Sony makes Nikon's sensors, however the D3 sensor is designed by Nikon themselves and fabricated by Sony. The D300 and Alpha700 share the same sensor. So expect the 25-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor that Sony announced to be in a Nikon sooner or later.
What about lenses? I doubt Samsung will make a full frame camera because they do not have the lenses. All they have now is too small to fill a full frame.
Samsung uses the Pentax K-mount Pentax has a few FA and DFA lenses in production right now that are designed for full-frame -- the 31mm, 43mm, and 77mm Limiteds; the DFA 100mm Macro and DFA 50mm Macro, and the FA 50mm. There are also a few consumer zooms that have yet to dry up, supply wise, although they are not actively being produced.
Additionally, the DA 40, DA 70, and (I believed) DA* 200mm will all cover a full-frame image circle on film. I know digital sensors behave differently with direct light versus angled light, so we'll take that with a grain of salt.
You can also get adapters to mount Pentax 645 and 67 (medium format) lenses on the K-mount -- which would most certainly cover a 35mm image circle.
Pentax would certainly have to bring back some older lens designs to complement this camera, but I have a feeling that there would be a lot of financial incentive from Samsung to do this -- they are going after Sony, after all.
And of course, the D3 has shown us how you can make a full frame body work with APS-C lenses.
I, for one, would love to replace the K10D with a full-frame body. I'm sure I'm not alone in that regard. I've even been holding off on the K20D upgrade to see what's coming out next.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Powercube @ Apr 11th 2008 6:20PM
Doesn't Samsung make Nikon's CMOS' as well?
Matt @ Apr 11th 2008 6:20PM
I think Nikon makes their own FF sensor. Sony used to make all their CCD sensors. I'm not sure about the new CMOS sensor that is in the D300.
Powercube @ Apr 11th 2008 6:22PM
I think the D300 is Samsung, but I have no idea why
Powercube @ Apr 11th 2008 6:31PM
Yup, it's "based" on the same censor as the Sony A700
brian t @ Apr 11th 2008 6:39PM
Nikon gets their sensors from Sony. Pentax used to, until the K20D.
Temple @ Apr 11th 2008 7:15PM
Sony makes Nikon's sensors, however the D3 sensor is designed by Nikon themselves and fabricated by Sony. The D300 and Alpha700 share the same sensor. So expect the 25-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor that Sony announced to be in a Nikon sooner or later.
John Smith @ Apr 12th 2008 12:42AM
What about lenses? I doubt Samsung will make a full frame camera because they do not have the lenses. All they have now is too small to fill a full frame.
Perhaps they could use a Nikon or Canon mount?
Jim F @ Apr 12th 2008 9:22AM
Re: John's comments about full-frame lenses.
Samsung uses the Pentax K-mount Pentax has a few FA and DFA lenses in production right now that are designed for full-frame -- the 31mm, 43mm, and 77mm Limiteds; the DFA 100mm Macro and DFA 50mm Macro, and the FA 50mm. There are also a few consumer zooms that have yet to dry up, supply wise, although they are not actively being produced.
Additionally, the DA 40, DA 70, and (I believed) DA* 200mm will all cover a full-frame image circle on film. I know digital sensors behave differently with direct light versus angled light, so we'll take that with a grain of salt.
You can also get adapters to mount Pentax 645 and 67 (medium format) lenses on the K-mount -- which would most certainly cover a 35mm image circle.
Pentax would certainly have to bring back some older lens designs to complement this camera, but I have a feeling that there would be a lot of financial incentive from Samsung to do this -- they are going after Sony, after all.
And of course, the D3 has shown us how you can make a full frame body work with APS-C lenses.
I, for one, would love to replace the K10D with a full-frame body. I'm sure I'm not alone in that regard. I've even been holding off on the K20D upgrade to see what's coming out next.