Sony Chip vs Kodak Chip: Battle Royale!!

[Ulysses]

It is interesting to look at some of the more compelling aspects of the possible upcoming competition between the CCD chips of 2002 (this brief look does not take into account the new Foveon CMOS sensor, which could certainly put its own twist into things depending upon who adopts it besides Sigma).

The Olympus/Kodak union is presumed to use this chip:
Sensor size is 22.3 mm diagonally
Aspect ratio of 4:3
Announced at PMA 2002, and introduced for sale in 2002
Sensor is 5.1 megapixels
Cell size is 6.8 x 6.8 microns (square cells)

The Sony chip has the following:
Sensor size is 28.1 mm diagonally
Aspect ratio of 3:2
Sensor is supposed to be ready for production by June 2002
Sensor is 6.1 megapixels
Cell size is 7.8 x 7.8 microns (square cells)

Now, get these couple of important points:

Olympus, according to their announcement, intends this camera to be targeted at the price of $1,600. They are going for a low-priced D-SLR.

Well, Dave mentions the following at the Imaging Resource about the Sony sensor:

"This looks like a suitable chip for use in a low to mid-end digital SLR, and we'll await confirmation of pricing with interest!"

Wow, this could be a Battle Royale between cameras using these sensors. Perhaps this is the era in digital imaging that a number have been waiting for.

Steve mentions on his own site that "One of those cameras is going to cause quite a stir for power, performance and price but my lips are sealed until the official release date so please don't ask."

Could all of the cards be right there on the table in front of us? Or is someone playing with a poker face and an empty hand?

--

Ulysses

 

[Homer40784]

I rather think, the Oly/Kodak thing was "supposd" to be the darling of the show.

And at 5MP and at $1600 for a DSLR it will still be......from a camera perspective, easily overshadowing the Sigma...............but not the Foveon!

Can you imagine.......a nice DSLR With a lens included......by OLY...........for maybe $1400 30 days after intro?

These ARE the good old days!

The above is of course pure speculation ;> )

I don't want to ever die. I might miss something.

Homer

It is interesting to look at some of the more compelling aspects of
the possible upcoming competition between the CCD chips of 2002
(this brief look does not take into account the new Foveon CMOS
sensor, which could certainly put its own twist into things
depending upon who adopts it besides Sigma).

The Olympus/Kodak union is presumed to use this chip:
Sensor size is 22.3 mm diagonally
Aspect ratio of 4:3
Announced at PMA 2002, and introduced for sale in 2002
Sensor is 5.1 megapixels
Cell size is 6.8 x 6.8 microns (square cells)

The Sony chip has the following:
Sensor size is 28.1 mm diagonally
Aspect ratio of 3:2
Sensor is supposed to be ready for production by June 2002
Sensor is 6.1 megapixels
Cell size is 7.8 x 7.8 microns (square cells)

Now, get these couple of important points:
Olympus, according to their announcement, intends this camera to be
targeted at the price of $1,600. They are going for a low-priced
D-SLR.

Well, Dave mentions the following at the Imaging Resource about the
Sony sensor:
"This looks like a suitable chip for use in a low to mid-end
digital SLR, and we'll await confirmation of pricing with interest!"

Wow, this could be a Battle Royale between cameras using these
sensors. Perhaps this is the era in digital imaging that a number
have been waiting for.

Steve mentions on his own site that "One of those cameras is going
to cause quite a stir for power, performance and price but my lips
are sealed until the official release date so please don't ask."

Could all of the cards be right there on the table in front of us?
Or is someone playing with a poker face and an empty hand?

--

Ulysses

 

[Ulysses]

I rather think, the Oly/Kodak thing was "supposd" to be the darling
of the show.

I wonder if this is simply simultaneous development in response to the market's desires or is it that all of these guys just know what the other is doing and plan out these preemptive strikes.

Note that the Olympus announcement came in April last year; the Sony chip document is dates for May last year. Too close to be just coincidence?

And at 5MP and at $1600 for a DSLR it will still be......from a
camera perspective, easily overshadowing the
Sigma...............but not the Foveon!

No, not the Foveon technology. I'll bet that others pick it up. But who? I'm still thinking perhaps Kodak.

Can you imagine.......a nice DSLR With a lens included......by
OLY...........for maybe $1400 30 days after intro?

Mmmm... I'll say $1499. Not lower.

I don't want to ever die. I might miss something.

Sounds like a plan!! I like it! -- Ulysses

 

[Ulysses]

Can you imagine.......a nice DSLR With a lens included......by
OLY...........for maybe $1400 30 days after intro?

They're supposed to be making other lenses and a bunch of compatible accessories for it, too, right? -- Ulysses

 

[Homer40784]

Ha!
They better. The original info was that it would be a "new Lens Mount".

Seems to indicate that it would have it's own lens and would be incompatible with anything else out there.
Unless of course their new mount was an adapter.

Homer

Can you imagine.......a nice DSLR With a lens included......by
OLY...........for maybe $1400 30 days after intro?

They're supposed to be making other lenses and a bunch of
compatible accessories for it, too, right?
--

Ulysses

 

[Amando Hernández]

Under 1000$???

Crazy times for marketing guys!

It is interesting to look at some of the more compelling aspects of
the possible upcoming competition between the CCD chips of 2002
(this brief look does not take into account the new Foveon CMOS
sensor, which could certainly put its own twist into things
depending upon who adopts it besides Sigma).

The Olympus/Kodak union is presumed to use this chip:
Sensor size is 22.3 mm diagonally
Aspect ratio of 4:3
Announced at PMA 2002, and introduced for sale in 2002
Sensor is 5.1 megapixels
Cell size is 6.8 x 6.8 microns (square cells)

The Sony chip has the following:
Sensor size is 28.1 mm diagonally
Aspect ratio of 3:2
Sensor is supposed to be ready for production by June 2002
Sensor is 6.1 megapixels
Cell size is 7.8 x 7.8 microns (square cells)

Now, get these couple of important points:
Olympus, according to their announcement, intends this camera to be
targeted at the price of $1,600. They are going for a low-priced
D-SLR.

Well, Dave mentions the following at the Imaging Resource about the
Sony sensor:
"This looks like a suitable chip for use in a low to mid-end
digital SLR, and we'll await confirmation of pricing with interest!"

Wow, this could be a Battle Royale between cameras using these
sensors. Perhaps this is the era in digital imaging that a number
have been waiting for.

Steve mentions on his own site that "One of those cameras is going
to cause quite a stir for power, performance and price but my lips
are sealed until the official release date so please don't ask."

Could all of the cards be right there on the table in front of us?
Or is someone playing with a poker face and an empty hand?

--

Ulysses

 

[Ulysses]

I don't spend a whole lot of time thinking about the E20 even now.

By the times these new chips and algorithms enable lower noise in the images, I probably won't think about it at all.

Having said that, while I'm still thinking about it a little bit, I'm sure the E20 will drop significantly. But I don't expect under $1,000. It's still an expensive camera to manufacture.

Under 1000$???

Crazy times for marketing guys!-- Ulysses

 

[Jimmy Chen]

The Olympus/Kodak union is presumed to use this chip:
Sensor size is 22.3 mm diagonally
Sensor is 5.1 megapixels
Cell size is 6.8 x 6.8 microns (square cells)

The Sony chip has the following:
Sensor size is 28.1 mm diagonally
Sensor is 6.1 megapixels
Cell size is 7.8 x 7.8 microns (square cells)

Olympus, according to their announcement, intends this camera to be
targeted at the price of $1,600. They are going for a low-priced
D-SLR.

Sony sensor:
"This looks like a suitable chip for use in a low to mid-end
digital SLR, and we'll await confirmation of pricing with interest!"

This is why I am still having a little trouble seeing the Sony 6mp used by Sony for cameras over $1500 in price ...

If we are to take a huge leap of faith and assume the 413AQ is for the F909 yet to come, what kind of physical adjustments do you think Sony needs to do to keep it in the same form as the 505/707?

jc

 

[Ulysses]

This is why I am still having a little trouble seeing the Sony 6mp
used by Sony for cameras over $1500 in price ...

Have a look at this, as posted in the Canon EOS-1D review.



Let the cell size be your relative guide into camera price, and you'll have a good idea of where this thing will be priced.

If we are to take a huge leap of faith and assume the 413AQ is for
the F909 yet to come, what kind of physical adjustments do you
think Sony needs to do to keep it in the same form as the 505/707?

I don't expect a so-called "F909", especially not one using this chip. You're not going to get one into the current camera form. -- Ulysses

 

[Jimmy Chen]

Have a look at this, as posted in the Canon EOS-1D review.

Let the cell size be your relative guide into camera price, and
you'll have a good idea of where this thing will be priced.

Looks like it is in line with the D1/D1x sizing ...

I don't expect a so-called "F909", especially not one using this
chip. You're not going to get one into the current camera form.

Which then mean that F909 will be using another 6mp CCD that we dont know about yet, just not this one.

Maybe the 413AQ isnt for any Sony camera, but more of a CCD developed per demand of its "consumers" ... ie: Sony OEM it to other d-slr mfg'ers.

jc

 

[Ulysses]

Looks like it is in line with the D1/D1x sizing ...

No, it is lower lower in size and perhaps lower in pricing level, possibly hovering somewhere around the $2,000 level.

Which then mean that F909 will be using another 6mp CCD that we
dont know about yet, just not this one.

Again, WHAT is the F909 but a rumor?

And there is nothing to indicate that any Sony camera will have a 6mp chip at all. To date, there is no indication that Sony has some other large chip up their sleeves.

Maybe the 413AQ isnt for any Sony camera, but more of a CCD
developed per demand of its "consumers" ... ie: Sony OEM it to
other d-slr mfg'ers.

That's what we've been saying. Sony Semiconductor develops the chips, and they will sell them to anyone who wants to buy them. They have almost nothing at all to do with Sony Digital Imaging, who make cameras. -- Ulysses