We got some additional technical details about that crazy Canon 250 Megapixel APS-H sensor presented by Canon on September 7. Harvest Imaging reports from the ISSCC meeting:

Hirofumi Totsuka of Canon presented a 250 Mpixel APS-H size imager : 1.5 um pixel pitch (4 sharing) made in 0.13 um technology node. The device is consuming 1.97 W at full resolution 5fps. An interesting build-in feature of this sensor is the following : ALL pixel signals are converted by column SS-ADCs with a single ramp, but in front of the ADC, each column has its own PGA that can be switched to 4x or 1x gain, depending on the signal level. So when the pixels are sampled, a first check is done to look whether the signal is above or below a particular reference level, and then the right gain of the PGA is set to 1x or 4x. Simple method, but I think that the issues pop up in the reconstruction of the signal at the cross-over point between the two settings of the PGA.

The camera prototype used to fit the new sensor was a mirrorless box. Wondering if Canon is going to use that sensor in a future “serious” mirrorless camera.

A group of friends launched a stratospheric balloon with five cameras from the Presidio in San Francisco, capturing sweeping views of the Bay Area. The balloon traveled south along the Pacific coast, bursts at an altitude of 91,470 ft, and lands near Salinas, over 100 miles away. The camera they used to shot these images were a Sony A7s.

And if something doesn’t work don’t get angry and make a viral video out of it: Dave Jones (EEVblog) “opened” his faulty 16-50mm OSS E-mount lens and shows us what’s inside:

Beware Fuji folks! You will have to suffer extra 30 days more before your new X-PRO2 will ship! According to BHphoto the first stock of cameras will ship out of their store on March 25. Fuji said the delay is caused by an unexpected high demand. But “sources” from Fujirumors said there is also firmware fix to be made that could be the real reason why Fuji delayed the shipment start.

Phase One and Alpa once again joinced forced and launched the A-series IQ3 100MP System. This is the world’s first 100+ megapixel mirrorless camera. Prepare to spend $50,000 to get both, the Alpa camera and the Phase One back!

Full details at phaseone.com/en/Products/A-Series/Introduction.aspx

Sony guys! You got your new toys and prepare to spend quite some money for those! On February 10 you can start to preorder the following new Sony stuff:
A6300 at BHphoto.
24-70mm f/2.8 GM FE at BHphoto.
70-200mm f/2.8 GM FE at BHphoto.
85mm f/1.4 GM FE at BHphoto.
FE 1.4x Teleconverter at BHphoto.
FE 2.0x Teleconverter BHphoto.

Sony responded to the huge request of new f/2.8 zoom and a fast portrait prime. But as usual this doesn’t come cheap. In the meantime check out the full press text here: