Canon New 35 mm Full-Frame CMOS Sensor Captures Video in the Dark

Canon Inc., a multinational corporation that manufactures imaging and optical products, has successfully manufactured and tested its new high-sensitivity 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor camera, exclusively designed for capturing video. Delivering low-noise and high-sensitivity imaging performance, the all new Canon 35 mm CMOS sensor camera helps in capturing full high-definition videos, even in extremely low-light environments.

Canon is a global manufacturer of consumer imaging products such as compact digital cameras, scanners, printers, binoculars, video camcorders, digital SLR and film SLR cameras and lenses. The company also has a business solutions division that offers document and print solutions for small and medium businesses, governments and large corporations. This includes color and black and white office printers, multifunctional printers, scanners, large format printers, color and black and white production printers and software support for these products.

With an extensive portfolio, Canon has developed its new CMOS sensor that features 19 microns square pixel size, which is almost more than 7.5 times that total surface areas of the pixels on CMOS sensor incorporated in Canon’s digital SLR cameras and top-of-the-line EOS-1D X. Furthermore, the pixels and readout circuitry of the sensor use advanced technologies that reduce noise and tends to improve as the size of pixels increases. Owing to latest video capturing technologies, the newly developed CMOS sensor enables shooting of high-quality and clearly visible video images even in environments of dim light with as much less as 0.03 lux of illumination. 

Image via NoFilmSchool

It also facilitates crystal clear video recording even in the brightness of a crescent moon -- the brightness level that is most difficult to perceive objects through the naked eye. While capturing videos of astral bodies, an electron-multiplying CCD that realizes almost the same level of perception as with the naked eye can capture in magnitude-six stars, whereas Canon’s latest CMOS sensor is efficient in capturing faint stars with magnitude of 8.5 or even above.

Canon uses a prototype camera with the newly developed sensor, thus facilitating capturing an extensive range of test videos such as Gemini meteor shower or footage captured in a room that is illuminated by light from only burning incense sticks, i.e. approximately 0.05 to 0.01 lux. With this, Canon is expecting to add future applications to the new CMOS sensor, such as natural and astronomical observation, use in security equipment or surveillance or support in medical research. With further innovations and development in CMOS sensors, Canon plans to expand the market for new imaging expressions.