Sony Shows Off a New Ultra-Sensitive CMOS Sensor Called ‘STARVIS’

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Sony just launched a new image sensor called the STARVIS that excels in capturing images in low-light environments. Designed for industrial applications — surveillance cameras, for example — the new backside-illuminated CMOS sensor boasts extremely high sensitivity that can capture usable images at night.

The increased night vision is thanks to the fact that Sony has extended the sensitivity of this sensor beyond the visible light range into the near-infrared range.

“It features a sensitivity of 2000 mV or more per 1 µm2, and realizes high picture quality in the visible-light and near infrared light regions,” Sony says.

Here’s a short (and somewhat strange) 1-minute video introducing the STARVIS and its capabilities:

“STARVIS!”

Sony sensors have been garnering a lot of praise in recent years for their low light capabilities, and the STARVIS is continuing that tradition. This launch comes less than two months after Canon launched its ME20F-SH, which has the ability to shoot at ISO 4,560,000.

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