OmniVision's new OV50X is a 1-inch camera sensor with 8K HDR video recording

13 April 2025
The company says that the sensor offers the highest dynamic range in the industry.

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To add to the article:

- DCG stands for Dual Conversion Gain, and there, a single exposure is read out twice using two separate ADCs optimised for different gain settings.

- DAG stands for Dual Analogue Gain, and it's a mode where a single exposure is read out in (quite literally) two analogue gain settings at the same time. This isn't as effective as DCG at extending the dynamic range, but given the fact that this sensor supports 8K resolution readout using this HDR method but not DCG, I reckon this has a faster readout speed than DCG.

- LOFIC is a pixel structure where each photodiode is complemented with a reservoir capacitor, so any electrons overflowed from the photodiode will be captured by the capacitor, improving the highlight retention drastically. I suppose this also allows the sensor to use a longer shutter speed without losing highlights, therefore it could be used to avoid flickers and to improve shadow rendition.

OV50X is the first sensor to combine DSG and LOFIC, hence an unprecedentedly wide dynamic range for a small sensor size. Pretty great stuff.

    I liked this one, only if it had rgb layer instead of quad pixel.

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      • Anonymous
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      • 14 Apr 2025

      mkrgeo, 14 Apr 2025in the article it says it will go in production in Q3 2025,... moreType 1.0 is too big and needs to sacrifice design.
      Majority of brands are not willing to have ultra massive bumps ( 6-7mm thick).
      Only way to avoid this is to use wider FL like 17-19mm.

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        • Anonymous
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        • 14 Apr 2025

        AnonD-814624, 14 Apr 2025Some of the action modes work pretty well now even in indoo... moreBecause larger sensor handles higher iso better.
        Something like 1" or 1/1.28" can increase to 1600 or 3200 with much less impact compared to 1/1.5" , 1/1.7" or 1/2", while keeping shutter at 1/50s at night.

        Those scene recognition of old xperia Z ( M, C and E phones had too) had sport mode. Shutter was often 1/8000s or even 1/12000s.

        Manual mode of phones usually are capped at 1/8000s. While auto can sometimes even use 1/20000s , if you point against sun.

          in the article it says it will go in production in Q3 2025,so maybe pixel 11 because pixel 10 is almost here already

            Google, you should use this for the Pixel 10, and forget about Samsung and its 5-year-old sensors....

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              • AnonD-814624
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              • 14 Apr 2025

              vik457, 14 Apr 2025Huawei pura 80 ultra will use smartsens 1 inch type sensor ... moreIs it confirmed they worked with smartsens to design it?

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                • AnonD-814624
                • FXE
                • 14 Apr 2025

                Anonymous, 14 Apr 2025Shutter speed has zero to do with. It is about environmen... moreSome of the action modes work pretty well now even in indoor lighting. Obviously the image quality takes a hit but the quality is miles better than you'd get by just shooting in manual mode and increasing the shutter speed. Huawei's flagship phones do a very good job and Vivo is pretty good too in their special mode for this (forget what it's called). I don't know how they do it but there's definitely been a big improvement in this area in the last year or two. Tried the fastshot on the Xiaomi 15 and sports mode on the Oneplus 13 as well as I had those two for just under a week but it was a bit hit or miss on those two indoors

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                  • Anonymous
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                  • 14 Apr 2025

                  CargoJoe, 14 Apr 2025One thing other manufacturers can't do yet is faster s... moreShutter speed has zero to do with.
                  It is about environmental lighting.
                  Some brands drop shutter to 1/5s, 1/10s to avoid increasing iso.
                  Then this causes blurred if subject moves.

                  Indoor photos? Low iso + better texture at risk of blur or higher iso + poorer texture .. It is choice.

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                    • Anonymous
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                    • 14 Apr 2025

                    rizki1, 14 Apr 2025not as huge as SoC and display.. it's just $79 from th... moreRear camera system of iphone 16 pro costs $127.
                    Now imagine price if it had Type 1.0 or any exnor T.

                    Omnivision sensors are cheaper than Samsung, that are cheaper than Sony.
                    Entire market knows that.

                    If brands can save $10, $20 or $30 per unit by replacing lyt900 for ov50x, be sure they will. With all enhancements that ruin jpegs and waste capabilities of cmos, nobody will be noticing difference.

                    This is why vivo x100 ultra is only chinese phone currently above $500 with samsung oled . All other are boe, TCL, tiamna, china star now.
                    Price..

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                      • Anonymous
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                      • 14 Apr 2025

                      brsdrgn, 14 Apr 2025Lyt900 didn't have competitor and maybe having this on... moreCmos get more and more expensive evert year.
                      Even if omnivision asks 50% cheaper, Sony Semicon will not decrease price of lyt900.

                      SSS does not give discount to sensors used by Alpha, CineAlta and Xperia.
                      Imagine to other.

                      " Competion brings prices down " is as real as Easter Bunny and Santa Claus

                        vik457, 14 Apr 2025Huawei pura 80 ultra will use smartsens 1 inch type sensor ... moreGood to know!

                        I wonder who'll use it first...

                          brsdrgn, 14 Apr 2025Lyt900 didn't have competitor and maybe having this on... moreYes, a 200MP ISOCELL 1-inch sensor.

                            vik457, 14 Apr 2025It already arrived in b-list brandsYes, but not in mid range prices? Or?

                            I saw it in a Ulefone, but priced close to Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

                              One thing other manufacturers can't do yet is faster shutter speed which Sony nails at when processing is done right. It's one reason why when comparing the sensor on the Mi 13 to the 14, Omnivision still have motion blur on some of its photos while the Sony only missed one or two times. If Omnivision can fix that, and especially on their 1 inch sensor, they'll have a winner on their hand since it's not just gonna be cheaper but "made locally".

                                brsdrgn, 14 Apr 2025Lyt900 didn't have competitor and maybe having this on... moreHuawei pura 80 ultra will use smartsens 1 inch type sensor and ov50x will start mass production in q3 2025, so they won't be able to use it even if they wanted for pura 80 series.

                                  Anonymous, 14 Apr 2025Never. Price is huge. This is why chinese phones will b... morenot as huge as SoC and display.. it's just $79 from the Mi 12S Ultra BoM.

                                    Hey they posted my tip!

                                      Anonymous, 14 Apr 2025Never. Price is huge. This is why chinese phones will b... moreLyt900 didn't have competitor and maybe having this on the market will bring the price down.

                                      Samsung is known to be working on sth as well.

                                      I'd definitely like to see this new sensor and its capabilities.

                                      I read huawei will use it, not sure if this is correct though.

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                                        • Anonymous
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                                        • 14 Apr 2025

                                        rizki1, 14 Apr 2025new sensors keep coming.. when will IMX989 come to mid range?Never. Price is huge.
                                        This is why chinese phones will be leaving lyt900 in favor of this one.

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