Sony's New Curved Sensor

Hat Tip: DIY Photography

Sony patented a curved camera sensor back in April.  The sensor has apparently reached the production stage.

The curved design apparently enhances the sensor's sensitivity, making it twice as sensitive at the edges of the sensor and 1.4 times as sensitive in the middle.  The benefit of increased sensitivity to light is fairly self-evident.  Even better, the increase in sensitivity should not increase noise.


The biggest drawback would seem to be the impact the design change would have on the ability to use existing lenses.  Current lenses are designed for use with a flat sensor.  Using one with the curved sensor would probably produce an image that only have parts of the image in focus.

It might be possible to address this issue with an adapter.

Using a current lens with the new curved senor could produce desirable effects for some photographers (vignetting or soft-focus on the edges).


Lenses designed to by used with the curved sensor wouldn't need some of the elements used by current lenses to address problems caused by using a flat sensor.  This means lenses designed for this sensor could use fewer elements or a less complex design (or both).

This could allow Sony (or other companies) to produce lenses that cost less than those used by competing cameras without having to compromise on image quality.