More tiny pixels in one direction and interpolation in the final image.
Perhaps Canon will increase the resolution the same way Nikon didWhen people talk about higher resolution large physical size
sensors, I keep thinking back to the Nikon D1X. Nikon put roughly
5.4MP into a sensor with the same physical size as the 2.7MP sensor
of the original Nikon D1. Nikon clearly made a lot of improvements,
not just to the sensor but to surrounding electronics that
contributed to the noise when building the D1X.
I don't see why Canon can not make similar strides in their sensor
and camera designs. A smaller sensor does not always mean more
noise and less dynamic range. I'm sure most people agree that the
photos from the D1X are a generation better than the photos from
the D1.
with the D1x.