Samsung intros ISOCELL GN2 50MP image sensor

Samsung Electronics has introduced a new image sensor with Dual Pixel Pro technology and can offer up to 100MP imaging, the Samsung ISOCELL GN2.

The Samsung ISOCELL GN2 is a new 50MP image sensor with large 1.4um-sized pixels. The 1/1.12-inch sensor offers up to 100MP imaging by re-arranging the color pixels using an intelligent re-mosaic algorithm, creating three individual layers of 50MP frames in green, red, and blue. These frames are then up-scaled and merged to produce a single ultra-high 100MP resolution photograph.

This sensor is also the company’s first image sensor to offer Dual Pixel Pro, which is the company’s most advanced phase-detection auto-focus solution yet. It employs two photodiodes within every pixel of the image sensor to make use of the 100 million phase detecting agents for ultra-fast auto-focusing. Low-light focusing and tracking of moving objects are improved as well, as every pixel of the sensor works as focusing agents.

Another feature is staggered-HDR which increases dynamic range with its time-multiplexed HDR technology that uses rolling shutters over the same pixel arrays to capture multiple frames in short, middle, and long exposures. Staggered-HDR is able to reduce the energy consumption of a sensor by up to 24% when compared to the predecessor’s real-time HDR mode, contributing to the improved energy efficiency of the overall system.

The GN2 also comes with Smart ISO, which intelligently sets the sensor’s conversion gain, allowing the picture to be taken using an optimal ISO, and Smart ISO Pro, which uses an intra-scene dual conversion gain (iDCG) solution, takes readouts from both high and low ISO to instantly create high dynamic range images with less motion-artifacts.

As for video recording, the GN2 is capable of FHD videos at 480fps or 4K at 120fps.

The Samsung ISOCELL GN2 is currently in mass production.