Thanks to forums contributor 'Andreas P' for spotting this, a Taiwanese technology website is currently running an article about the difference between CCD and CMOS sensors. On this page they have a copy of a Sony sensor road map, on it is the ICX 456 sensor, it's 2/3" in size (8.8 x 6.6 mm) and has eight megapixels (a pixel pitch of 2.7 µm). The box on the roadmap is marked '1H03' (first half '03) which would make it available for manufacturers looking to release some prosumer cameras before Christmas this year (a new Sony DSC-F717 or Canon Pro 90 perhaps?).

Phil: I can't see this being a good thing, we're already seeing higher noise levels from the five megapixel 1/1.8" sensors. I'd rather see manufacturers putting more development into lenses, dynamic range, automatic white balance and improved image processing, there are some things you can't cover up with more megapixels.

Click here for the original story on 'hope.com.tw' (scroll down for the roadmap)