Chris T wrote:
One reads a great deal on the Net - vis a vis this problem, but one is left with a certain uncertainty. It would seem - the higher res one attains - the less the threshold, before the onset of noise. In other words, you are better off with a 12MP camera, than you are with a 24MP camera. And, conversely, you're better off with a 24MP camera, than you are with a 50MP camera, as - the higher you go up the ladder, the higher in density are the photo-sites - which, in turn - makes the onset of noise - that much sooner. Please comment, if you would like. And if you have a clear explanation of this phenomenon - please, elaborate, if you've a mind.
One reads a great deal on the Net - vis a vis this... (
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Nearly all noise in a RAW image fille is thermal noise from the sensor.
It is relate to two things sensitivity (ISO) and sensor temperature.
Cool the sensor cold enough: no more thermal noise.
In electronics, noise is measured by signal-to-noise ratio.
There is no
fundemental reason why higher MP sensors should
have more noise. HOWEVER, there may be an engineering reason:
inadequate cooling. This could cause slightly more noise when
shooting a high MP sensor at high frame rates.
Sensors located inside of cameras are difficult to cool adequately
But so far as I am aware, this has been a problem mainly in
lower-end cameras with "global shutter" sensors, not DSLRs
or high end mirrorless cameras with focal plane shutters.
Phase One makes 100MP backs for medium format film cameras
(real "pro" cameras, like the Miyama and Hasselblad).
These backs have cooling fans or thermoelectric
(Peltier effect) cooling systems.
The worst case for heat would be what al ot of peoople
are running out and buying:
* Mirroless camera with no mechanical shutter
* "Global shutter" sensor
* Fast frame rate
* EVF screen located inside the camera
Think about it: the camera is a small box, probably made
out of plastic. How you gonna cool it?
There are only four ways to move heat:
* Conduction
* Convection
* Radiation
* Active cooling (refrigeration)
None of them work well nside a small plasic box: How well
does plastic conduct heat, compared to say, copper? How's
the air flow throgh that box? If the sensor radiates heat, can
the IR light escape the box? And where you going to put a
refrigeration system?
The bottom of the sensor is covered with contacts--surface-mount
pads that get soldered to the board, so there's not even anywhere
to put a heat sink.
Phase One covers the entire back of the board in a heat ink. That's
not going to fit inside a camera.
Technology isn't about buzzwords--"The Cloud", "nanocrystals", etc---
it's about engineering. You can't get four pounds of crap into a
one-pound box no matter what the marketing department decides
to call it.
Maybe having a tiny, plastic camera wasn't really such a great idea
after all. Maybe that's one reason why Phase One's sensors are so
much superior to the ones the consumer camera companies are stuffing
inside of cameras.
Be careful what you wish for--because Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc. will
give it to you. Phase One, Leica, Hasselblad, Linhof, Sinar , Lockheed
Martin will not--they customers demand top performance, not top styling.