Canon introduces 410MP Full-Frame sensor

Canon has unveiled its 410-megapixel full-frame image sensor at the Shanghai International Photographic Equipment and Digital Imaging Exhibition (P&I) in China last week.

Initially announced in January, the catchily-titled LI8030SA sensor sets a new high for pixel count in a full-frame format.

The P&I exhibition marked the first public display of the sensor, and Canon has confirmed it has begun accepting inquiries from interested parties.

Unlike many high-resolution sensors, which are typically medium format or larger, the LI8030SA fits 410 million pixels into a 35mm full-frame format, making it compatible with standard full-frame lenses.

The sensor produces images at a resolution of 24,592 × 16,704 pixels, which is considerably higher than typical resolutions like Full HD or 8K. It can capture full-resolution images at up to 8 fps and 100MP video at 24p using pixel binning.

Despite this, the new sensor is primarily targeted at scientific uses and is not expected to appear in consumer cameras due to its specialised use. But even in its infancy, the technology has huge potential to influence future advancements in high-resolution sensors, making it one to watch in the future.