The Canon iVIS HV10 high-definition HDV camcorder was released in September 2006. In order to realize broadcast-quality HD video on a camcorder, images must be produced with the same pixel count as HDTV broadcasts -: 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Canon's choice for bringing HD performance to its camcorders was a CMOS sensor, an industry first.
The chip itself measures 7.8 by 7.6 mm, offering an effective pixel area of 6.6 square millimeters(diagonal). Three chips fit across a nickel, which is about 2 cm in diameter. But inside, it's an imaging powerhouse with nearly 2 megapixels for video and 3 megapixels for still images.
How well did the developers solve the challenges in stepping up to HD-increased processing speeds, CCD-quality pixel performance, and effective noise reduction? Here's the inside scoop from experts in product development, process development, and image processing.
The Faces Behind the Magic
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- Akira Ishizaki
- Device planning
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- Hisataka Hirose
- Image processing
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- Ryuichi Mishima
- Process development
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- Tomoyuki Noda
- Product development
- Interview and story
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- Noriyasu Mitomi
- Born in 1958 in Fukushima, Noriyasu Mitomi is a freelance journalist who has served as an editor for various publications, including speciality magazines targeting regional government employees, and introducing regional events. As a technical writer, he has written and edited manuals for word processors, computers, printers, and other products.
