The new ultra-lowlight camera can detect individual photons
Canon has unveiled the MS-500 interchangeable lens camera, which features a brand-new SPAD image sensor with total night vision!
According to Canon, its new camera is a first in the world and is built around the new 1-inch “SPAD” imaging sensor that the business has been working on. The Canon MS-500 camera, which has a B4 interchangeable lens mount and will be available for purchase in 2023, is designed for broadcast use.
Although many people may associate the acronym SPAD with a politician’s special advisor, it also has another meaning. It stands for Single Photon Avalanche Diode in the world of imaging. The SPAD counts each entry rather than counting, as some claim, the number of photons that enter a pixel in a specific amount of time.
The name “avalanche,” though it sounds a little dramatic, refers to the electronic pulse that is created when each photon is amplified to a size that can be counted and recorded. The main benefit of this method is that there aren’t any stray photons, which means that there shouldn’t be any optical noise.
Canon’s sample use-case of the camera is in monitoring a seaport in the dark.
Canon’s SPAD sensor has an effective pixel count of 2.1 megapixels and a resolution of 3.2 megapixels, so it won’t immediately replace your primary camera. However, it is made for more specialized uses that call for the usage of super-telephoto broadcast lenses.
It has Full HD capabilities, and it’s no coincidence that the housing resembles the current Canon ME20F-SH, which already has 4 million ISO, so much. Additionally, it features a LAN (Ethernet) connection for monitoring security.
The B4 lens mount of the MS-500 adheres to the BTA S-1005B standard, allowing it to be used with lenses from Canon and other manufacturers to capture distant objects up to several kilometers away.
Canon’s comparison of a CMOS sensor and a SPAD shows how the SPAD increases the light signal.
Canon has been experimenting with the potential of SPAD for a while and has noticed the potential for reaching familiar image quality with a sensor that “requires only 1/10 of the imaging area.” This indicates that it’s likely we won’t see the tech again after the specialized MS-500. Canon is also considering the ramifications of taking pictures with a shutter speed of just a few picoseconds, as action enthusiasts are doubtless already considering.
The technology’s capacity to record color photos in ambient light as low as 0.007 lux (ambient starlight is roughly 0.02 lux) is now its key selling point.
Canon has stated that it will continue to invest in the technology, but has not yet provided a price. We believe the Canon ME20F-SH, which has a retail price of $20,000, is a solid ballpark indicator.
