11-07-2012, 11:47 AM
[quote name='Bare' timestamp='1352288459' post='20869']
It's long living sensor because Canon is lagging behind Sony and Renesas in sensor manufacturing process. FF sensors for Canon are in 500nm process, the very same as used for sensor in original 5D. On the other side Nikon/Renesas for D4 use 250nm, and Sony for D800 sensor 180nm. It's difficult for Canon to add ADC on sensor or more megapixels on FF sensor if they remain at 500nm for FF sensors. They use 180nm for S100 sensor but it's question can they use it for bigger sensors.
[/quote]
You do not need smaller processes for higher resolution... Canon has been making prototype FF sensors with 30 and 50+ MPs for a a few years now (so production is not the biggest issue). Maybe you do need smaller structure chips for on chip ADC, I do not know. But I am guessing it is more a matter of patents of ideas and licensing that require to do things different.
It's long living sensor because Canon is lagging behind Sony and Renesas in sensor manufacturing process. FF sensors for Canon are in 500nm process, the very same as used for sensor in original 5D. On the other side Nikon/Renesas for D4 use 250nm, and Sony for D800 sensor 180nm. It's difficult for Canon to add ADC on sensor or more megapixels on FF sensor if they remain at 500nm for FF sensors. They use 180nm for S100 sensor but it's question can they use it for bigger sensors.
[/quote]
You do not need smaller processes for higher resolution... Canon has been making prototype FF sensors with 30 and 50+ MPs for a a few years now (so production is not the biggest issue). Maybe you do need smaller structure chips for on chip ADC, I do not know. But I am guessing it is more a matter of patents of ideas and licensing that require to do things different.