Competition between camera brands is good news for one person. . . you! A few years back, brands were pushing the limits to squeeze every last megapixel of resolution out of their sensors and cameras, but after a while, technology seemed to just hit a ceiling, and brands shifted their focus (pardon the pun) to features such as AF, In Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS) and video specs.
More megapixels means bigger prints and more resolution.
However, slowly but surely, the drive to hook in new photographers with mind-blowing resolution has started up again. Canon stole a march on competitors back in 2015 with the 5DS/R, the first 50-megapixel DSLRs with Nikon following later with its own big-megapixel DSLR, the excellent 45. 7-megapixel D850. Sony pushed things forward in the mirrorless game with the 42-MP full-frame A7RIII and it’s Sony who has made the headlines this week as rumour sites report the brand has been working on a new full-frame sensor that would not only offer 60-megapixels of resolution, but
would also feature 16-channels, and facilitate 8K 60p video.
Big megapixel cameras are great news for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
The step forward the new Sony chip represents is mind-blowing, and (should all the rumours be accurate) will bring these unbelievable specifications to the everyday photographer. Traditionally, when one brand makes a big technological breakthrough, the competitor's R&D department is cranked into overdrive to get themselves back in the game and this spells even more good news for photographers as brands stack more and more features into camera bodies to win over new customers and make sure you’re carrying their kit.
So, we’re left asking the same question we pondered when the 5DS/R landed, and before that the 5DMkII and so on; what will the next big breakthrough be? What will be the next watershed moment and how far can the megapixel race go? If technology keeps advancing at its current rate, it isn’t unreasonable to assume we could see a 100-megapixel full-frame DSLR sensor within five years. Medium format cameras have already hit that milestone and are set to go even further, and sensor technology advancements are set to help crop sensor cameras make big megapixel gains too. What a great time to be a photographer!
. digitalrev.com2018-11-28 03:00