Sony develops "world's smallest" HD camera module

The tiny HD hits keep coming today -- first we saw eASIC's $5 integrated H.264 codec chip, and now Sony's crowing about the new MCB1172 HD camera module it claims is the "world's smallest." There's some pretty impressive tech packed into that tiny package: you're looking at an 8.3 megapixel sensor that can shoot 720p/30 video with image stabilization, face detection, high-ISO mode, and 120fps slow motion. Not bad for a piece smaller than a quarter -- hopefully we'll see this thing pop up all over soon.

[Freakin Ijit @ May 12th 2009 2:58PM]

Oh!

Tie-clip camera!

[pika2000 @ May 12th 2009 3:00PM]

It's impressive, but how noisy will the video be? Yet another cramming of megapixels in tiny sensors?

[Temple @ May 12th 2009 3:04PM]

8.3 megapixels isn't what I would called cramped for a P&S size sensor.

[The Observer @ May 12th 2009 3:07PM]

My thoughts exactly..

[kadajawi @ May 12th 2009 6:52PM]

Sure the sensor won't be smaller than the one of a P&S? I thought camera sensors usually are smaller... so 8.3 MP is quite cramped.

[Temple @ May 12th 2009 8:55PM]

Most P&S sensors are range 1/3"~1/1.7" (Cellphone cams can go down to as small as 1/4"-almost 10x crop factor). Given the that even cellphone cameras are hitting 12MPs; 8.3MP isn't that cramped. In fact, compared tot he IMX046PQ sensor released last year Sony seems to be actually reducing pixel density.

It should be noted Sony sensors usually find their way into non-Sony cameras (even Canon used Sony CCD for their P&S), so we should start seeing more compact P&S' with 120fps slow-mo 720P video modes, etc.

[Wwhat @ May 12th 2009 11:16PM]

Don't they use sony sensors for DSLR's too? I mean third party manufacturers like nikon/canon/etcetera, I was given to understand they did.

[Temple @ May 13th 2009 12:09AM]

Nikon uses Sony sensors in all their dSLRs except the D700/D3.

[ouch! @ May 12th 2009 3:00PM]

yay...HD goodness for smaller devices!

[gregorywright @ May 12th 2009 3:01PM]

"Not bad for a piece smaller than a quarter "

Hmpht. You would have had me if it was smaller then a dime.

[psfour @ May 12th 2009 3:01PM]

how long to someone on here will moan about the lens not being being big enough and will produce blurry pictures

[Peter Vasilescu @ May 12th 2009 3:03PM]

Yawn..the lens is not big enough and will produce blurry pictures...

[iLoveApple @ May 12th 2009 3:08PM]

That's what your mamma said about something other than a lens...

[zed @ May 12th 2009 3:18PM]

well played

[teej @ May 12th 2009 3:19PM]

^^ not funny. and apple sucks.

[teej @ May 12th 2009 3:19PM]

omg zed... that was for apple. i'm the asshole now.

[nDy @ May 12th 2009 10:15PM]

But you are look at the smallest HD camera module,
do you expect APS size?

[KillaChaos @ May 12th 2009 3:12PM]

This + Remote Control Spider = Endless Possibilities.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ May 12th 2009 3:17PM]

until someone screams, "ekk! spider," and squishes it. then the possibilities will be ended.

[Andir3.0 @ May 12th 2009 5:09PM]

Unless you somehow trigger the spider to release poison gas or some kind of viral agent... Then the possibility has just begun!

[Henri @ May 13th 2009 8:02AM]

But if the crusher of the spider is wearing a gas mask or an environmental suite then the possibilities end.

[Matt @ May 12th 2009 3:13PM]

I hope it costs about a quarter too :D

[lou @ May 12th 2009 3:14PM]

unfortunately, you can only retrieve data from the device using on of Sony's proprietary storage mediums.

[Brdystyls @ May 12th 2009 3:20PM]

Just slam this together with a TB drive and I would be happy.

[Frankenstein Black @ May 12th 2009 3:26PM]

Sweet! Another component for the SE/// PSP LTE Phone!

[Chris N @ May 12th 2009 3:32PM]

Interesting...

[alcom4x @ May 12th 2009 3:37PM]

And the difference between this module and the one in the samsung omnia hd/i8910 HD is????

[Phoenix @ May 12th 2009 3:39PM]

it's probably smaller?

[alcom4x @ May 12th 2009 3:56PM]

haha true.. but I don't see the point in going smaller.. the module is already small enough as it is :|

[wrs589 @ May 12th 2009 4:34PM]

Many people will argue that making them smaller adds to the consumer appeal as it allows for thinner / lighter handsets.

Although the smaller the sensor the more noise on the image, as showed with the Nokia 5800, there just isn't enough room for enough photons to get to the small sensor.

[Sorr @ May 14th 2009 5:39PM]

the Omnia HD shoots 720p @ 24 fps only, but i don't know about any other aspects

[Josh @ May 12th 2009 3:41PM]

*Waits for the obligatory voyeur pornography comments*

[Tommo @ May 12th 2009 3:50PM]

Great now even pirated cam releases can be in HD!

[kadajawi @ May 12th 2009 6:56PM]

They already seem to be... and judging from screenshots of Star Trek XI they really suck.

[Ashwin @ May 12th 2009 4:21PM]

Hopefully within the next decade Apple will find this and make an iPhone with this chip in it. Apple's iPhone has its strengths, but its camera isn't one of them. It's better than what you can get on a free phone, but its getting to be behind the times compared to other smartphones.

[redleader158 @ May 12th 2009 5:59PM]

hmm... pretty sure apple never partners with sony...

[Skyride @ May 12th 2009 6:06PM]

Ye, I know. Apple wouldn't follow the crowd that much though Ashwin. They will be original and probably invent the camera-less phone.

[Colonel Kernel @ May 12th 2009 6:08PM]

Is that a metric or imperial ruler?

[gonintendo @ May 12th 2009 6:13PM]

If it was an inch long, it really wouldn't be the world's smallest, now would it?

[darkmax @ May 12th 2009 7:16PM]

Did Sony just steal the blueprint from Samsung and improved on it?

[s.tam @ May 12th 2009 9:21PM]

haha: very funny. *sarcasm

Sony and Samsung are both in the sensor business. Along a coule of other companies such as Sharp, Fuji, Omnivision, etc. Don't all sensors look the same ;)

[dankers @ May 12th 2009 10:58PM]

I fly model planes via Wireless video (it's called FPV for First Person View) and I have been waiting for a camera module like this for ages, currently the best is only PAL Res.

Here's a video of what standard def looks like:

http://www.ev.com.au/video/MindtheGap.html

[Justin Bell @ May 13th 2009 2:05PM]

I'd prefer to strap two of them (for stereoscopic vision) to an RC heli, but that video is great.

[Wwhat @ May 12th 2009 11:25PM]

"The “MCB1172″ from Sony Europe’s Image Sensing Solutions Division"
It's interesting that it's from sony europe's imaging, since you'd expect sensors to come from asia first, and the US second, but this then would be european developed, let's see how well it competes with other sensors because now I'm curious.

It is also interesting that engadget's Nilay Patel decided to remove that bit of info from his writeup.

[info @ Jul 30th 2009 1:47AM]

I'll remember this article fondly when I'm carrying around a 25-30 pound Sony HDW-f900 camera :) for Saturnalia Productions - http://www.saturnaliaproductions.com