In my tests, 14 bits seem to be enough for single shots, but not when frame averaging is used with heavy shadow lifting.
Since readout is much faster with 14 bits, 14 bits could be more usable for gapless frame averaging.
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The 16-Bit Fallacy
- Thread starter SrMphoto
- Start date
Since readout is much faster with 14 bits, 14 bits could be more usable for gapless frame averaging.
buildbot
Well-known member
It might read the sensor out slower in extended mode? For slightly lower noise?
Is the data readout destructive? If the sample and hold is sufficiently stable, they could quantise the data multiple times to reduce ADC noise?
buildbot
Well-known member
No idea - It is on CCDs though, which do sample twice (I think - to reduce the DC bias, I believe).I think it is destructive in CMOS typically as well?
dougpeterson
Workshop Member
I think it’s better to think of it as shepherding the charge off than reading the data.
Hard to believe I wrote this in 2013… https://luminous-landscape.com/iq260-story/
You did but it's now hidden behind a paywall.
As you own the copyright you may want to post a download link to a pdf.
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I remember reading a more technical Phase One paper on the design of the IQ 260 sensor.
I need to search the World Wide Web to see if I can find something similar from Sony for the IQ4 150 sensor.
This thread has piqued my curiosity!
Here is the datasheet on the Sony IMX411AQR sensor for colour photography from the Sony website:
cunim
Well-known member
Interesting data sheet. So, what does the saturation signal spec mean? I think it reflects the photon well depth at some level of precision defined by variance of the signal across multiple tests at 0.4 sec exposure and using the slower of the two readout speeds? In that case this is not 16 bits as we would spec a grade 1 cooled CCD running with slow readout. 'Course, that's not what this chip is about. Al I really know is that I like how this chip performs in my IQ4. Have no idea whether that relates to the 16 bit thing or P1's secret sauce.