Leica M9 Sensors

[dshfoto]

Truesense Imaging, formerly the Image Sensor Solutions (ISS) division of Eastman Kodak Company, was acquired by Platinum Equity through a transaction with Kodak that closed on November 7, 2011.

As an independent company, Truesense Imaging claims it will continue to provide a broad range of image sensor devices that combine high resolution, ultra-fast frame speeds, and unmatched image quality – features relied on by camera manufacturers around the world for use in their most demanding commercial, industrial, and professional imaging applications.

Will Leica now get it sensors from Truesense?
What does this mean for the future of the M digital cameras?

This new company hardly has a website up:
http://www.truesenseimaging.com/

 

[Steve Bellayr]

http://leicarumors.com/2012/02/15/what-sensor-will-leica-use-in-the-new-m10.aspx/

The above is from Leica Rumors ref. possible future sensor use.

 

[jsrockit]

Old news... and I don't think anyone knows the answer. Leica did say that they believed that CMOS was the future.

http://leicarumors.com/2011/10/25/interesting-interview-with-stefan-daniel.aspx/

 

[dshfoto]

It may be old news, but I personally like the look of the Kodak sensors over the Canon, even with Leica R lenses. (Comparison was with an R8+DMR back.)
I don't see how Leica can use other than CCD sensors in a new M or sensor that are different than an S2. Are the M8's and M9's the last of the CCD M's?
Maybe no more M's, just as no more R's.

Hasselblad uses 40MP and 50MP sensors made by Kodak, and a 60MP sensor unit made by Dalsa. If Leica goes CMOS, then why not just get any digital body, and a lens adapter?

 

[dave lackey]

The sky is falling again? Why don't we just wait until Photokina and go from there? In the meantime, I am gearing up for another project and taking pictures for fun! No worries here.🙂

Film is where it is at right now. The M9/10 can wait awhile.

 

[sojournerphoto]

... If Leica goes CMOS, then why not just get any digital body, and a lens adapter?

Not sure this is the point really. The M9 doesn't sell because it has a CCD sensor and no AA filter. it sells, to me at elast, because it is small, full frame and uses my rf lenses in a true rf body.

Last night I was idly flicking through my lightroom catalogue and 1Ds3 files - aargh, CMOS - are no worse than M9 files as far as I can see, and better in some ways! But somewhere between 70% and 90% of the time I'd rather carry the Leica (or M at least)🙂

Mike

 

[jarski]

wish Leica had bought Kodak's sensor division. now some Gordon Gekko is sitting on top of it, thinking $$$ first, and R&D last. positive thing is we might get M10 earlier than Leica otherwise would have "hurried" it 🙂

 

[jsrockit]

If Leica goes CMOS, then why not just get any digital body, and a lens adapter?

You can't be saying that the only reason people buy a M8 or M9 is because it has a Kodak CCD... 😱

 

[efix]

You can't be saying that the only reason people buy a M8 or M9 is because it has a Kodak CCD... 😱

It definitely is the reason why I'm not going to switch to anything CMOS based in the near future. The image quality of the M8 at base ISO is still unbeaten.

 

[250swb]

As an independent company, Truesense Imaging claims it will continue to provide a broad range of image sensor devices.......

A business buys another business because it has a product line and a customer base that make it a viable business. Selling sensors is not going to be profitable if they drop the very sensors that the customers want.

Steve

 

[Lauffray]

I'm sorry, but what's so bad about a CMOS sensor ?

 

[sojournerphoto]

I'm sorry, but what's so bad about a CMOS sensor ?

Here's a comparison

 

[jsrockit]

It definitely is the reason why I'm not going to switch to anything CMOS based in the near future. The image quality of the M8 at base ISO is still unbeaten.

I've come to find, as a user of both CCD (M8 in the past, M9 now) and CMOS (Fuji X100) sensors, that if I make a good photograph... it doesn't really matter which one I used. They both look fantastic to me.

 

[Lauffray]

Thanks for the article, but I didn't understand anything 😛

 

[BobYIL]

Here's a comparison

Probably for 2006-2007, for today grossly changed. For example "System Noise: CCD-Low, CMOS-Moderate" 😀 CMOS as of 2012 claiming ISO 6400 - 12800 as norm.

Sensor technology is developing rapidly. According to Dr. Eric Fossum we soon will see 1-micron technology also in the APS-C, even FF formats, meaning over 200MP and half-GP respectively although no available lenses would match the capabilities of such sensors; the point is to get rid of the low-pass (AA) filters completely. Through binning hi-ISO characteristics will be maintained (even without binning the D800 is claimed as only 1/2 stop worse than the D4!! Yes, also the processors in two years have progressed this much).. BTW, one-micron technology is available today in some of the P&S cameras; see how they squeeze 16MP into a lentil-size sensor or 41MP in the Nokia 808!!

 

[sojournerphoto]

Probably for 2006-2007, for today grossly changed. For example "System Noise: CCD-Low, CMOS-Moderate" 😀 CMOS as of 2012 claiming ISO 6400 - 12800 as norm.

Sensor technology is developing rapidly. According to Dr. Eric Fossum we soon will see 1-micron technology also in the APS-C, even FF formats, meaning over 200MP and half-GP respectively although no available lenses would match the capabilities of such sensors; the point is to get rid of the low-pass (AA) filters completely. Through binning hi-ISO characteristics will be maintained (even without binning the D800 is claimed as only 1/2 stop worse than the D4!! Yes, also the processors in two years have progressed this much).. BTW, one-micron technology is available today in some of the P&S cameras; see how they squeeze 16MP into a lentil-size sensor or 41MP in the Nokia 808!!

Yes, the article was the first that I came across that seemed easily readable🙂

The Nokia 808 sensor could have a much bigger future