipping increase.
It is widely believed that 'high
resolution' and 'high sensitivity' are irreconcilable opposites, and
impossible to optimise on the same sensor, particularly for compact
cameras, where sensors are necessarily smaller.
High quality
pictures are dependent on the subject. Excellent low light pictures
need high sensitivity; high
Contrast pictures need wide dynamic range,
while fine details, like the leaves of a tree or strands of a model's
hair, depend on high resolution.
Fujifilm engineers set about
the task of building a flexible sensor to match the demands of the
photographer. The end-goal is to produce a sensor that works as close
to that of the human eye as possible. Whatever nuance of colour or
sensitivity of tone that makes the scene so special to the photographer
should be the continual challenge of the sensor engineer. The EXR
sensor is essentially a switchable sensor; changing its complex
electronic behavior to suit the subject, changing its characteristics
as the photographer demands, and producing the very best picture
without making compromises.
"Super CCD EXR" is the latest new
generation of Super CCD to be produced by Fujifilm. Over the years,
Fujifilm has excelled in high resolution sensors through 'HR'
technology (F50fd, F100fd) and high sensitivity/wide dynamic range
through 'SR' sensors (S3 Pro, S5 Pro). The direction in the future will
be to combine HR and SR technology together to produce one universal
sensor suitable for all high quality photography.
