Sphere Studios, a division of Sphere Entertainment, which runs the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, has revealed details behind its Big Sky ultra-high resolution camera system.
The system was developed by Sphere Studios, while STMicroelectronics manufactured a first-of-its-kind, 18K sensor capable of capturing images at the scale and fidelity necessary for display inside the Sphere.
Big Sky’s sensor, now the world’s largest cinema camera sensor in commercial use, works with what the company describes as the world’s sharpest cinematic lenses to capture detailed, large-format images.
The 316-megapixel sensor is almost 7x larger and 40x higher resolution than the full-frame sensors found in high-end commercial cameras.
The die, which measures 9.92cm x 8.31cm (82.4 cm2), is twice as large as a wallet-sized photograph, and only four full die fit on a 300mm wafer. The system is also capable of capturing images at 120 fps and transferring data at 60 gigabytes per second.
“Big Sky significantly advances cinematic camera technology, with each element representing a leap in design and manufacturing innovation,” said Deanan DaSilva, lead architect of Big Sky at Sphere Studios. “The sensor on any camera is critical to image quality, but given the size and resolution of Sphere’s display, Big Sky’s sensor had to go beyond any existing capability. ST, working closely with Sphere Studios, leveraged their extensive expertise to manufacture a groundbreaking sensor that not only expands the possibilities for immersive content at Sphere, but also across the entertainment industry.”
