Photokina 2008: Full-Frame and Megapixels Rule

Kodak Medium Format Sensor

Kodak was the first to produce full-frame DSLR cameras, with models based on both popular Nikon and Canon bodies of the time. Kodak exited the 35mm DSLR market several years ago, but they have remained active in the development and manufacture of digital imaging sensors. Kodak produced the first Olympus Four Thirds sensor and they produce sensors for their own point and shoot (compact) cameras and some of those produced by other companies.

In recent years, Kodak has maintained a visible professional presence in the digital medium format market, producing expensive backs and sensors for Hasselblad, Leica, and others. Kodak announced a series of sensors to be used in medium format cameras - all of them apparently based on variants of their 37.5MP 45mmx30mm CCD sensor. The new Kodak sensor is 56% larger than a full-frame CCD sensor. Details are in the Kodak press release:

Leica, Hasselblad, and Sinar Select KODAK CCD Image Sensors for Use in New Cameras

Cologne, Germany, September 23, 2008 - CCD Image Sensors from Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) have been selected again to power the most advanced cameras for professional photographers. Showcased at this year's Photokina trade fair in Cologne, Germany, the new cameras - the LEICA S2, the HASSELBLAD H3DII-50, and the SINAR Hy6-65 - are based on both new and existing KODAK CCD Image Sensors, and further establish Kodak as the leading supplier of the most advanced image sensors used in professional photography.

"Kodak has a rich history of supplying image sensors of the highest quality for use in professional photography - where image quality, resolution, and color fidelity are critical to a photographer's success," said Michael Miller, manager of Kodak's CCD Image Sensor Business, part of the company's Image Sensor Solutions group. "We are excited to see this legacy continue with the launch of a new generation of cameras from the world's leading manufacturers that will allow photographers to capture images of the highest quality and the finest detail."

The LEICA S2 camera, powered by the new KODAK KAF-37500 Image Sensor, is the third product from Leica to be based on KODAK CCD Image Sensors - a relationship that began first with the LEICA Digital Module-R and was then extended with the LEICA M8 camera. 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 sensor also includes specific design features that optimize its use in the S2 camera, such as 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.

The new KODAK KAF-50100 Image Sensor was selected by Hasselblad for use in the HASSELBLAD H3DII-50, the top model of Hasselblad's H3DII family and their fourth-generation medium-format camera. Twice the physical size of the largest 35mm DSLR image sensor, the 50 million pixel KAF-50100 sets a new resolution benchmark for the popular 48mm x 36mm optical format used in medium-format photography, while improving upon the quality and imaging performance available from the previous generation of KODAK sensors.

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.

Sinar has selected the 31.6 million pixel KODAK KAF-31600 Image Sensor for use in the SINAR Hy6-65, a new system that brings integrated digital image processing to medium format photography. Leveraging the light sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and outstanding color fidelity available from the KAF-31600 Image Sensor, this camera brings the superb image quality and performance available from the KAF-31600 to a new generation of products available from Sinar.

These three new cameras join a family of existing cameras and camera backs that are based on a full portfolio of KODAK CCD Image Sensors targeted to this market. With resolutions ranging from 16 to 50 million pixels, Kodak has supplied the broadest portfolio of high performance CCD products for this market, providing camera manufacturers the flexibility to meet the needs and requirements of their customers while retaining the performance and image quality required in this demanding application.