Kodak rolls out new image sensors at Photokina, one for Leica's S2

We noticed that the writeup for Leica's newly unveiled S2 made mention of a new Kodak sensor, but we'll leave it to Kodak to do the boasting. Sure enough, the outfit responsible for this atrocity has rolled out a few new image sensors at Photokina 2008, one of which -- the KAF-37500 -- proudly resides in the aforementioned S2. The company is showcasing sensors for medium format rigs such as the Sinar HY6-65 (KAF-31600) and Hasselblad H3DII-50 (KAF-50100), though quite honestly, it spends more time gloating about what manufacturers it's partnering with than describing the technology. Oh well, so long as it keeps Kodak from focusing on its pathetic point-and-shoot lineup, we'll keep smiling.

[Ankan Bhowmick @ Sep 24th 2008 9:53AM]

All the more reason to "hate" my yellow teeth!

[G. Tom @ Sep 24th 2008 10:58AM]

IS there any new technology in these sensors? Kodak has been making digital medium format backs for awhile now, although hardly a Leaf or Phase One. I'm sure they made some improvements, but I don't know for certain if they did anything earth shattering.

[Wwhat @ Sep 25th 2008 6:06AM]

From dpreview:
"With an imaging area of 45mm x 30mm, the 37.5 million pixel KAF-37500 represents a new optical format for photography, providing an image capture area over 50% larger than traditional 35mm film."

"the use of microlenses to increase the overall light sensitivity of the device, enabling improved image quality under low light conditions. In addition, an infra-red absorbing optic was incorporated directly into the sensor’s packaging, enabling the development of a thinner camera design by eliminating the need to include this IR-absorbing function as a separate camera component."

And:

"Both the KAI-50100 and the KAF-37500 Image Sensors are based on the new KODAK TRUESENSE 6.0 micron Full Frame CCD Platform, the company’s fourth generation of technology for professional photography. This new platform increases both the resolution and camera performance available for photographers by reducing pixel size and “click-to-capture” time for improved camera response, improving frame rate, lowering power consumption, and improving color fidelity while retaining key performance parameters available from the previous generation of technology."

[Temple @ Sep 24th 2008 11:14AM]

These pro-CCDs can only do up to ISO400 natively (ISO800 boosted). Good for studio work, but utter crap for anything else. The whole point of putting the Leica S2 into a more compact body compared to the Blad H3D is so it affords some mobility outside the studio. They need to boost their high-ISO performance (at least to 1600 ISO native) before the rumored Nikon MX medium format lands.

[avester @ Sep 24th 2008 12:26PM]

Yeah, the market-slot for casual shooters spending 50,000$ for a camera is huge!

[cloneofsnake @ Sep 24th 2008 1:33PM]

would be nice if eventually we get to buy "sensor backs" from Kodak & Fuji... just like the film days.

If not changeable backs, just having that choice would be nice... I would love to get a Panasonic's micro-4/3 with the new Fuji sensor!

[Wwhat @ Sep 25th 2008 6:16AM]

Whatever happened to this kodak thing? Anybody know? Was it ever put in a product?
http://www.freetimefoto.com/digital-photography/kodak_new_image_sensor.html