[stevielee @ Mar 27th 2007 12:56PM]

The Sensor size has much to do about image quality. The tiny 1/18" sensors in most P&S's
have far less DR, High ISO performance (noise), and overall resolution than the larger
DSLR sensors of 23-24mm (cropped), or the Full Frame (35mm film size) CMOS sensors on Canon's 5D and the 1DsMark II.
Difraction only comes in at extremely tight apertures (usually F16 and above), and has more to do with the lens than the sensors.
This new samsung chip is most likely going to be used for camera phones and other handheld devises and probably some P&S's.
Unless it has some "revolutionary" new kind of technology that can increase DR, IQ and still maintain high ISO performance, I don't think you'll be seing then in any pro or advanced prosumer DSLR's anytime soon...

[Dan @ Jun 7th 2007 6:43AM]

You're comparing a mass produced small sensors from consumer plants, versus expensive professional sensors, they're bigger and more expensive, and more refined in their R&D process, smaller photodiodes are much more difficult to process, and they have less R&D and are much cheaper cameras, and using a cheaper fabrication process. duh.