[pinholecam]

I agree with Imageman.

Many lenses now don't project evenly from center to edge on a flat plane.
So even if the sensor is curved, not all lens designs will project evenly on the curvature of the curved sensor too.
In the end its back to having optical corrections on the lens/sensor to get the edges 'right'.

So old lenses with their own field curvature won't benefit form it.
New lenses not designed to "Sony's curve" will also not benefit from it.

It makes more sense for fixed lens cameras or new lenses designed for the curvature.
For the latter, it may not prove to be cheaper.
Might be easier though, since the optical path does not need as aggressive a correction onto a flat plane.
Remains to be seen though.

The other thing is sensor fabrication costs.
I doubt manufacturing of such a sensor is cheaper. (usually harder to get even distribution of the semicon material on a curved surface)
But that's for the manufacturer to work out and justify (and the customers to buy into it)

[Clavius]

I just can't imagine IBIS ever to work on a curved sensor. Then the sensor would have to glide along a similarly curved axis.

[jogiba]

While a high-resolution version was not provided, some may view this image as being 'historic', and others will appreciate the simple fact that Sony's curved sensor technology is not simply a concept in its early stages of development.

Of further interest are comments made by Sony indicating that - in the interest of an early practical appication - the first prototype may not have the 24 million pixel resolution one might expect from an RX1 follow-up (admittedly, we are relying on Google translation here, so do give us some room for error). Furthermore, comments from Sony indicate that it's difficult to design a zoom lens of 'high power' that works with the curved sensor. This comes as no surprise. Indeed, we mentioned earlier that field curvature changes with focal length of the lens (as well as other factors), and so one particular curvature can really only be ideally suited to one particular focal length.

So - to begin with anyway - Sony may have to rely on cropping and scaling, or digital zoom, for longer focal length coverage. The patents awarded to Sony last year for lens designs employing curved sensors certainly seem to indicate an emphasis on prime lenses, although one zoom lens design with curved sensor does exist (for a 1"-type sensor).

Digital zoom or not, we'd be excited to see a small, compact RX1 replacement with an even simpler lens design that provides great edge-to-edge, corner-to-corner performance. Wouldn't you?

UPDATED: Sony's curved sensors may allow for simpler lenses and better images: Digital Photography Review

[Imageman]

Wow


I didn't think the images would look that good

[Digitalis]

Sensors like this will only be of benefit to wide angle lenses - I don't think a curved sensor will ever incorporate this into a interchangeable lens camera. Because a curved sensor wouldn't work well with long telephoto lenses, Macro lenses wouldn't work either because of the amounts of flat field corrections they typically have. Many people will applaud this because if makes lens design simpler - but the curvature is only in one direction, there is still going to be problems with sagittal astigmatism.

[jogiba]

If the images that have surfaced in the Chinese forum digi-wo.com are legitimate it appears Sony is working on a phablet targeted at enthusiast photographers. The user who has posted the images claims to have further information about the device and says the photos show the Sony Xperia Z3X which is scheduled to hit the market sometime in 2015.

The device seems to feature the same glass surfaces and boxy design we already know from the Xperia Z1 and Z2 but sports a massive lens on its back. Despite the typically sleek smartphone design it is apparently possible to attach an external flash unit and viewfinder.

According to the forum post the Xperia Z3X's Android L OS will be powered by a 64bit Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC that is clocked at 2.86 GHz and 4GB of RAM. Images and other files can be stored on 16GB of internal storage. The screen is said to measure 6.14 inches, offers a QHD resolution and uses, a first in Sony smartphones, OLED technology. The camera image sensor is rumored to be Sony's new curved Exmor-RS IMX271SMK sensor unit that will apparently offer a resolution of 22MP, combined with a very fast F1.2 lens.

It is impossible to know if the information in the forum post is correct and the images might well be the creation of mobile photographer with decent Photoshop skills. On the other hand it would not be a surprise if Sony, after Nokia with the 808 and Lumia 1020 and Samsung with the Galaxy K, is also thinking about launching a device that offers more to enthusiast photographers than its current flagship models. What do you think about the Xperia Z3X? Would you order one?

Rumor: Sony might bring curved-sensor technology to smartphone: Connect




---------- Post added 07-24-14 at 08:53 AM ----------

The pattern is now pretty clear and these are the first devices that will almost certainly feature the new Sony curved sensor tech:

1) The 2/3 inch 22 Megpaixel curved sensor with f/1.2 lens will be used by the next Xperia Z3X. The images of the camera have been leaked by Digi-wo.com.

2) The Full Frame RX (RX2?) will feature a Full Frame curved sensor and a very compact 35mm f/1.8 Zeiss lens. it will become the most compact Full Frame ever made.

Both will hit the market in early 2015!

(SR4) First curved sensor for the Xperia Z3X and the New RX FF (on market in 2015). | sonyalpharumors

[Clavius]

A phone with an external flash... That sure is the ugliest contraption I've seen this year.

[JimmyDranox]

A phone with an external flash... That sure is the ugliest contraption I've seen this year.

+1. And even in the last 5 years. Grrr.

[Imageman]

And if we can have phones that have interchangeable lenses, a decent battery and a decent large sd card slot, plus a mirror and pentaprism, and a large grip and a tripod bush plus weather proofing plus the ability to take an external grip with extra battery. Then you would be talking.


Oh and by the way get rid of that stupid phone feature, I don't want to be called up while im composing

[Clavius]

And if we can have phones that have interchangeable lenses, a decent battery and a decent large sd card slot, plus a mirror and pentaprism, and a large grip and a tripod bush plus weather proofing plus the ability to take an external grip with extra battery. Then you would be talking.


Oh and by the way get rid of that stupid phone feature, I don't want to be called up while im composing

Yes, and a casette deck! With auto-reverse of course...

[Digitalis]

And if we can have phones that have interchangeable lenses, a decent battery and a decent large sd card slot, plus a mirror and pentaprism, and a large grip and a tripod bush plus weather proofing plus the ability to take an external grip with extra battery. Then you would be talking. Oh and by the way get rid of that stupid phone feature, I don't want to be called up while im composing

On the day this comes out we will probably all be literally decomposing when sony unveils a monstrosity like this.

[jogiba]

Here are more images of the Sony KW1 selfie camera which is the first camera using Sony’s new curved sensor tech!

This is also interesting for us because Sony stated they have developed a Full Frame curved sensor too. And that new Kw1 proves that kind of sensor is 100% ready for production. Let’s see that damn RX1s soon!

(SR5) More images of the strange selfie-camera with Sonys curved sensor (and specs confirmed). | sonyalpharumors

[lytrytyr]

Kodak were also known for their curved sensors:

"One of the most popular Brownie models was the Brownie 127, millions of which were sold between 1952 and 1967. The Brownie 127 was a simple bakelite camera for 127 film which featured a simple meniscus lens and a curved film plane to compensate for the deficiencies of the lens."

Brownie (camera) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Stavri]

Sony classifies their manufactured sensors into categories, their first tier and best performing ones are utilized exclusively on their own cameras....

[Digitalis]

Sony classifies their manufactured sensors into categories, their first tier and best performing ones are utilized exclusively on their own cameras

While it it certainly possible, I don't think they do this at least they wouldn't maintain this policy indefinitely. For starters it would tick manufacturers off and make sony a less attractive OEM for sensors. Also If you ever saw a comparison between the Nikon D3X and the Sony A99 the noise from the A99 had noticeably worse than the output from the Nikon SLR. You would think Sony would know how to design an appropriate image processing pipeline for their own A grade sensors wouldn't you?