Not long after it was revealed that Atomos was creating its own cinema camera sensor, more details have emerged from an exclusive interview by PetaPixel with Atomos CEO Trevor Elbourne. The new sensor, dubbed “Sapphire F8,” was developed in-house with a global shutter and was capable of 12-bit capture with up to 15 stops of dynamic range.
High-Resolution, High-Speed
The Atomos Sapphire F8 sensor is said to capture DCI 8K video at up to 60 frames per second, with secondary resolutions of 4K at 240 frames per second, or 1080p HD video at up to 360 frames per second.
“Across all the modes, including high-resolution 8K, we maintain full 12-bit ADC resolution across the entire operating range. Often you trade off ADC precision, but we don’t do that. That’s fairly unique,” Elbourne told PetaPixel.
Sapphire also offers a wide screen 17x9 aspect ratio and is capable of supporting HDR video through a line-by-line dual exposure technique that alternates between short and long exposures to produce an HDR video workflow. It’s like it takes advantage of the interlacing, but takes it to the next logical step. An evolution of the technology, if you will.
High-resolution, high-speedCredit: Atomos via PetaPixel
Low Power, Low Heat
Elbourne also said that the design is very stingy when it comes to power consumption, which is rated to be about two watts when shooting at full 8K resolution. The low power draw means lower heat coming off the sensor, and as such, longer video recording and battery life.
The design also translates into a smaller camera body that doesn’t require additional active cooling fans, keeping the design very quiet.
“You can give more power to other features in the same form factor. Lower power gives you more design options,” Elbourne told PetaPixel.
The design enables camera makers to add additional features, including a more powerful image processor or other features that filmmakers have been asking camera manufacturers for.
Will this be the ARM chip of image sensors?Credit: Atomos via PetaPixel
An Atomos Cinema Camera
Speaking of making cameras, while it has been reported that Atomos has been shopping the sensor around to manufacturers, the interview also provided details on a cinema camera that the Australian-based company was developing back in the mid-2010s.
Atomos had put together a team of former Canon and Sony engineers who were developing a camera with plans to enter the market.
Credit: Atomos via PetaPixel
However, that was before Blackmagic entered the camera business, which caused the company to cancel its plans to enter the market with its own cinema camera.
“Blackmagic was getting a lot of market momentum, and the opportunity for someone else to come in with a new camera that was doing very similar things and work in a similar market segment meant it was getting a bit crowded and we thought the opportunity was diminishing,” Elbourne said.
The original Super 16 Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera
To that end, Atomos abandoned its camera project, but continued the long-term development of its image sensor, and then looked for opportunities to commercialize the design once completed. With Sapphire F8 development completed, Atomos has partnered with a manufacturer and is seeking camera manufacturers who would rather have a more independent sensor provider.
“A lot of camera makers don’t really have access to cutting-edge, state-of-the-art sensors, because if you’re a Panasonic, for example, how do you source these sensors? Well, you go to Sony. And you’re at the mercy of whatever Sony is going to provide to you,” Elbourne told PetaPixel. “Sony doesn’t want Panasonic, ultimately, to make better cameras than they do.”
The Future for Sapphire
Even though Atomos is ready to go with providing a state-of-the-art 8K image sensor, it could be a few years before it is available inside a camera design. And by then, will it be obsolete? Perhaps. However, by then, Atomos could be ready to take the next steps with a next-generation model. The roadmap is already in place if they can get a camera partner to join in.
For once it's nice to see a sensor that's not coming from a company that already makes cameras. Unlike Blackmagic Design and its in-house sensor, Atomos isn't looking to keep it locked inside its own camera. That means more tools and more options for creatives, and that makes us excited about the possibilities.
Let us know what you think of this development from Atomos, and shout out to PetaPixel for the amazing interview.
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Source: PetaPixel
