Tiny camera shoots HDTV

The research kids in Germany's Fraunhofer Institute just announced a tiny new video camera capable of shooting at a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a variable frame rate up to 60 frames per second. The MicroHDTV is said to measure a scant 4 x 4 x 8-cm. So either that picture above is not to scale (a Euro is about the size of a US quarter) or they don't include the housing, lens, transmitter, etc. in their dimensions. We'll assume the former since it's said to be small enough to fit in a racing-car cockpit, helmet, or any other tiny space you'd like to broadcast HDTV from. It operates using "standard optical systems" and can be controlled via a web interface across the Internet. It'll be on display at CeBIT in march where we'll see what this baby can do.

[Nando @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:28AM]

Wow! HD + good framerate in such a small camera.

I hope they implement these for security.

[SnowB @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:37AM]

Apparently Engadget isn't too comfortable with the metric system.

The 1-Euro coin is 23.25mm in diameter (that's 2.325cm). Looking at the picture, it looks just about right that the case on the camera (excluding the lens) is approximately 2 coins x 2 coins x 4 coins in size.

[srw @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:38AM]

A 1 euro coin is 2.25cm in diameter and likely looks a little larger since it is shown in the foreground. The camera shown does appear to be roughly 2 coins high by 4 coins long.. so I think 4 X 4 X 8cm may be right (would have to be a pretty big helmet though).

[srw @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:40AM]

Uh.. like the other guy said.

[Rboyett @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:40AM]

I'm willing to bet the picture isn't going to be all that spectacular. The aperture opening is going to be tiny. All those pixels don't mean squat if light doesn't get to them.

[Joe V @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:54AM]

Unless I'm mistaken (entirely possible), that's not the coin for a whole Euro. It's the Euro-equivalent of a penny -- can't remember what they call it -- which is much smaller.

[tom @ Feb 2nd 2007 10:12AM]

Unfortunately, you ARE mistaken Joe. Thas called the Euro Cent and it is a lot smaller than that. and bronze in colour. Nice one on the camera tho, but the vid quality will be RUBBISH!

[Joe V @ Feb 2nd 2007 10:13AM]

Nope, I was wrong! In the words of Sideshow Bob: "Cheerfully withdrawn."

[Kieran Coghlan @ Feb 2nd 2007 10:40AM]

Not only will the vid quality be crap if there isn't ample light getting to the CCD, but I highly doubt that the 60Hz frame rate is available at 1080x1920 resolution. Note that nowhere is this specifically stated. They say 1080x1920 resolution and a variable frame rate up to 60Hz. I have yet to see a camera that doesn't require a drop in resolution as you increase the frame rate. I wouldn't be surprised if 1080p is at 24Hz only, and the resolution drops from there. 1080p/60 is really hard to do. If they did it in a camera that small, then congrats. I'll believe it when I see it (or rather when someone in the industry sees it and reports on it... Engadget, you listening? Check on those frame rates & resolutions for us, hmmm? thanks.)

[Doc_Chiron @ Jun 20th 2007 10:53PM]

Link below to the mfr's spec sheet.
The engadget article apparently only worked from the article he shows the link for. If you read carefully they say 1920x1080 and they say variable frame rate up to 60P but never at the same time. 1920x1080 tops out at 30F and 60P tops out at 1280x720.
www.iis.fraunhofer.de/fhg/Images/microhd_info_2006_2_tcm97-72196.pdf

[NovaLand @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:54AM]

Don't forget that these guys are everything u know about video of today! =) (Fraunhofer IIS MPEG anyone?)

Here are the specs anyway: http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/fhg/iis/EN/bf/bv/ksbs/microHD.jsp

[SamMalone @ Feb 2nd 2007 12:05PM]

testing comment feature

[Simon @ Feb 2nd 2007 1:31PM]

Thanks for the specs. So that's 1080p @ 30 Hz and 720p @ 60 Hz. Pretty amazing still. And I wouldn't be so quick about the image quality, these guys usually don't cut corners. So unless I see it, I assume this is the real deal. Though, the price will probably not be very "consumer-friendly" ...

[SamMalone2 @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:12PM]

1920x1080 does not mean anything. I can blow up a 320x240 image to 3200x2400 in a few clicks. Lots of sub-$100 6MP digital cameras do that.

[adelossa @ Feb 2nd 2007 5:56PM]

*predicts most orders will come from college dorms*