Canon has announced a new sensor titled LI5030SA which is a full-frame CMOS global shutter, that is capable of shooting 60fps, has a high dynamic range (stops not specified), and a resolution of 5.7K. Could this be implemented on the Cinema EOS cameras?

Canon’s new 35mm full-frame sensor

As stated in the Canon press release (Google translated from Japanese)” Canon’s new 35mm full-frame CMOS image sensors feature global shutters, high pixel counts of approximately 19 megapixels and the ability to capture high-speed video up to approximately 58 frames per second (fps) when outputting with all effective pixels. The new sensors are suitable for a wide range of environments and applications”. The name of the sensor is LI5030SA.

5.7K and Global Shutter

Canon mentions that the LI5030SA image sensor is equipped with a global shutter function that enables accurate imaging of the subject without distortion, even when the subject or the camera itself is moving at high speed. In addition, the number of effective pixels is approximately 19 million (5,688 x 3,334), which is approximately 2.3 times that of 4K, enabling wide-field and high-resolution imaging. In addition, in order to address the problem of the frame rate dropping as the number of pixels increases, it takes time to read out. High-speed reading is possible (Google translated from Japanese). Watch Canon’s demonstration below:

Possible implementations

Although Canon mentions only industrial applications in the press release, there’s a possibility that this sensor and/or its technology will be implemented in cinema cameras as well, since FF, 5.7K of resolution, and global shutter are characteristics that are pretty well-needed in cinema cameras. Moreover, in the demonstration above, it seems that Canon has tried to emphasize the cinematic advantages of the LI5030SA, rather than its industrial applications. Although., it should be noted, that the video, image-wise, does not look so good. Anyway, with the announcement of the LI5030SA, Canon has approved that it’s capable of producing and manufacturing a high-resolution, large format, global shutter sensor. And that’s a big deal. since as explained, the tech can be applied to its Cinema EOS products.

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