Canon Inc. has just made a groundbreaking announcement in the photography and imaging industry. The company has developed the world’s first ultra-high-sensitivity interchangeable-lens camera (ILC), the MS-500, which is equipped with a 1.0 inch Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor featuring the world’s highest pixel count of 3.2 megapixels.
This new camera utilizes SPAD sensors to achieve superb low-light performance, making it an ideal option for high-precision monitoring systems used in national borders, seaports, airports, train stations, power plants, and other key infrastructure facilities. The MS-500 is designed to quickly identify targets even under adverse conditions, including darkness in which human eyes cannot see, and from long distances.
The MS-500 is equipped with a 1.0 inch SPAD sensor that reduces noise, making it possible to capture clear, full-color HD images even in extreme low-light environments. When paired with Canon’s extensive range of broadcast lenses, which excel at super-telephoto image capture, the camera is capable of accurately capturing subjects with precision in extreme low-light environments, even from great distances.
The technology behind Canon’s SPAD sensors is based on “photon counting,” in which light particles that enter each individual pixel are counted. This allows every single photon to be digitally counted, making it possible to achieve zero noise during signal readout. This is a key advantage of SPAD sensors and allows the MS-500 to operate even under nighttime environments with no ambient starlight and to accurately detect subjects with minimal illumination and capture clear color images.
The MS-500 employs the bayonet lens mount (based on BTA S-1005B standards) which is widely used in the broadcast lens industry. This enables the camera to be used with Canon’s extensive range of broadcast lenses which feature superb optical performance. As a result, the camera is able to recognize and capture subjects that are several km away.
Canon plans to commence sales of the MS-500 in 2023. With its comprehensive imaging technologies that include optics, sensors, image processing, and image analysis, Canon is creating products that can surpass the limits of the human eye and contribute to the safety and security of society.
The MS-500 will be displayed as a reference exhibit at the Canon booth during the 2023 NAB Show for broadcast and filmmaking equipment, to be held in Las Vegas from Saturday, April 15 to Wednesday, April 19.
This is truly exciting news for professionals in a variety of fields. As the world’s first ultra-high-sensitivity interchangeable-lens camera equipped with a 1.0 inch SPAD sensor, the MS-500 is poised to revolutionize low-light photography and high-precision monitoring systems. Its ability to capture clear, full-color HD images in extreme low-light environments, paired with its capacity for accurate telephoto-range focal length capture, make it an exciting new option for professionals looking to capture images in challenging conditions.
