Sony is all set to introduce smartphones with thinner, lighter and sharper cameras, with the launch of IMX 318 Exmore sensor.
According to Sony's official website, the new sensor promises a more compact size, greater image quality and higher performance. Sony plans to start shipping IMX 318 Exmore Sensor from May this year. Since Sony Xperia Z6 is speculated to be launched around that time, it may feature the all new IMX 318 Exmore sensor.
According to NDTV reports, Sony's latest chip shall be the industry's first stacked CMOS image sensor that has a built-in high-speed hybrid autofocus and triple axis electronic image stabilization. Sony mentions that IMX 318 has a stacked structure with the smallest unit pixels. This enables a compact picture delivery while maintaining a high 22.5 mega pixel resolution.
According to reports by Ecumenical News, USP of the new sensor lies in its high-speed hybrid auto focus. This auto focus is a combination of two different types and would have traditionally required external handling. However, the new IMX 318 Exmore has an inbuilt internal signal processor that shall handle camera's hybrid autofocus.
According to numerous reports, with the new sensor, users shall be able to focus on still images within 0.03 seconds. While recording videos, they shall be able to focus within 0.17 seconds. Image stabilization feature within the new sensor shall auto-correct pitch and roll during video recording. Most importantly, processing during image stabilization occurs within new sensor, reducing power consumption of handset.
Speculations suggest that with the new IMX 318 Exmore sensor, the camera can smoothly record high definition videos up to 240 fps, and 4K resolution videos up to 30 fps.
Prior to IMX 318, Sony had launched IMX 230 which had been used in Sony Xperia Z5. According to reports, Sony Xperia Z5 had tied up with Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ in terms of camera quality. If all works out according to plan, IMX 318 Exmore Sensor may ensure that Sony's handset cameras don't have to be tied at top position any more.
Watch the Sony Xperia Z6 concept trailer below: