NEC develops 8MP CMOS sensor for cameraphones

While LG's ambitious plans didn't exactly pan out in 2005, the idea of upping those megapixels in mainstream cameraphones sure is getting a lot of attention today. Shortly after Kodak announced its plan to unveil a five-megapixel iteration for future phones, NEC is hitting back with a development of its own. Apparently, the company is already shipping samples of a "system chip capable of processing cameraphone images at resolutions of up to eight-megapixels," which even includes "image stabilization circuitry as an option." Best of all, the CE131 sample device is priced at just ¥4,000 ($33), and hopefully that cost will diminish even further as mass production goes forward in October. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

[Carbonize @ Jun 25th 2007 7:59PM]

All this will do is mean you need bigger memory capacity/cards and given the fact that most people wouldn't notice the difference in anything over 3.2 once resized to something sensible (ie viewable on a screen or printed) whats the point?

[Brandon @ Jun 25th 2007 8:06PM]

the point is that when I transfer the pic to my pc and decide to print it out or blow it up, it will still be clear.

[Carbonize @ Jun 25th 2007 9:00PM]

Blow up an 8 megapixel image? A 1024x768 monitor is not even 1 mega pixel so even a 2 megapixel image would be larger than your screen. As to printing it out a 3.2 megapixel image is the same quality as a film photograph printed out even when it is a 12x10 (inch) print.

As you can see every other post so far, apart from yours, agrees with me that more mega pixels is just a gimmick the trap people who think more is better.

[Jon @ Jun 25th 2007 9:11PM]

Cropping. The more pixels the better. But bigger sensor and better lens matters too.

[mullingitover @ Jun 25th 2007 8:14PM]

It's really unfortunate that manufacturers are chasing megapixels. It doesn't matter if they cram a 24-megapixel sensor into the next razr: without quality optics the pictures will continue to be garbage. Give me a phone with a 1mp sensor that lets me choose aperture, ISO, shutter speed, and make a lens that can focus. Throw in a couple LEDs for decent lighting. It'll blow away any shot an 11 megapixel sensor takes with the current industry standard cameraphone optics.

[Alvin @ Jun 25th 2007 8:16PM]

You could have an amazing 50 megapixel sensor stuffed into a cameraphone and it would still produce the worst pictures in the world. I hate the megapixel game. It's like saying you have a 500HP engine in your car, but the wheels are made out of plastic. Without a good (large) lens, a large sensor, and quality image processing electronics (i.e. things that could not fit into a phone), more megapixels only benefits those marketing the sensor/phone.

[Johan S @ Jun 25th 2007 8:31PM]

They need to boost the dynamic range (and sensitivity) of cameraphone sensors.

You don't need a large lens if your sensor is very sensitive because it will react to less light. In addition, the exposure time can be reduced (indirect benefit of that is less shaking too).

[craig @ Jun 25th 2007 8:57PM]

"They need to boost the dynamic range (and sensitivity) of cameraphone sensors.

You don't need a large lens if your sensor is very sensitive because it will react to less light."

In order to do that they need to make the photosites bigger. When the photosites get bigger, the sensor gets bigger. When the sensor gets bigger, the focal length gets longer. When the focal length gets longer, the aperture gets bigger. When the focal length and aperture get larger, then lens gets bigger.

To increase the dynamic range of cameraphone sensors you need a bigger sensor and a bigger lens. It has nothing to do with light sensitivity.

[Carbonize @ Jun 25th 2007 9:02PM]

As reported (well reposted) by Enagdget a week or two ago a company inKorea claims to have made a sensor that takes colour photos even at 1 lux.

[Rusty @ Jun 25th 2007 8:34PM]

The only reason they don't manufacture a good quality 2-4 megapixel sensor is because 99% of consumers are idiots.
You've seen them in big box electronic stores. When I'm really bored, I sneak around them and listen to the "ma and paw" conversations. "Honey, look at this one, it's the same price as this one but has more X". One is name brand, the other sounds like something you'd throw up after an all night drinking binge.
The cellphone/camera megapixel race will continue, sadly, until consumers wise up, which I doubt will ever come soon enough for me.

[Kei @ Jun 25th 2007 9:15PM]

NEC 'did' develop SMS texting so this would be another great leap if they do it properly.

[humpty @ Jun 25th 2007 10:06PM]

The 50 cent, plastic lens on most camera phones will not even resolve 8 mp... some entry level dslr lenses have trouble doing this on an apsc sensor.

This is completely worthless.

[humpty @ Jun 25th 2007 10:06PM]

The 50 cent, plastic lens on most camera phones will not even resolve 8 mp... some entry level dslr lenses have trouble doing this on an apsc sensor.

This is completely worthless.

[Mr. B @ Jun 25th 2007 10:26PM]

How about a 3MP sensor that doesn't suck instead, rather than propogating the megapixel myth.

[t-bone @ Jun 26th 2007 12:40AM]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks this is stupid. It's nice and all that the sensor is pretty powerful and will be ready for some nice optics, but until it gets nice optics it is pretty useless.