Samsung has introduced the new 50 megapixel ISOCELL GN2 sensor with large pixels with a size of 1.4 micrometers (microns or μm). This sensor succeeds the ISOCELL GN1 sensor, which can be seen on many smartphones, and integrates a new Dual Pixel Pro technology. This technology uses 100 million phase-detection photodiodes that sense phases both vertically and horizontally for faster, more accurate autofocusing. It also supports staggered HDR for better details and low power consumption. According to Samsung, the new staggered HDR function has reduced energy consumption by up to 24 percent.
The South Korean electronics giant says the ISOCELL GN2 sensor is currently in mass production and no precise launch plans have been announced or which phone will integrate it first. The new ISOCELL GN2 sensor from Samsung has a 50 megapixel image sensor and is equipped with Smart ISO Pro to achieve better results in poor lighting conditions. The 1 / 1.12-inch ISOCELL-GN2 sensor can simulate a larger 2.8-micron pixel with four-pixel binning technology to absorb more light in low-light conditions. The sensor also offers the option of taking pictures with a resolution of 100 megapixels. The 100 megapixel mode rearranges the color pixels using an intelligent re-mosaic algorithm and creates three individual layers with 50 megapixel frames in green, red and blue. These images are then upscaled and merged to create a single photo with an ultra-high resolution of 100 megapixels.
According to Samsung, the Dual Pixel Pro technology of the Samsung ISOCELL GN2 sensor offers precise and fast autofocusing, making it the company’s most advanced phase detection autofocus solution to date. It offers focusing in all directions by dividing the pixels not only vertically as with dual pixels, but also diagonally. Dual Pixel Pro allows for improved focusing and tracking of moving objects in poor lighting conditions, as each pixel of the sensor acts as a focusing means. Plus, there’s a new staggered HDR feature built in that uses roller shutters over the same pixel arrays to take multiple pictures in short, medium and long exposures. By maximizing dynamic range, staggered HDR can provide richly detailed and vivid colors in highlights and dark shadows within the scene, the company said. According to Samsung, staggered HDR can reduce the energy consumption of a sensor by up to 24 percent compared to the real-time HDR mode of the predecessor.
Samsung’s new ISOCELL GN2 sensor also supports Smart ISO and Smart ISO Pro to enhance photosensitive photos. For example, Smart ISO Pro quickly captures multiple frames at high ISO values in extremely poor lighting conditions and processes them, increasing light sensitivity to nearly a million ISOs. The GN2 supports Full HD videos at 480 fps or 4K at 120 fps.
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