Cameras moving to “backside illumination” sensors

Camera market flipping to new sensor technology | Deep Tech – CNET News.

I saw a demo of BSI at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. BSI enabled decent, low noise photos to be taken in very poor light – such as outdoors at night.

All of the examples I have seen have been in still picture cameras, some of which also take video. I have not yet seen this technology in a “pure video” camera example, but I imagine that will change soon.

Still camera makers seem to be a in race to ever increasing gigapixel cameras, providing a resolution that exceeds that of the lens. I would not mind less resolution with better low light capability. Will that ever happen?

Panasonic Lumix GH-2

Howard : GH-2 : Nightingale
Image by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives via Flickr

A Lumix GH-2 landed here last week. I was swamped so was unable to begin using until the weekend.

On Saturday I did a short hike. Enjoyed taking one small camera (the GH-2 is small – no mirror!), a couple of lenses and a small tripod – and shooting both stills and video. (Photo is of an airplane named the GH-2 – couldn’t resist.)

Wow! The camera has amazed me – shooting both stills and video, plus using an old Minolta MC f/1.4 lens – about 35 years old I think – with an inexpensive micro four thirds adapter. For me, shooting with narrow depth of field is something I have not been able to do well as I mostly shoot video.

This changes everything. Spent the afternoon wandering around downtown shooting from the upper levels of parking garages to the streets below. Part of a future effort at creating the area’s first tilt lens effect “miniatures” video of the city.

This will be fun. No buyer’s remorse here. The GH-2 has exceeded my expectations and I have only scratched the surface of what it is capable of doing.

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