OmniVision 10MP sensor gives phones 30FPS burst shooting
updated 09:55 am EST, Mon January 10, 2011
OmniVision OV10810 10MP camera phone sensor at CES
OmniVision at CES this year brought out a new camera sensor that could give smartphones and point-and-shoots previously unheard of performance. The 10-megapixel OV10810 can shoot burst photos at its full resolution up to 30 frames per second, even while it uses the footage to create 1080p video. It has a unique 16:9 aspect ratio that keeps the video uncropped while still supplying the full quality for stills.
The CMOS sensor is still optimized for clean, low light photography with 1.4 micron pixels. Both photography and videography get lifts if the resolution drops down. Users can capture video at 60FPS if the sensor crops down to 5.3 megapixels, and it can drop down again to 2.6 megapixels to record at those speeds while improving the light response once again.
Production samples are already being handed out, though production depends on the individual companies involved. The design is built for smartphones as well as hybrid compact camera and camcorder mixes.
Partners haven't been named so far, though Apple has been one of OmniVision's most frequent customers for the iPhone and more recently iPod touch. It may not necessarily pick the OV10810 but could use the eight-megapixel OV8820 instead depending on how soon either are available and whether they fit in planned iPhone designs.
