Sony’s new camera sensor shoots incredible slow motion video

Thanks to the speed of the new sensor, it is able to minimize focal plane distortion that happens with fast moving objects. Notice how the train on the right shot with the new sensor retains its original shape. Image: Sony

Sony unveiled a new camera sensor that could add more tricks to the already “talented” smartphone. Just imagine being able to shoot slow motion videos at 1,000 frames per second.

Engadget reports that this new three-layer stacked CMOS sensor is around eight times faster than any chip currently available. It can shoot 1,000 fps in full HD, thanks to a two-layer sensor combined with high-speed DRAM layer. This assembly allows it to buffer images rapidly and capture 19.3-megapixel images in just 1/120th of a second. Sony says it is, “four times faster than conventional products.”

As point of comparison, the Google Pixel is only able to do 120 fps at full HD, and this is already considered one of the best slow-mo smartphones in the market.

Sony also stated that they managed to eliminate the noise that comes from putting DRAM next to an image chip by sandwiching it between the CMOS layer and circuits.

Since this sensor has just been released, there is still no word on when it will start appearing on smartphones. At most, it could take a year or two before manufacturers can integrate the sensor into their devices. Alfred Bayle