Panasonic has presented (again) an 8K prototype camera with a new 35MP S35 organic sensor, at the 4K/8K Technology Expo 2021 in Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan. This system was supposed to be operational at the Tokyo Olympics, however, Panasonic says it will take some time to execute an 8K production imaging apparatus with the organic sensor. 

Organic sensor technology

The project has begin in 2013 in a partnership with Fujifilm, with the novel purpose to develop an organic sensor. As stated by Kazuko Nishimura which is a Manager in the Technology Division (R&D Division), Panasonic Corporation: “We have developed a CMOS image sensor with an organic photoconductive film (OPF) laminated on pixel circuits, different from those of a conventional silicon image sensors, in which the organic thin film for photoelectric conversion and the charge storage part for signal charge accumulation are completely independent. The advantages of the OPF image sensor are significant. This technology realizes over 120 dB simultaneous-capture wide dynamic range, global shutter, and high saturation signals per unit square that is 10 dB higher than that of silicon image sensors with the global shutter function, without sacrificing pixel area. Moreover, we introduce about 8K4K high-resolution sensor technologies with 60fps high frame rate.  We believe these features of the OPF image sensor will contribute to leaps in the imaging and sensing fields”.

We have developed a CMOS image sensor with an organic photoconductive film (OPF) laminated on pixel circuits, different from those of conventional silicon image sensors, in which the organic thin film for photoelectric conversion and the charge storage part for signal charge accumulation are completely independent.

Kazuko Nishimura – Manager in the Technology Division (R&D Division), Panasonic Corporation

Was supposed to be implemented at the Tokyo Olympics

Panasonic demonstrated the 8K Organic Sensor technology back at IBC 2019. “With first commercial use anticipated at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the organic sensor technology has several competitive advantages. It comes with a wide dynamic range delivering more colors and higher quality images than ever before. The Electronic Neutral Density Filter (ENDF) can reduce or introduce light more smoothly than its traditional Optical Neutral Density (OND) counterparts and its innovative Global Shutter delivers advantages over current Rolling Shutters by removing the skew when shooting fast-moving images and eliminating flash-band from still camera lighting at live events and press conferences”. said one of the developers of the organic sensor. However, as far as we know, the sensor was not commercialized nor utilized ever since. Explore the interview below:

Spotted at the 4th 4K / 8K Video Technology Exhibition

The MONOist website reported that Panasonic presented the organic CMOS sensor under development at the “4th 4K / 8K Video Technology Exhibition” (October 27-29, 2021, Makuhari Messe), together with an 8K camera prototyped utilizing the sensor. At the exhibition, Panasonic showcased a 35-megapixel (8192 x 4320) organic CMOS sensor and a prototype of an 8K camera that incorporates an organic CMOS sensor. In addition, a demonstration was shown by displaying the output on an 8K TV in real-time, which showed very high detailed imagery (Google Translated from Japanese).

This technology realizes over 120 dB simultaneous-capture wide dynamic range, global shutter, and high saturation signals per unit square that is 10 dB higher than that of silicon image sensors with the global shutter function, without sacrificing pixel area.

Kazuko Nishimura – Manager in the Technology Division (R&D Division), Panasonic Corporation

For instance, check out the slide below which demonstrates a high dynamic range, captured by Panasonic 8K camera with the organic sensor.

For more examples, check out the source here. Anyway, now Panasonic admits that a working production model isn’t on the horizon, and further R&D is needed.