DALSA ships 111 megapixel CCD

Don't expect to see one of these in a commercial DSLR anytime soon (especially now that Mamiya has left the game), but a division of DALSA Semiconductor has successfully manufactured and delivered a 111 megapixel image sensor that's only been topped on these pages by the 500 megapixel monster inside Fermilab's Dark Energy Camera. Putting even the highest-resolution bacteria-based cam to shame, the new 4-inch-square CCD features an array of 10,560 x 10,560 pixels, and was developed in conjunction with Semiconductor Technology Associates to aid the U.S. Naval Observatory's Astrometry Department in precisely determining the position and motion of celestial objects. While you probably can't afford to hire DALSA to build another one of these just for you, there's at least one option on the market that will give you the hundred-plus megapixel bragging rights you seek without breaking the bank: Better Light's 144 megapixel E-HS medium format backing, which, while technically only capturing 48 megapixels per color (and taking at least 66 seconds to do so), should still be enough to impress even your EOS 1Ds Mark II-sporting friends.

[Bryan Ribas @ Jun 19th 2006 2:23PM]

What size would the image be? Data wise

[Lyle @ Jun 19th 2006 2:31PM]

Assuming 32 bits/pixel and no compression it would be 425 MB.

[Bryan Ribas @ Jun 19th 2006 2:57PM]

Thats crazy.

[cyberdork @ Jun 19th 2006 2:58PM]

Bluriest picture of a wafer I have seen in a long time. Is that a 300mm? I doubt it. At my lab we still work with 100mm , and I know how difficult it is to make photos of shiny objects.

[Scabies @ Jun 19th 2006 3:20PM]

lol, you'd think a company that makes CCDs could take a good picture, right?

Most digital cameras have an autofocus that cant determine a reflective surface from the object that is being reflected. Similar to taking a picture through a window, will the camera focus on what's outside (perhaps 30m away), the dust on the glass (perhaps 1m away), or the reflection of you in the glass (assuming glass is 1m away, youre reflection is effectively 2m away from the camera)?

[Craig @ Jun 19th 2006 3:22PM]

This would be great in a family digi cam. A 1GB card can only hold 2 pictures, long download times and the computer cannot show the image. Ok maybe not then...

[Joseph @ Jun 19th 2006 3:25PM]

At 8 bits per channel, the file size would be 319 megs and at 16 bits per channel will give you a 638 meg file!

[Redman @ Jun 19th 2006 3:29PM]

Considering the CCD is 4in, I would say that wafer is a 6in. Not un-common for low volume IC manufacturing. I'd be more interested in knowing what the pixel size is on that chip.

[cr @ Jun 19th 2006 4:54PM]

Mamiya hasn't left the game. check your facts.

[yubastard @ Jun 19th 2006 5:01PM]

it says 4-inch-square, so one side of that CCD is 2 inches... the wafer would be 3 inches across...

but you right, wonder 'bout pixel size...

[Cobra Rob @ Jun 19th 2006 5:12PM]

Considering the wafer is a flat and not a notch its definatly not a 300mm, I would have guessed a 200mm but it really looks to small to be an 8" so I would say a 6"

[kris Payne @ Jun 19th 2006 7:04PM]

Mamiya has only sold parts of its overseas ventures to another company, cosmos digital. they haven't quit the camera business. In fact they got rid of extra services in their lineup to focus more on cameras. This is straight from the president of MAC group. I use Mamiya's extensively and know for a fact that they aren't going anywhere.

[Brian. Carpenter @ Jun 19th 2006 8:58PM]

You know, in your tags, you spelled Naval as Navel. What's up with that? :)

[Edgar Valderrama @ Jun 19th 2006 10:53PM]

I had to google "u.s navel observatory" to make sure our government isn't researching navel lint nowadays! It wouldn't have surprised me at all, but no, it's just your spelling.
I wouldn't have said anything, but you spell it that way twice!

[Andy Burns @ Jun 20th 2006 4:07AM]

yubastartd, There is a difference between
"4 inches square" and "4 square inches" ...

[Sacramento Photographer @ Jun 20th 2006 7:45PM]

Thanks to Moore's Law, it shouldn't be too long before that 4 inch square sensor will be reduced in size enough to fill a medium format back nicely.

I'm going to have to upgrade my computer to handle the files.