Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
Canon Inc has announced the December release of a super high-sensitivity camera capable of shooting color video in the dark.
The ME20F-SH can shoot low-noise full HD video even in a low-illuminance environment in which it is difficult to discern objects with the naked eye. It is expected to be used for monitoring the occurrence of natural disasters, the lives of wild animals, etc.
The price of the camera is ¥3 million, excluding tax.
For the new camera, Canon made improvements to a 35mm full-size CMOS sensor that the company developed for shooting full HD video in 2013. The pixel of the sensor measures 19 x 19μm. The company applied its own technology to the pixel area and readout circuit.
It realizes a high sensitivity (minimum object illuminance: 0.0005lx or lower), which is equivalent to an ISO sensitivity of four million when the maximum gain is 75dB, and low noise. Therefore, it can recognize objects in the dark by using a weak light source such as starlight without artificial lighting or moonlight, Canon said.
The highest frame rate of the camera is 1,080/60p. But it is not possible to shoot video only with the camera; it needs to be connected to an external recorder and monitor with 3G/HD-SDI or HDMI output.
The lens of the ME20F-SH is interchangeable and uses the "EF" mount, which is the same as the mount of Canon's "EOS" series of digital cameras. It is possible to choose a lens with an appropriate angle of view and brightness in accordance with application or situation, the company said. The external dimensions and mass of the main body (excluding the lens) are approximately 102 x 113 x 116mm and 1.1kg, respectively.
© Japan Today
2 Comments
Login to comment
Peter Payne
"In the dark." Wink.
Cliffy
I had a Sony Camcorder (I think it is handycam, don't quite remember, but it uses those small tapes and has firewire port connection) that was able to shoot video in the dark a while back.