Samsung’s just revealed its latest high-resolution camera sensor, the ISOCELL HP5. This new 200MP component is claiming a pretty significant world first: it’s the very first to pack its pixels at a tiny 0.5µm (micrometres) each.
Now, you might think that such minuscule pixels would struggle to gather enough light, but Samsung reckons the HP5 is designed to deliver surprisingly bright shots even in tricky low-light situations. The sensor itself has a 1/1.56-inch footprint, and it leans on some clever tech to make those small pixels work harder.
They’re using things like Front Deep Trench Isolation (FDTI) and a Dual Vertical Transfer Gate (D-VTG), which essentially help each individual pixel pull in more light and detail. An improved DTI Center Cut technique is also said to contribute to brighter, clearer final images.
The claimed benefits are quite substantial. Samsung says you can expect a 150% boost in conversion gain and a reduction in random noise by anywhere from 3 to 40%, depending on the scene. For your zooming needs, the HP5 offers a native 2x in-sensor crop and can manage up to a 6x lossless zoom when paired with a 3x telephoto lens.
On the video front, it’s no slouch either. The sensor can handle 4K recording at a smooth 120 frames per second, 8K at 30fps, and super slow-motion 1080p at 240fps. For the photographers who like to get hands-on with their edits, it supports a wide range of RAW formats, all the way from 8-bit up to 14-bit.
The good news is you won’t have to wait long to see this in a handset. The ISOCELL HP5 is already in mass production and is expected to debut in several upcoming phones from brands such as Vivo.