Atomos 8K Sensor Growth Accomplished – “Sapphire F8”, Full Body, 8K60, World Shutter | Elevate Tech

Atomos Sapphire F8 is a brand new full-frame international shutter picture sensor developed by the Australian firm that may report as much as 8K 60fps, 4K 240fps or 2K 360fps. The sensor can be purported to have good energy effectivity with an influence consumption of simply 2W in 8K seize mode. Atomos is at the moment in discussions with digicam producers about utilizing the sensor of their upcoming cameras.

Australian video know-how firm Atomos, recognized primarily for its recorders and exterior screens, seems to be coming into totally new waters. Surprisingly, the corporate just lately introduced that it has accomplished improvement of its new 8K video sensor and is at the moment exploring commercialization. In different phrases, Atomos is now in talks with numerous digicam producers about utilizing the sensor of their upcoming cameras. The corporate is not going to manufacture the sensor in-house, however they declare to have partnered with a sensor manufacturing facility, so they’re prepared to begin the sensor manufacturing course of.

An attention-grabbing historic perspective, included within the press launch, is that 5 years in the past, Atomos acquired the mental property rights and technical crew of Grass Valley, a broadcast tools firm, recognized for its NLE Edius software program.

The Atomos Film Digicam That By no means Was

Now, as everyone knows, Atomos by no means made a digicam themselves. Externally, the corporate is sticking with exterior digicam recorders, however that is arguably an space that will not stay related for lengthy, with increasingly cameras able to recording edit-ready codecs like ProRes internally. That might be one of many explanation why Atomos initially needed to enter the digicam market. As Atomos CEO Trevor Elbourne revealed in an interview for PetaPixel just a few days in the past, the corporate was within the means of creating its personal film digicam just a few years in the past.

Nevertheless, as Elbourne mentioned, the event in the end took too lengthy and Atomos determined to cancel the digicam venture and determined to deal with the sensor itself. The choice was pushed by Blackmagic Design being quicker with its improvement and beating Atomos by coming into the digicam market earlier. At the moment, the corporate thought of that the market phase was too saturated for the Atomos digicam.

Atomos Sapphire F8 Sensor Specs

For the time being there’s not a lot data and specs accessible in regards to the new sensor. What we do know, due to the PetaPixel interview, is that the Sapphire F8 is a full-frame 17:9 facet ratio sensor with DCI 8K decision (8192 x 4320 pixels) and options international shutter know-how. The sensor can shoot uncropped 8K at as much as 60 frames per second, 4K at as much as 240fps, or 2K (1080p) at as much as 360fps.

Atomos CEO Trevor Elbourne claims the sensor has 15 stops of dynamic vary and is able to taking pictures HDR video utilizing line-by-line twin publicity (capturing quick and lengthy exposures of alternating traces to provide HDR pictures). Atomos additional claims that the sensor maintains full 12-bit ADC decision in all recording modes. In fact, as common, we are going to put the sensor by means of our rigorous and standardized CineD lab exams as quickly as we get our palms on a digicam that makes use of the sensor.

Vitality effectivity: much less warmth?

Curiously, the sensor is designed to be very power environment friendly. Elbourne claims that it solely has 2W energy consumption in 8K seize mode. Low energy consumption often comes hand in hand with lowered warmth era, so it will be attention-grabbing to see how the sensor compares when it comes to thermal dynamics. In concept it may imply smaller digicam our bodies with out the necessity for energetic cooling.

The higher power effectivity of the picture sensor additionally signifies that digicam producers can equip their cameras with a extra highly effective picture processor.

Are 8K sensors nonetheless uncommon?

Moreover, Atomos states within the press launch that “8K content material has been delayed as a result of, outdoors of huge digicam producers like Sony, proudly owning 8K sensor know-how is extraordinarily uncommon.” There are at the moment fairly just a few cameras that already shoot 8K or larger decision, a few of that are even comparatively inexpensive: Canon R5, Canon R5 C, Sony a1, Sony a7R V, Fujifilm X-H2 (CineD overview right here), Blackmagic URSA 12K, after which in fact a number of RED cameras.

As Atomos accurately factors out, most sensors are made by Sony. Due to this fact, it will make sense that different digicam corporations, which don’t develop their very own sensors, would have a free alternative. Albourne particularly talked about Panasonic.

Even when Atomos reaches an settlement with any of the digicam producers quickly, it might be years earlier than we see the sensor in a completed digicam. Nevertheless, it is good to see a low-power, high-resolution international shutter sensor changing into accessible to any digicam producer.

What do you consider the Atomos Sapphire F8 sensor? How related is 8K to you basically? Would you prefer to see it on a film digicam anytime quickly? Tell us within the feedback part under the article.

Supply: Atomos, PetaPixel, DPreview