The new iPhone 4

[SmartWombat]

Image size: 5 Mpix "back-lit" sensor.

It's a coming trend.
Many sensor manufacturers are using them.

The basic idea is to produce an octopus eye, not a human eye.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evoluti...ionary_baggage
Instead of making the sensor cells and then putting all the control logic and switching circuits op top of it - don't try to squeeze the light in past all the wiring.


http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digital...2061250,00.htm

http://www.wikipatents.com/US-Patent...d-image-sensor

http://photo.net/photography-news-forum/00Ptl

Sony says 8 decibel improvement. 6 in sensitivity (gain) + 2 due to noise reduction.
8 decibels = 6.3x.
Thats 2 1/2 stops

[Franglais]

It's the first time I've seen anyone using a "back-lit" sensor in a consumer camera. I'm surprised that Apple have made such a good job of it (I'm not an Apple fan).

Here are a few test shots:

1. The D300 with 18-200 at 24mm
2. The iPhone4. It's overexposed but I don't think there's any way to correct it
3. The iPhone4 at 800 ISO 1/15s f2.4

All pictures full frame straight out of the camera except for the interior shot which I straightened up.