What if the GH3 uses a Sony sensor too? - Page 2

zapatista · #11 September 20th, 2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by With_Eyes_Unclouded

It has been mentioned before, what is your take on that and how would you react if it came to be true?

Personally I'd consider it a very very sad development, in the long run...

A recent high ISO testing video, showing great results:

Panasonic GH3 HIGH ISO testing - YouTube

So I think this is extremely unlikely. Sensor investment in R&D and more so, production is quite expensive/capital intensive. Panasonic giving this business to Sony would be kinda ridiculous. Panasonic is a much larger company than Sony on a top line (revenue) basis, even though they haven't been extremely profitable. More likely from my point of view would be Panasonic ending m43 support and further development for everything if they were bleeding cash from the camera operations.

With_Eyes_Unclouded · #12 September 20th, 2012, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zapatista

So I think this is extremely unlikely. Sensor investment in R&D and more so, production is quite expensive/capital intensive. Panasonic giving this business to Sony would be kinda ridiculous. Panasonic is a much larger company than Sony on a top line (revenue) basis, even though they haven't been extremely profitable. More likely from my point of view would be Panasonic ending m43 support and further development for everything if they were bleeding cash from the camera operations.

Panasonic a "much larger" company? Don't think so:

Fortune Global 500 2011: The World's Biggest Companies - Sony - SNE

Fortune Global 500 2011: The World's Biggest Companies - Panasonic - PC

(2011 data, please have a look at Sony's assets too)

The biggest overall player in this game is Samsung:

Fortune Global 500 2011: The World's Biggest Companies - Samsung Electronics

By comparison, Canon is puny:

Fortune Global 500 2011: The World's Biggest Companies - Canon - CAJ

Art · #13 September 20th, 2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jloden

I didn't realize they were both using Sony sensor also. That's just even more depressing. I hope Canon doesn't go that route also, or it'll become a market of "pick what body you want your Sony sensor in"

And now Leica and Hassleblad also turned to Sony. My understanding is when it comes to sensor manufacturing, the only way to keep the cost down is large scale production. I wonder if Canon will find itself not cost effective at some point and thus far leas competitive, let alone tiny Panasonic imaging division (Samsung doesn't count of course:)

jloden · #14 September 20th, 2012, 07:30 PM

Ouch.

With_Eyes_Unclouded · #15 September 20th, 2012, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

And now Leica and Hassleblad also turned to Sony.

Not Leica. Yet.

The 24MP MAX sensor inside the new Leica M is made by CMOSIS | Leica News & Rumors

RT_Panther · #16 September 20th, 2012, 07:37 PM

If I may be so bold to add this....
Sometimes the sensor is designed by a company but fabricated using the Sony sensor fabrication facilities. Case in point is the Nikon D3s sensor. That was designed by Nikon but fabricated using Sony's sensor production line....

Amin Sabet · #17 September 20th, 2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RT_Panther

If I may be so bold to add this....
Sometimes the sensor is designed by a company but fabricated using the Sony sensor fabrication facilities. Case in point is the Nikon D3s sensor. That was designed by Nikon but fabricated using Sony's sensor production line....

We don't really know what that means though. If a company designs slightly different microlenses or AA filter on an otherwise unchanged sensor, they call it a new sensor. Even a new JPEG engine working in tandem with the same sensor qualifies as a "new sensor" according to some of these companies. Basically everything is a "new sensor" to them, and they have a very low threshold to say "designed by us" when really they have little or no contribution to the sensor architecture.

RT_Panther · #18 September 20th, 2012, 07:45 PM

Amin,
Put it this way, that D3s sensor doesn't exist in a Sony product nor a Pentax product.

Why? - I say because it was exclusively designed by Nikon for Nikon. Problem was, Nikon had no way to fabricate (i.e. make them). Thus, Nikon pays Sony for the use of their facilities to design that unique sensor.

Whereas the D7000 shares the same Sony sensor with other Pentax & Sony bodies...

RT_Panther · #19 September 20th, 2012, 07:48 PM

Edit:
Another example is the D3100 sensor (designed by Nikon & fabricated on Sony sensor production lines).

That D3100 sensor isn't found on any Sony or Pentax body either......

With_Eyes_Unclouded · #20 September 20th, 2012, 07:50 PM

[OT]
Speaking of manufacturing facilities, the current state of affairs between China and Japan had the temporary cease of operation for Panasonic and Canon factories. Don't know how it would affect delivery dates, etc, just thought I'd mention it. Sorry for the off topic. [/OT]