It’s believed that come 2015, the idea of having a 8-, 12-, or even 20-megapixel image sensor in a camera or smartphone will be obsolete. That is, if Sony has their way. According to a new report, Sony is developing a 54-megapixel image sensor that could launch as early as 2015.  While Sony isn’t planning to abandon their current 24- and 36-megapixel sensors that are used in their newly announced full-frame cameras like the E-mount A7 and A73, it remains to be see which cameras would gain the new sensors. It’s also highly likely that Nikon will see these sensors used in their cameras as well. For those not familiar, Nikon is a big customer of Sony’s image sensors.

Another thing that makes these new image sensors unique beyond their megapixel count is their design. Unlike traditional image sensors that rely on the RGB (Bayer) pixel structure, these new chips will incorporate PDAF image sensors. This expansion of higher megapixel image sensors will likely then cause a ripple effect in Sony’s entire fleet that will see a rise in the megapixel count in all of Sony’s product. Of course Sony’s fleet of product, including their Xperia Z 1 are already no slouch, seeing how the thin smartphone already provides a 20.7-megapixel image sensor.

Discuss:

Do you think we need to keep further pushing the megapixel count or does the answer of better photos lie elsewhere?

[Via SonyAlphaRumors]