There’s now more solid evidence that Sony is working on a new 16MP partially stacked full-frame sensor. This could (and I mean could) end up in the Sony FX3 II, which is expected to be announced this year, and possibly in a future Sony A7S IV—if Sony ever decides to bring that model back.

Key specs:

• 16MP (partially?) stacked  sensor
• near 5k recording
• 240fps readout
• Active stabilization
• HDR video
• 2 PDAF system with 120fps

Let me walk you through the possible sensor specs:

16 Megapixel Full Frame partially stacked sensor

Small uncertainty: The source did not 100% specify is this sensor is fully or partially stacked. I am assuming he meant it’s “partially” stacked as this one makes more sense to me.

What’s the advantage of a 4 Megapixel increase over the current 12Mp sensor of the FX3 ?

A 16MP sensor has enough vertical resolution to record the entire 3:2 sensor area. It also allows for much better use of anamorphic lenses, which require that extra vertical height. The 16MP sensor can also output close to 5K RAW resolution . Moreover the camera can oversample that 5K data down to 4K. This results in a significantly sharper image with less “moiré” (color shimmering on fine patterns) and lower noise than a native 12MP capture.

Another advantage is that you can use the extra resolution for Active Mode Stabilization. As you know there is something like a 1.1x crop and having 16MP in stead of 12MP would allow to still record native 4k.

240fps

Unlike the Sony A7v sensor which has a max speed of 120fps this one is double as fast! Will be useful to record at higher frame rates and also have much less rolling shutter issues. Note: I do not have video recording capability info yet :(

Pixel size is 7.2μm

With 7.2μm you get a 41% increased light gathering capability per pixel compared to the 5.1μm pixel size of the Sony A7V . Should make it the new king of low light shooting!

Full-Pixel 120fps AF

That’s the same performance of the Sony A7V.

DCG-HDR

Instead of using the Sony A7V DGO tech the new sensor uses DCG-HDR first used on the Sony Lythia mobile sensors.

As you know the Sony A7V utilizes its Dual Gain Output to achieve its class-leading dynamic range (16 stops) only when using the mechanical shutter for still photos. But with the DCG-HDR tech Sony works on both stills and video and with the electronic shutter.

-> Advantage In Video (Real-Time HDR)

1. Motion Artifact Suppression: Unlike traditional “multi-frame HDR” (which takes separate long and short exposures and merges them), DCG-HDR captures the data for a single frame using two different gain settings simultaneously. This eliminates the “ghosting” or motion blur artifacts commonly seen when filming moving subjects in HDR.
2. Frame Rates: Because it processes data at the sensor level in real time, it allows for high frame rate HDR video (e.g., 4K at 60fps) without the massive processing overhead of merging multiple sequential frames.
3. Constant Preview: Sony’s latest sensors (like the LYTIA series) use DCG-HDR to allow for an “always-on” HDR preview, so what you see on the screen while filming matches the final saved video.

-> In Stills (Photography)

1. Base Dynamic Range: It improves the native dynamic range of a single RAW capture by reducing noise in shadows (via high conversion gain) while preserving highlights (via low conversion gain).
2. Hybrid Modes: In still photography, Sony often uses HF-HDR (Hybrid Frame HDR), which is a fusion of DCG-HDR and traditional multi-frame HDR. It uses the DCG data as a high-quality “base” and then adds a very short exposure frame to extend the dynamic range even further (often exceeding 100dB).

2PDAF autofocus system

S tandard PDAF uses only a few specialized pixels to focus, while 2 PDAF uses every single pixel on the sensor to focus. The downside of 2 PDAF is that there is much more data to readout but this should be no more an issue considering the sensor is (likely partially) stacked and new fast processing engine.

Wrap up:

Although I am confident that Sony will release this sensor soon, I am still uncertain whether it will be incorporated into the upcoming Sony AFX3II or if that camera will feature a “variation” of this sensor. Overall, however, I believe it is a superb sensor and could undoubtedly take the FX3II (and possibly the A7SIV) to a new level of performance.

What are your thoughts about this sensor?