Samsung sensor puts 16-megapixel cameras into slim phones
Wondering how Samsung manages to cram a 16-megapixel camera into seemingly wafer-thin phones like the Galaxy A8? By developing a brand-spanking new sensor that fits, that’s how. The Korean company has built an ISOCELL-based CMOS imager that uses extremely tiny 1.0-micron pixels instead of the 1.12-micron units from the previous model. That may not sound like much of a difference, but it amounts to a sensor that’s 20 percent thinner, at a scant 5mm (0.2 inches) deep. In short, you won’t have to accept an unsightly camera hump just to get high-resolution shots.
There’s going to be some compromises with this sensor. While ISOCELL is supposed to help offset the light reception lost by using smaller pixels, the camera just won’t perform as well in dimly-lit environments as bigger sensors from Samsung or its rivals. Still, this is a big deal if you don’t want to settle for low-res pictures in slim devices — and it’s not an exclusive, so you may see it pop up in other companies’ phones before long.
Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung Tomorrow (1), (2)
Samsung’s latest camera sensor is thinner, without compromising quality
The camera on the Galaxy Note 5, coming August 13, might protrude a tiny bit less thanks to the use of Samsung’s new 1-micron sensor.
Samsung announced today the availability of a new 16MP camera sensor for smartphones, featuring 1-micron pixels. Dubbed S5K3P3, the new sensor uses ISOCELL technology, which physically separates neighboring pixels, reducing unwanted crosstalk by 30 percent and increasing the chief ray angle by 20 percent. In plain English, that means ISOCELL sensors can capture colors that are more accurate, with less noise, even when the light in the scene is less than ideal.
See also: Samsung Galaxy S5’s ISOCELL image sensor explained
The new sensor’s 1-micron pixels are roughly 10 percent smaller than the previous step (1.12-micron), but the sensor itself is 20 percent thinner than its predecessor. At less than 5 millimeter in thickness, using the sensor could mean that upcoming smartphones can be thinner or feature camera’s that protrude less from the body.
Normally, smaller pixels result in worse images, simply because a small pixel can capture less light from the scene. But Samsung claims that S5K3P3 performs just as well as the previous generation.
On the highly praised Galaxy S6 camera, Samsung used both its own ISOCELL sensor and the MX240 from Sony (the image quality was largely the same though). It’s very likely that the sensor announced today will find its way in the Galaxy Note 5, either in all units or shared with a Sony sensor.
The S5K3P3 is available to manufacturers from today.
See also: Who’s who in the smartphone camera business
Samsung is one of the largest makers of camera sensors, in addition to systems-on-a-chip, RAM and storage modules, and many other semiconductors. However, Sony leads the industry: its Exmor sensors are found in many high-end devices from everyone from Apple to Samsung, to a smattering of Chinese companies, though ironically, Sony’s own devices don’t necessarily use the best Sony sensors on the market.
We will find out if your hunch about the camera sensor in the Galaxy Note 5 is correct on August 13. The Korean giant will hold its Unpacked 2015 event in New York, and we will be there to report on it.
Nokia’s virtual reality camera is designed for filmmakers
Nokia has just revealed a new camera for filmmakers called OZO that can capture virtual reality videos. But unlike similar devices from GoPro and Samsung unveiled in the past months, it’s not a flattened circle with cameras but a spherical ball-like device with shutters all over it. It has eight shutter sensors in all to capture 360-degree videos and eight integrated microphones. What users might find advantageous is its capability to show them what it’s shooting in real time through a VR headset. It can also churn out a low-resolution version of the footage it shot within just a few minutes if filmmakers want to see it again or to show it to someone else. Videos captured through similar cameras usually have to be stitched together during processing before you can see them, and that takes a lot of time.
Of course, directors can always publish high-res versions later on for VR viewing devices, including HUDs like the Oculus Rift. One studio, Jaunt Inc., has already pledged to use and support the OZO despite having a more traditional VR camera of its own. Nokia hasn’t revealed the device’s full specs and pricing yet, but it’s slated to be shipped out by the fourth quarter of 2015.
Source: Nokia
Rhino horn cameras promise to catch poachers in the act
Anti-poaching teams can only do so much to protect rhinos. Their immediate presence can deter rogue hunters, but a lot of the slaughter happens before these teams even know that something’s wrong. That’s where non-profit group Protect’s RAPID (Real-Time Anti-Poaching Intelligence Device) should come in handy. The system uses a blend of heart rate sensors, GPS tags and cameras drilled into one of the rhinos’ horns (don’t worry, it’s painless) to warn conservationists when a rhino is under threat. If a rhino’s heart starts racing or suddenly goes still, observers get an alert that lets them turn on the camera to see if something’s wrong. Ideally, this will prevent poachers from even firing a shot — they know that they’ll likely be caught within minutes if they chase or kill a tagged animal.
Only prototypes are active right now, but there should be a wider launch by the end of 2016. Protect has grand plans for its technology, as well. It’s hoping to use kinetic and solar power to keep the heart monitor running, and it hopes that versions of RAPID could protect elephants, lions, tigers and whales. Provided all goes well, endangered species wouldn’t need near-constant oversight (or radical steps like removing horns) to survive.
Source: Protect RAPID
OnePlus 2 camera samples go up against the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6
We have already had a small sample of what we can expect from the camera in the OnePlus 2, but CEO Peter Lau has uploaded a few more sample shots to the company’s forum, which pits the OnePlus 2 against the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Apple’s iPhone 6.
The small collection shows a range of 100 percent zoomed close up shots between the Galaxy S6 and Oneplus 2 of random objects. The iPhone comparison aims to show off the OnePlus 2’s capabilities in low light scenarios.
The OnePlus 2 is on the left in the shots below, while the Galaxy S6 is on the right. 
Based on MBKHD’s early hands on with the phone, we know that the camera features a 13 megapixel camera and is capable of a maximum f/2.0 aperture, which comes quite close to the technology inside more expensive flagship smartphones. However, optical image stabilization does not appear to be present.
In the next shots the OnePlus is on the left and the iPhone 6 is on the right.
Overall, the detail and focus in the macro shots looks quite impressive and the colors also seem to avoid any additional tint. The low light shots also look rather good for a smartphone camera, without presenting too much additional noise. Let’s hope the camera performs this well when we get it in our own hands.
Along with these camera samples, OnePlus has also revealed that the smartphone will arrive with a Snadragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, a USB Type-C port and a fingerprint scanner, which will likely give other flagship phones a run for their money. Fortunately, there isn’t too long left to wait until the launch of the OnePlus 2.
What do you think about these early OnePlus 2 camera comparison shots?
GoPro’s licensing portal sells creators’ high-quality videos
GoPro has a new content portal, and, as you’d imagine, it’s filled with extreme footage subscribers can pay to use. The company has followed in the footsteps of Flickr and 500px, launching a licensing program that gives its content creators — especially prolific ones who take high-production videos — the chance to make money off their work. The portal makes it easy not just for creators to sell their stuff, but also for advertisers and other companies to browse for what they need and to secure the proper copyright in one place.
At the moment, you’ll have to apply for access if you want to log into the website. Once you’re in, you’ll find that it allows users to preview videos, download files in different resolutions and formats, as well as look for specific content through the search box. Unfortunately, we didn’t see clues about pricing when we browsed it, but considering the words “premium” and “high-end” were used to describe the portal on its announcement post, we’re guessing it won’t be cheap. We asked a spokesperson about GoPro’s pricing scheme and the percentage a content creator will get per download to be sure, but we were told that the company’s not disclosing those details yet. He claimed, however, that GoPro’s number one “priority is to get money back into the hands of [its] athletes and [its] community.”
Filed under: Cameras
Source: GoPro, GoPro Licensing
The OnePlus 2 13MP f/2.0 Camera gets reviewed
Popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee was lucky enough to get his hands on an early release of the long-awaited OnePlus 2 and he’s taken to what he does best to give the camera on the device an early review before it’s even released.
Only pictures were released that were shot by the camera but they show a 13 Megapixel camera with a f/2.0 lens and are of a decent quality.
There is an automatic mode and also a clear shot, HDR, and beauty mode on the software behind the OnePlus 2 camera and the video mode also shoots in 4K.
The pictures look almost as good as the Galaxy S6 but not quite on par, which is down to the f/2.0 of the OnePlus 2, but certainly proves that the camera on the upcoming device will be up there with the best Android shooters on the market.
The post The OnePlus 2 13MP f/2.0 Camera gets reviewed appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The OnePlus 2 13MP f/2.0 Camera gets reviewed
Popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee was lucky enough to get his hands on an early release of the long-awaited OnePlus 2 and he’s taken to what he does best to give the camera on the device an early review before it’s even released.
Only pictures were released that were shot by the camera but they show a 13 Megapixel camera with a f/2.0 lens and are of a decent quality.
There is an automatic mode and also a clear shot, HDR, and beauty mode on the software behind the OnePlus 2 camera and the video mode also shoots in 4K.
The pictures look almost as good as the Galaxy S6 but not quite on par, which is down to the f/2.0 of the OnePlus 2, but certainly proves that the camera on the upcoming device will be up there with the best Android shooters on the market.
The post The OnePlus 2 13MP f/2.0 Camera gets reviewed appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 aims to bring great camera like the Galaxy S6
The Galaxy S6 brought new enhancements in the camera department compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S5. Samsung decided to ditch the 2MP front-facing camera on the Galxy S5 for a 5MP wide-angle shooter on the new Galaxy S6.
Consumers apparently care so much about selfies that hardware manufacturers are giving front-facing cameras extra attention.
According to a discovery made by TechTastic, the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 will most likely support the same 5MP wide-angle shooter on the Galaxy S6. It’s great to see Samsung has impressive things in store for its upcoming phone, but we’ll save the applause for after its official announcement in late August or early September.
Source: TechTastic
Via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 aims to bring great camera like the Galaxy S6
Who’s who in the smartphone camera business
Camera technology has always been an important feature in smartphones but this generation of flagships have been putting particular emphasis on the quality of their camera modules. So it seems worthwhile to dive on into the world of camera sensors and take a look at who is building the best and most popular products.
Sony
We’ll start with one of the biggest and that is Sony. The company has a long legacy in the image sensor market and has been at the forefront of mobile camera technology for a number of years. The company accounted for roughly 40 percent of all smartphone image sensors in 2014.
Sony’s image sensors have found their way into numerous smartphones and tablets, even if the company doesn’t provide the whole module. If you’re curious, the difference is that image sensors are responsible for converting the light into digital information, which determines the number of megapixels, pixel size and density, recording frame rates, etc. The broader camera module determines focus, aperture and other attributes.
Sony’s Exmor image sensors are behind a number of high-end smartphone cameras.
Sony’s high-end image sensors fall under the Exmor RS brand name. Its latest model is the Back Side Illuminated (BSI) 21 megapixel IMX230, which has started to find its way into the latest smartphones. It’s IMX240 powers the Galaxy Note 4 and some S6 models, while the IMX234 forms the basis of the LG G4’s camera.
The company isn’t just catering to the very high-end market, Sony’s 8MP and 13MP mid-range sensors have been in high demand from Chinese smartphone manufacturers looking to decent cameras at a reasonable cost. The 13 megapixel IMX214 has proven particularly popular with manufacturers like Huawei and Oppo over the past twelve months.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Handsets examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMX 135 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | LG G3, Note 3, Moto X |
| IMX 214 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | Find 7, Honor 6, OnePlus One |
| IMX 220 | 20.7 MP (5344 х 4016) | 1/2.3″ | 1.2 um | Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Meizu MX4 |
| IMX 234 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.12 um | LG G4, ZTE Nubia Z9 |
| IMX 240 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.2 um | Galaxy S6, Note 4 |
As well as basic sensor hardware, Sony has also developed Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology, in-sensor HDR, and high speed shooting modes for its sensors, which is helping to keep the company at the forefront of the market.
So important is its image sensor business that Sony is willing to invest billions into additional production capacity by issuing new shares for the first time since 1989, just in order to keep up with demand.
OmniVision
OmniVision is another big name in the smartphone image sensor business, but you’re more likely to find its products in the low and mid-tier markets, rather than high-end smartphones.
The company’s typical sensor selling price is just $1.79, compared with upwards of $7 from Sony. As a result, OmniVision is expected to capitalize on the new demand for lower cost CMOS sensors from the growing Chinese and Indian smartphone markets.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OV5640 | 5 MP | 1/4″ | 1.4 um | 15 fps |
| OV8825 | 8 MP | 1/3.2″ | 1.4 um | 24 fps |
| OV13860 | 13 MP | 1/2.6″ | 1.3 um | 30 fps |
| OV16825 | 16 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.34 um | 30 fps |
| OV23850 | 23.8 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.12 um | 24 fps |
That said, the company’s hardware has occasionally cropped up in high-end devices, including the last generation HTC One M8. The company also used to supply image sensors to Apple before Sony took the contract.
Not too long ago OmniVision announced its 23.8 megapixel OV23850 image sensor for smartphones, which comes with PDAF, video binning, and 4K video recording.
In a separate bid to cater to the high end market, OmniVision has been pushing its 13MP PureCel design. This is a slightly larger image sensor with bigger 1.3um pixels to capture more light for better looking images. You’ll probably recognise this idea from HTC’s Ultrapixel idea, which OmniVision was involved with.
Toshiba
Toshiba is another large company with a strong legacy in the mobile camera business. The company’s sensor may not be appearing many high-end smartphones these days, but it was behind the impressive 41 megapixel sensor that powered the Nokia 808 PureView’s camera.
The company has most recently been working on further reducing the size and power consumption of its smartphone image sensors. The company also launched a 240fps slow motion capable T4K82 sensor back in March of this year.
Typically, Toshiba produces 13 and 8 megapixel sensors for smartphones and also has a 20 megapixel sensor for the high-end market. The Toshiba’s BSI T4KA7 is apparently powering the HTC One M9’s rear camera. Like Sony, Toshiba has integrated PDAF into its sensors and has its own 3D depth mapping technology and bright mode technology for improving the visibility of slow motion videos.
Toshiba camera modules developed for Project Ara
At last check in, Toshiba was looking to focus on providing sensors to Chinese smartphone manufacturers and had turned to automotive and medical markets for further growth. Although it did show off some neat modular prototypes for Project Ara as well.
SK Hynix
SK Hynix, a South Korean semiconductor supplier, is also a key player in the low cost smartphone camera market. Much like its competitors, the company produces a range of sensors and its 8 and 13 megapixel option are moving popular in mainstream handsets and it is focusing its operations in the growing Chinese market. SK Hynix had also previously provided low end cameras for Samsung’s budget smartphones.
Last year the company announced that it had a high-end 21 megapixel sensor in development. SK Hynix isn’t really doing much that hasn’t already been done by the competition, instead it appeals to manufacturers based on its low price point.
Samsung
Samsung has tried its hand at producing many key smartphone technologies itself and is also in the image sensor game. Although not as large of an operation as Sony, Samsung has been attempting to grow its image sensor and camera module businesses.
Besides hardware, Samsung has been working on software features, like picture re-focusing using depth information.
Samsung has quite a large catalog of sensors, including Front Side (FSI) and Back Side Illuminated (BSI) sensors. Its high-end technology uses the company’s own ISOCELL pixel type, which aims to reduce noise compared with its traditional BSI sensors by reducing interference between different color pixels.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Pixel Type | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S5K3H5 | 8 MP | 1/3.2 | 1.4 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K4H5YB | 8 MP | 1/4 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K3L2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K3M2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K2P8 | 16 MP | 1/2.6 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
Although we may typically associate Samsung with high-end products, the company’s average sensor selling price is only $1.93. You can find a range of products from small 1.3MP sensors for the low end market, up to 16MP sensors found in the flagship Galaxy S6. Samsung also develops complete modules for its sensors.
Most recently, Samsung’s own image sensors have found their way into the Galaxy S5 and S6 smartphones. However, due to its limited production capabilities, Samsung has to mix its own and Sony image sensors in the Galaxy S6. Closer inspection revealed some noticeable differences between the two, but without a side by side comparison you would probably struggle to notice any major differences in quality, suggesting that Samsung is managing to keep up with Sony.
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LG
Much like Samsung, LG is both a component and product manufacturer and is making strides with its camera components. LG Innotek is the division of the company that focuses on components and designed the impressive camera inside the company’s latest G4 flagship.
However, unlike Samsung, LG doesn’t make its own image sensor components, but designs the wider camera module instead. LG’s high-end smartphone cameras have all been based on Sony Exmor image sensors. LG has most recently pushed the boat with its f/1.8 aperture camera in its LG G4, which will let in around 80 percent more light than the G3’s f/2.2 module. This is the wider aperture that we’ve seen yet in a smartphone.
LG’s G4 took a Sony IMX234 sensor and paired it with its own lens, laster auto focus and color compensating technologies to produce one of the best smartphone cameras around.
Not only that, but LG’s research teams are also developing complimentary hardware components for its camera modules. Back with the LG G3 the company announced its laser autofocus system and the LG G4 comes with an infra-red colour correction circuit to better compensate for environmental lighting.
As the company doesn’t have to worry about sensor development, it has more time to work on refining the other module components, which has resulting in some rather interesting and practical camera designs.
HTC
Much like LG, HTC is not in the image sensor business, instead it has had a few attempts at designing its own camera modules.
HTC’s Ultrapixel idea didn’t end up working out to well, so the company ended up moving it to the front camera.
The company coined the phrase “Ultrapixel” for its larger 2.0um pixel smartphone cameras but these actually made use of ST Microelectronics and OmniVision constructed sensors, specifically the VD68969 and OV4688. The company has also experimented with dual-sensor set-ups with the One M8, making use of a 2.1-megapixel OmniVision OV2722 sensor to collect additional depth information.
Despite the novel ideas, the company’s camera technology does not appear to have kept up with the competition lately; the handset scored poorly in our blind test shoot-out.
What to expect next
There are a number of other manufacturers in the mobile image business which produce either their own lens modules or sensors, for example even OnePlus developed its own lens for its smartphone. Hopefully though, I have covered enough of them to give you an idea of what the market is like.
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market, but smartphone CMOS sensor demand is inherently tied to the smartphone market. Huge growth in low margin handsets is driving demand for competitively priced image sensors with moderate specifications and this is opening the door for OmniVision, Toshiba and others to collect new business and expand their market share in Asia.
At the high-end, we’re quite likely to see OEM companies continue to differentiate their products by tweaking the broader camera modules to bring out subtle improvements in quality. Ideas like dual-image sensors, wider apertures and laser auto focus will probably keep cropping up from time to time, but final image quality is inevitably tied to the limited space for sensors within smartphones.
AIVAnet 