US semiconductor manufacturer Atmel has announced a 35 mm eight megapixel CCD sensor, although not specifically targeted at the digital camera market it's clearly an indication that the development of large high pixel count sensors is no longer the preserve of a select few manufacturers. "The large format (35mm film compatible image format), high definition and high dynamic range make the device suitable for any application requiring high image accuracy. This full frame imager is designed for the Graphic Arts marketplace such as digital minilabs, retouch/enhancement stations, high resolution reprography, large format X-ray film scanning and high resolution microscopy applications."