Atomos has released another picture of its in-house developed (and mysterious) 8K global shutter sensor titled Sapphire. If this works, it might become the company’s saver.
Atomos Sapphire 8K Global Shutter Sensor
The Atomos Sapphire 8K Global Shutter Sensor was announced in November 2022. The company called it a “World Class” sensor. The Sapphire is a full-frame sensor that goes by the informal name “Sapphire 8K.” It offers DCI 8K (8192 x 4320), global shutter recording at up to 60fps. At 4K, the frame rate quadruples to 240fps, and at 1080 it delivers 360fps. The Sapphire F8 will have up to 15 stops of dynamic range with 12-bit capture across all capture modes. Atomos said that the company has been talking with camera companies in order to evaluate implementations.
“Innovation of the Year”
Furthermore, Sapphire 8K has earned the ‘Innovation of the Year’ at the “Lucie Technical Awards”. As stated: “The Lucie Technical Awards Advisory Board recognizes and rewards deserving companies and individuals who share a passion for making incredible imagery through innovative technology. The panel consists of editors, technology experts, writers, and industry professionals – all of whom have dedicated their careers to photography and the technology behind it”. As for Atomos, the company says that it still evaluating its options on how and where to implement the sensor.
Atomos’ saver?
Atomos has some challenging times. Hence, it needs some bonanza, and Sapphire 8K might help Atomos deliver the goods. Let’s sum up the turn of events:
- Their founder Jeromy Young decided to travel from a strict lockdown (pre-vaccine and during covid) and there was a large public outcry.
- That more or less forced the CEO to step down from the company but that’s when it got worse because the woman they hired has now ended up alleging corruption and a bad working culture at the company. This included knowingly shipping nonfunctioning products to boost apparent sales.
- In the aftermath of that, still going case, two of the directors then quit.
- After those directors left allegations of further bad accounting practices emerged and the stock is now suspended pending an audit.
- The stock is suspended from even trading pending the outcome of an audit which at the moment, they are refusing to do so.
Make sure to watch a very educating video by Frame Voyager, discussing Atomos’ history, and the Blackmagic Design connection:
Initial thoughts
We reached out to Atomos to get some news about the Sapphire 8K. The answer we got was: “There is nothing specific to add at the moment as we’re still evaluating our options”. However, we got a picture of the sensor. You will not find more info than that on the world wide web. Anyway, we hope that Sapphire 8K will help Atomos to recuperate from its “Miserable state” (as stated by The Australian Financial Review).
Just sell it to BM.
It is only 12 bits and 15 stops, that’s not top end, and the Panasonic organic sensor tech is going be even better. Unless they are going to sell it in a cheap camera, it might be a battle. Cheap camera yes. $1000-$2000AU. $2000-$3000+ id going be an increasing struggle among the not well known companies and BM’s 12k camera (which needs a Mk2 and Mk3 to shine to get people to it). Mobile phone sensors are shortly going to 16k, heading to 32k (700mp). 8k of similar quality doesn’t matter, quality 16 bit, 20 stop 96+ db snr does. We lack 8k pocket, micro and nano pov cameras on the low end. We lack such a pocket half the volume of the BM pocket.
Global shutter would be a big deal.
“The Sapphire 8K Global Shutter Sensor Might Become Atomos’ Saver”
The word you are looking for is “saviour”!