New Sony IMX586 sensor

Tourist taking a photo of the Blue Mosque in Instanbul. © iStock.

Sony has introduced a new 48-megapixel sensor for smartphones. Current phones are usually equipped with 12 megapixel cameras (Apple, Samsung Galaxy), sometimes 20 megapixel. Sony’s IMX586 sensor is 6.4 x 4.8 mm with a pixel size of 0.8 micrometres. In low light, pixels are combined in arrays of 4 thanks to a Bayer filter, for a 12 megapixel resolution. In bright light, the image signal processor makes full use of the sensor’s pixel count to capture high-resolution images, or the abundance of captured image data for high-quality digital zooming. Expected to launch in September, it will probably come standard on the next generation of high-end phones.

⇨ Digital Photography Review, “Sony IMX586 smartphone sensor comes with 48MP and Quad Bayer design.”