“OmniVision, Apple’s current supplier for the 3.2-megapixel camera in the iPhone 3GS, has reportedly been given orders for its second sensor upgrade in a year with expectation that an iPhone using the higher resolution will ship in the second half of 2010,” Electronista reports. “Production of the 5-megapixel sensors could start as soon as winter 2010.”
Electronista reports, “Technical details of the sensor weren’t provided in the DigiTimes tip, but a potential candidate is the OV5650. The sensor echoes Apple’s emphasis on image quality over resolution as it should both handle better in low light and generate less noise. It will also be responsive enough to handle video recording at 1080p, but there’s no signs as of yet that Apple will upgrade its video capture features.”
More info in the full article here.
I’m waiting for that.
Please put a camera on the iPod touch apple!
LOL 5MP of camera.
Winter 2010 will be too late for the next iPhone.
Quantity over quality? not in apple.
Mi 1st gen iPhone takes a lot better pictures that some 5mp SONYs cybershoots and LG phones with 8mp cameras.
I think apple will focus more in the graphics and processing power and finally will see the work from P.A semi (I hope)
Who cares?
Megapixels are only a number, which means very little when you talk about the quality of a digital camera.
And as if a phone camera would ever compete against a real camera (even a point-and-shot one).
I have no doubt, if this 5MP sensor makes its way to the iPhone, it will also have (auto)focus lens (with manual focus option), and will most likely capture at most 720p HD video.
It is fascinating how so many people are obsessed with “full HD” resolution of 1080, with manufacturers gladly playing into this obsession, that when they see 720p (such as in AppleTV), they immediately voice their disappointment.
Well, I have one of those consumer 1080p AVCHD camcorders (Canon’s HF-100), and have tried some newer, better ones. I compared footage from a 1080p camcorder (directly hooked up to HDMI) with footage of a ripped Blu-ray disc, re-converted and re-encoded into 720p. The 720 footage derived from that pristine 1080p blu-ray original looks much sharper and better than native 1080p camcorder footage (without any prior conversion).
There is absolutely no chance any mobile phone sensor could produce 1080p footage that will look nearly as good and as sharp as some quality 720p HD material.
Jobs and his team know the reality. They simply don’t buy into the numbers hype (which is why AppleTV doesn’t do 1080 but 720p instead, and iPhone barely does 3MP). They instead deliver quality with reasonable numbers.
While vast majority of us are subconsciously obsessed by these numbers (and will ALWAYS pause at lesser numbers), we should really acknowledge AppleTV’s superior image quality over our common cable-box DVR (wthich delivers 1080i), and iPhone’s 3MP (even prior 2MP) images and their superior quality over 5MP (even 8MP) Nokia, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson.
Luckily, Apple does NOT have to play the numbers game. For Apple’s products, megapixel numbers are never the differentiator, so they can afford to put out numbers that might (and often do) disappoint people, until they actually see the results.
When 3GS came out with the video-capturing capability for the first time, an ABC TV reporter went out and did a field report with it. The video was used in live TV news broadcast, and it looked incredibly good. It clearly wasn’t one of those cellphone candid user videos often broadcast when someone captures a robbery, police brutality, or celebrity indiscretion. This video looked like it was a field report, shot and edited professionally.
There is the difference between Apple and others. They won’t care about what specs they can put on the box. Nothing is done half-@$$ed. If a feature is to be done, it will be done right.
Which is why video capturing is NOT available on older iPhones, even though they have been proven by hackers to be capable of doing it. The actual quality of that video is way below Apple standards.
Looking forward to this new sensor. I’m sure the results will be even greater than the 3GS.
I’ve been very happy with the picture quality of the camera on my 3G s – especially with outdoor shots.
i would prefer a faster shutter speed (less blurring) than more mega pixels as this will increase the versatility of the camera and i could do without by compact for those times i don’t want to lug around my DSLR
apple is slacking on iphone camera…how about an LED flash? that would be nice. or maybe the ability to zoom? you know, all the features that EVERYONE of my Verizon phones had? for being the best phone on the market, the camera is certainly lackluster AT BEST
What’s really fascinating is how all the hatred of AT&T;and their crappy service, dropped calls, poor voice quality, lost signals, few bars, lost voice mails or whatever complaints can be so quickly tossed aside by a simple story as “iPhone to have 5 Mega Pixel Camera!”
Then everybody goes into their, pro or con viewpoints of a 5 MP Camera on the iPhone or need for a flash or a front facing camera. For what? So when you get it, you go back to saying I hate AT&T;and their crappy service for absolutely ruining the iPhone experience?
Out of all the replies I have read from the various Rumor/News sites that posted the 5 MP Camera for the iPhone rumor, did I come across one saying…
“Big Deal! Who Cares!! Of all the things I wish the iPhone had regarding internals and specs, I wish Apple would put a miniature AT&T;MicroCell like contracption to increase AT&T;signal strength, since AT&T;is apparently not doing enough, fast enough to improve the network, seeing that AT&T;is the sole carrier for the iPhone for now and then I wouldn’t have to watch on SNL a “news” skit about the iPhone challenge of being a phone!
So, we’ll get our 5MP iPhone camera and then it’s back to AT&T;sucks, I wish the iPhone was on Verizon!
HO! HO!, HO!
The rumor clan must have just gotten out for Christmas break.
I would love for my iPhone to replace my point-and-shoot and my flip video camera. It has already replaced the dedicated GPS, Phone, handheld gamer, remote control, vibrator, lover, Alarm clock, night-light, and cash registers.
Bring on 720p!
Hopefully the vid capture on the new iPhone rivals the Canon Powershot SD780. The SD780 is unbelievably tiny but captures great 720p. I have blended 720p videos from the tiny Canon with the Canon 7D DSLR (Full HD) with impressive results. If an iPhone had this capability – Apple would be positioned to add another victim to their convergence device.
Image stabilization and built in flash would do far more for iPhone image quality than a higher resolution lens. Image stab alone made a huge diff when I upgraded my canon A-series camera to it’s immediate successor, both in photo and video modes
Much like hd video metrics, larger megapixel size does not automatically mean a higher quality image. For one thing, pixel size and the grid between them varies from sensor to sensor. Then there’s noise reduction sensitivity. Professional photographers agree, the preference for image quality over pixel dimensions is the way to go. Once again, Apple makes the right choice.
“…Who cares?
Megapixels are only a number, which means very little when you talk about the quality of a digital camera…”
Actually, this only is true once a vendor’s device reaches a certain, minimal, resolution threshold that the market considers “average” or perhaps “acceptable.” If your device is below the minimal threshold, then you’ll notice obvious differences in megapixels and quality — with pixelization and over-compression visible in your images. Right now, the iPhone camera resolution seems to be slightly below what I think should be average for the current smartphone market, and well below what is average and acceptable for competing stand-alone devices like the Flip Ultra or new, HD mini cams (which is 720p HD video).
Megapixel resolutions in turn, always are determined by the cost (affordability) of memory chips. Five megapixel cameras will require 64- and 128GB of storage. Unfortunately, we’ll probably get 32- and 64GB iPhones next year, with the 128GB memory module reserved for the iPod Touch…
Apple needs to release an iPhone Pro with extra storage!
I wouldn’t be suprise to find the next gen of iPhone not different from these smartphones outt there.
tv does do 1080p, Predrag.
MegaPixels are Only A Number. There are several considerations that are potentially more important than the MP red herring. Lens quality tends to be one of them. A really “good” lens can provide a better looking picture than a crap lens even if the crap lens is backed by twice the MP. Being “in focus” is also a significant factor. Lack of “noise” is at least as important.
Sure, you go with fewer MP and you will get pixilation at greater magnification. DUH! I used to know film photogs who used high-speed film to CREATE that impression. A phone camera for an 8×10 ? ? ? What were you THINKING ? ! ? ! ?
“Five megapixel cameras will require 64- and 128GB of storage.” —HD Boy
Why is that? A typical compact digital camera, which has at least 10 MP resolution, does just fine with a 2-4 GB storage card. Now 1080p movies… That’s a different story.
The consumer market, being composed of 95% certified morons, is slavishly addicted to the myth that more megapixels is better. The quality of the lens and the image processing is at least as important as the resolution.
Despite the fact that talented people manage to produce good-looking images with the iPhone, it is still basically a toy camera compared to even the cheapest digital camera. Increasing the resolution of the sensor doesn’t change that.
Now I have a reason to include the iPhone on my list of phones that I might buy.
The 1Ds Mk3 is a staggering piece of engineering. With due respect to previous comments, sometimes more is indeed better.