Pushing the limits

Yesterday Canon announced that it had developed the worlds first 120 megapixel camera.  That's right, I didn't mistakenly add a zero to that figure, I said 120 megapixel.

The new sensor is 13,280 x 9,184 pixels and is 7.5 times larger than the previous king of APS-H sensors which checked in at 16.1 million pixels.

Canon claims that this new technology can write out 9.5 frames per second easily keeping pace with the 7D's 8fps and almost keeping pace with the 1D4's 10fps.

The new sensor can also shoot full HD video at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels but the press release doesn't mention at what frame rate.  One must assume given the claimed speed of the sensor that a full 30fps is likely possible.

What's to be seen is how this new sensor stacks up against more modestly sized sensors in terms of dynamic range and high ISO performance.  The press release doesn't mention any new advancements in these areas.