Pixels for Geeks: A peek inside Nikon’s super-secret sensor design lab

[Bear Dale]

Pixels for Geeks: A peek inside Nikon’s super-secret sensor design lab

An interesting read -

Pixels for Geeks: A peek inside Nikon’s super-secret sensor design lab - Imaging Resource

I’ve known for some time that Nikon actually designs their own sensors, to a fairly minute level of detail. I think this is almost unknown in the photo community; most people just assume that “design” in Nikon’s…

www.imaging-resource.com

 

[Ellis Vener]

That is a fantastic piece of reporting.

 

[msu79gt82]

Reminds me of an “contentious” recent thread:

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www.dpreview.com

 

[lonewolf1983]

but its a sony sensor!
*rolls eyes*

Note that the article was paid for by nikon, but still a good story

 

[Raul]

Regards

 

[fishy wishy]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nikon paid Sony for a door plate that says "Nikon sensor development" and when you open the door, it's just a cupboard with a lagged pipe running through it...

 

[mick232]

This is a sponsored article by Nikon.

 

[xPhoenix]

This is a sponsored article by Nikon.

I agree this article sounds very fishy. It's been common knowledge for a very long time that most Nikon's use Sony sensors. Now we hear Nikon's been "designing" them all along? Riiiiiiight....

Also, I've heard people say that Nikon manages to squeeze more performance out of the Sony sensors. Not sure I believe that, either. According to DXOmark, the cameras with the best low light (sports) scores are mostly Sony.

Best Cameras for Sports under $45,200 | DXOMARK

www.dxomark.com

But hey, Nikon has been hard at work on the P1000, so I'll cut them some slack.

 

[Raul]

This is a sponsored article by Nikon.

I agree this article sounds very fishy. It's been common knowledge for a very long time that most Nikon's use Sony sensors. Now we hear Nikon's been "designing" them all along? Riiiiiiight....

Also, I've heard people say that Nikon manages to squeeze more performance out of the Sony sensors. Not sure I believe that, either. According to DXOmark, the cameras with the best low light (sports) scores are mostly Sony.

https://www.dxomark.com/best-cameras-for-sports-under-45200-dollars

But hey, Nikon has been hard at work on the P1000, so I'll cut them some slack.

DxOmark? (laugh)

 

[JimKasson]

Note that all the images were of FSI sensors.

Jim

 

[Ellis Vener]

This is a sponsored article by Nikon.

I agree this article sounds very fishy. It's been common knowledge for a very long time that most Nikon's use Sony sensors. Now we hear Nikon's been "designing" them all along? Riiiiiiight....

Also, I've heard people say that Nikon manages to squeeze more performance out of the Sony sensors. Not sure I believe that, either. According to DXOmark, the cameras with the best low light (sports) scores are mostly Sony.

https://www.dxomark.com/best-cameras-for-sports-under-45200-dollars

But hey, Nikon has been hard at work on the P1000, so I'll cut them some slack.

Nikon has always said they design their sensors, Sony builds them but Nikon has been designing them since at least the D2.

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on instagram @therealellisv

 

[Ellis Vener]

Note that all the images were of FSI sensors.

Jim

 

[NexLupus]

Pixels for Geeks: A peek inside Nikon’s super-secret sensor design lab

An interesting read -

https://www.imaging-resource.com/ne...-inside-nikons-super-secret-sensor-design-lab

 

[Pixel Pooper]

 

[JimKasson]

Pixels for Geeks: A peek inside Nikon’s super-secret sensor design lab

An interesting read -

https://www.imaging-resource.com/ne...-inside-nikons-super-secret-sensor-design-lab

Im surprised that DPReview hasn't posted this or at least made reference to this considering that they recently posted another article from another site talking about how the D850 sensor is fabbed by Sony.

Not saying that the D850 sensor is not fabbed by someone else, the point is that this article makes an excellent argument about Nikon truly designing their sensors regardless of who manufacturers them.

I don't think anyone on the forum ever said Nikon doesn't design any of their sensors at the polygon level. I am fairly sure they designed the D4 and D5 sensors, for example. I've never tested a sensor like the D5's. But because they design the polygons for some of their sensors doesn't mean they design the polygons for all the sensors. The similarities between the design choices of the latest generation of Sony BSI FF sensors and the D850 sensor is way to great to be coincidence.

Jim

 

[Ellis Vener]

Dear Mr. P. Pooper,

Thank you taking the time out of your busy life to post response. We all had a good chuckle at your witty response.

We can happily confirm that not only is your internet connection working and web browser working but so are your computer’s ability to cut and paste memes you spent time searching out.

Have a good day,

-

 

[Pixel Pooper]

That is a fantastic piece of reporting.

Sponsored content is not reporting, it is advertising. Don't feel bad; a lot of people can't tell the difference.

 

[Ellis Vener]

That is a fantastic piece of reporting.

Sponsored content is not reporting, it is advertising. Don't feel bad; a lot of people can't tell the difference.

Did you learn anything from the piece? Because if you didn’t you either already know everything about imaging chip production (in which case: why are you wasting time here?) or you stopped at the bit where up front Mr. Etchells tells the world very directly that it is sponsored by Nikon. And in that sense it does benefit Nikon.

But perhaps you missed the part where he also very clearly says he tried to get other company’s co-operation and they turned him down.

And perhaps you missed the bulk of the article where what he is discussing very pertains to what goes into designing image capture chip technology and architecture in general. Personally I already had a general knowledge about this from reading lots and lots and lots and studying the subject (as a non-engineer) but yet to see it all put together in one place, Etchells also gets a lot of credit for clear writing about an extremely technical subject. He did a fine job explaining the technology with a minimum of jargon and a great deal of clarity.

The wonderful thing about our discussion here in this micron size corner of an internet bulletin board is that it will be forgotten by nearly everyone in just a few days. But people who find themselves interested in how photons are turned into images will be reading Etchells’ piece for years to come.

 

[Pixel Pooper]

Did you learn anything from the piece?

No

Because if you didn’t you either already know everything about imaging chip production (in which case: why are you wasting time here?)

This infomercial did not contain "everything about imaging chip production", not even close.

or you stopped at the bit where up front Mr. Etchells tells the world very directly that it is sponsored by Nikon. And in that sense it does benefit Nikon.

I read the whole thing. It is a puff piece, nothing more.

 

[Ellis Vener]

Did you learn anything from the piece?

No

Because if you didn’t you either already know everything about imaging chip production (in which case: why are you wasting time here?)

This infomercial did not contain "everything about imaging chip production", not even close.

i did not say anything like that. I wrote that “YOU either know everything about imaging chip production, etc.

or you stopped at the bit where up front Mr. Etchells tells the world very directly that it is sponsored by Nikon. And in that sense it does benefit Nikon.

I read the whole thing. It is a puff piece, nothing more.

i look forward to being further enlightened by the article you write about the subject. Please let us know when and where it will be published.