Interesting and very technical if not scientific article by chipworks about the manufacturing, development and evolution of Canon’s image sensors. Canon’s full frame sensors are analyzed. Lot’s of technical details (and slang). The most interesting part of the article (in my opinion) is the part about a possible design issue that limits the maximum number of pixel of Canon sensors. Canon uses a 5µm pixel design, that’s the reason for the maximum resolution Canon full-frame sensors can get. It also means that if Canon is working on a high megapixel DSLR it has to move beyond the 5µm manufacturing process:

So, back to the rumors of Canon allegedly readying a high resolution competitor to the Nikon D800 [3]. Will Canon finally move off that 0.5 µm generation? It is worth noting that September 2012 marked the 10 year anniversary of Canon’s announcement of the world’s first CMOS FF sensor, the EOS 1Ds. While Chipworks didn’t analyze that camera, every Canon FF sensor analyzed since has used the same 0.5 µm design rules. It is a credit to Canon that it has remained competitive by continuing to optimize its pixels fabricated in a relatively mature process.

To some degree the technical analysis of chipworks appears to support the rumors of a new, big megapixel cam by Canon, which is also said to introduce a new technology (emphasis mine):

Canon does have a 0.18 µm generation CIS wafer fab process, featuring a specialized Cu back end of line (BEOL) including light pipes (shown below). It is possible to speculate that Canon may be preparing to refresh its FF CIS line to supply devices for a new FF camera system. Samsung and Panasonic currently use Cu fabs to produce APS-C and micro 4/3 CIS devices. It seems that Canon is destined to do so for APS-C and perhaps ultimately FF. Part III of this series will discuss CMOSIS/STMicroelectronics’ combined effort to produce FF CIS using sub 0.18 µm design rules for the first time.

What do you think…?

[via Image Sensors World]

The remains of the day: Lightroom resources, New Zealand video made with the EOS 5D Mark III, a 9-Billion-Pixel photo of the Milky Way, and more.

• [Video] Journey through New Zealand on the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (specs&price) –> read it here
• Lots of Lightroom Resources – Mostly Free –> read it here
• Lightroom 4 Presets – “The 300″ Look (updated) –> read it here
• Photo Stealers: A Website Dedicated To Exposing Photography Theft –> read it here
• Canon’s 18-135mm STM zoom tested: compelling, or compromised? –> read it here
• Breathtaking Digital Art by Martin Grohs –> read it here
• How To Build DIY variable ND-Filter (And Motivate Your Models) –> read it here
• Italian artist photoshops his thumb to create portraits of famous people –> read it here
• 9-Billion-Pixel Photo of Milky Way’s Center Is Full of Stars –> read it here
• How To Fake An Underwater Scene In A Pool –> read it here
• Photographers – Sometimes You Have To Take The Risk –> read it here

Canon's press release for PhotoPlus 2012. Scroll down to see the schedule. Big names have been invited for talks. And, no, they are not saying they will announce the 46MP DSLR. :-)

NEW YORK, October 24, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will showcase a range of digital cameras and printers at PhotoPlus Expo 2012 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, October 25-27, 2012 (Booth 119). In addition, the Canon Digital Learning Center website will host free streaming video of stage presentations by Canon's Explorers of Light.Attendees will have the opportunity to “touch and try” Canon's latest imaging products including:

• PowerShot digital cameras – the G15, S110, and SX50 HS – providing advanced features, greater focusing speed and multiple-shot speed in sophisticated, compact camera bodies
• EOS 6D Digital SLR camera, a versatile, mid-range full-frame camera with the durability and performance professionals require and the creative imaging options serious photographers crave
• Three new imagePROGRAF large-format printers – the iPF8400, iPF6450 and iPF6400- delivering superb color quality and consistency as well as excellent output speeds for photographers, artisans, proofers and print for pay operations
• Two new PIXMA PRO-series 13-inch inkjet printers, the PIXMA PRO-10 and PIXMA PRO-100 producing excellent black-and-white and color prints to help, professional studio and aspiring photographers, as well as those educators training the next generation of photographers, ensure what was captured through the lens is reproduced exactly as it was envisioned on paper.

“Canon's theme for this year's PhotoPlus Expo exhibition is 'What It Takes To Image', which speaks to the wide breadth of products and solutions we offer professional imaging markets. As a uniquely positioned company providing complete imaging solutions from input to output, PhotoPlus Expo sets the stage for us to show attendees the full scope of the creative solutions we offer,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.The booth includes a hands-on shooting set where visitors can try Canon's latest DSLR cameras and Cinema EOS equipment. The REALiS Theatre located in the booth will be continually showing dynamic footage captured on various Canon devices throughout the show. In addition, the Company is continuing its PhotoPlus Expo speaker series with live presentations and photoshoots happening throughout the tradeshow on the Canon Live Learning stage. Canon's Speedlite Studio sessions will also take place demonstrating lighting and portraiture techniques for attendees.

Canon 2012 PhotoPlus Expo Stage Schedule

	Thursday, October 25th	Friday, October 26th	Saturday, October 27th
10:00 AM	Clay BlackmoreLive Shoot!	Greg HeislerLive Shoot!	Hanson FongLive Shoot!
10:45 AM	Denis ReggieWedding RealismLecture Presentation	Sam AbellThe Life of a PhotographLecture Presentation	Vincent LaforetThe Revolution ContinuesVideo Lecture Presentation
11:30 AM	Tyler StablefordCinema in the ExtremeVideo Lecture Presentation	Lauren GreenfieldThe Documentary HybridVideo Lecture Presentation	Parish KohanimThe Beauty of ImagingLecture Presentation
12:15 AM	Michele CelentanoLive Shoot!	Clay BlackmoreLive Shoot!	Felix AlcalaThe HD CinemaVideo Lecture Presentation
1:00 PM	Stephen JohnsonPortraying an Exquisite EarthLecture Presentation	Peter Read MillerIllustrating Sports!Lecture Presentation	Ken SkluteLive Shoot!
1:45 PM	Vincent LaforetThe Revolution ContinuesVideo Lecture Presentation	Vincent LaforetThe Revolution ContinuesVideo Lecture Presentation	Eddie TappCooking Raw Files to PerfectionLecture Presentation
2:30 PM	Jack ReznickiLive Shoot!	Hanson FongLive Shoot!	Alex BuonoLive from NY, it's Alex Buono!Video Lecture Presentation
3:15 PM	Jennifer WuNature's Elusive BeautyLecture Presentation	George LeppExtreme Nature TechniquesLecture Presentation	Douglas KirklandLive Shoot!
4:00 PM	Bruce DornCinema Style Video CaptureVideo Lecture Presentation	Alex BuonoLive from NY, it's Alex Buono!Video Lecture Presentation

CPS Lounge

Canon will host its CPS Lounge during PhotoPlus Expo 2012 at the Jacob Javits Center, October 24th-27th in rooms 2D02/03 and 2D04/05. The CPS Lounge will be open to the public on October 24th at 10am, the day before PhotoPlus Expo opens.

• Free On-Site Clean & Check for Gold and Platinum Members: up to two Canon professional DSLR or lens models. All equipment must be dropped off before 5 p.m. on October 26, 2012.
• On-Site Registration: New or upgrading Gold or Platinum members will receive an additional free Clean & Check coupon during PhotoPlus Expo. A registration kiosk will be available in the CPS Lounge.
• Free Professional Canon Print: Gold and Platinum members are encouraged to bring one of their own high-resolution images to receive one sample print from the latest PIXMA Pro or imagePROGRAF printers. (during show hours only)

CPS Lounge Hours during PhotoPlus Expo 2012:

10/24 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Pre-show hours available)10/25 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.10/26 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.10/27 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (equipment pick-up only)

 

• Sync Your Lightroom Collections With Your iPad, Automatically [How-To] –> read it here
• DSLR Video School: How to install and use Magic Lantern –> read it here
• Canon PowerShot D20 Digital Camera Review –> read it here
• The Ultimate Guide to Zone Focusing for Candid Street Photography –> read it here
• 10 Tips for Enjoying a Photo Walk –> read it here
• Review – Canon TS-E 24 f/3.5L II –> read it here
• Fascinating Facts About How Humans Perceive and React to Color –> read it here
• B&H Stops Some Items from Shipping to Canada –> read it here
• Canon 12.1 Megapixels PowerShot S110 Compact Review by Gizmodo With Rating 4/5 –> read it here
• What I’ve Learned About Photo Gear Over the Past 40 Years –> read it here
• Gorgeous Photos of Light Experiments Shot Using Ordinary Objects –> read it here
• Top 10 Sales Ranking Digital SLR Cameras Oct 22 2012 – #1 Canon EOS Rebel T3i –> read it here
• The Next Big Thing in the Photo World is Individual Licensing –> read it here
• ThrowMeApp: Use Your Smartphone for Camera Toss Photography –> read it here