NHK develops 8K camera sensor with 120FPS video
updated 03:35 pm EST, Sat February 25, 2012
NHK 33MP sensor shoots 8K at high speed
Japanese broadcaster NHK's Science and Technology Laboratories group has developed what should be the most advanced video camera sensor in the world. The 33-megapixel sensor captures NHK's 8K Super Hi Vision video, at 7680x4320, but can do it at a very fast 120 frames per second. The speed, which is four times faster than needed for regular TV, would help preserve the extreme detail even in fast action scenes.
Most of the frame rate increases come through a new 12-bit A-D converter. Rather than work in one pass, it converts once for the first four bits and a second time for the remaining eight, digesting the video faster overall. It also uses considerably less power, as little as 800mW.
Getting to the 33-megapixel density through a small 18-micron manufacturing process for the CMOS sensor, which is still relatively small at just over an inch wide by 0.8 inches tall.
NHK hasn't said how close it would be to putting the camera in action. Most of the wait depends not just on the network, which requires as much as 16 times the bandwidth of 1080p, but on content. Most movie producers are still using no more than 4K or 5K, and home users are just getting 4K in camcorders and TVs. [via Tech-On]
