The next tech product to be better with curves
We've recently seen TVs and phones benefit from curves, but this has typically made them more expensive. This time, curves are coming to digital cameras, and it could actually make them cheaper.
We've recently seen TVs and phones benefit from curves, but this has typically made them more expensive. This time, curves are coming to digital cameras, and it could actually make them cheaper.
Sony recently showcased two new curved CMOS sensors for use in digital cameras. These new sensors are reportedly up to twice as sensitive as traditional, flat CMOS sensors, and have the potential to make camera lenses both sharper and cheaper.
The flat nature of traditional CMOS sensors requires camera lenses to perform complicated optical corrections to compensate for light hitting the lens at oblique angles. Sony's new curved sensor would allow lens manufacturers to work with the sensor, rather than against it. Lenses manufactured for this sensor would not only cheaper, but have a larger maximum aperture and greater low light potential.
However, it may be a while before we see interchangable lenses for cameras with curved sensors, as the curvature of the lens must match the curvature of the sensor. This would mean not only swapping the lens, but potentially swapping the sensor too. In the meantime, this technology will no doubt find application in fixed lens point-and-shoots, camcorders and smartphones, hopefully bringing down the price and raising the quality.
Source: No Film School
