Home | Galleries | Articles | Reviews | Best Gear | Science | New | About | Contact |
by Roger N. Clark
This page shows an analysis of noise, dynamic range, and full well capacity of a Canon 1D Mark IV camera. It also shows the dark current and noise from thermal dark current as a function of temperature.
Procedures for performing this analysis are described in: Procedures for Evaluating Digital Camera Noise, Dynamic Range, and Full Well Capacities; Canon 1D Mark II Analysis
The lowest possible noise from a system detecting light is the noise due to Poisson statistics from the random rate of the arrival of photons. This is called photon statistics, or photon noise. Noise from the electronics will add to the photon noise. Noise in Canon 1D Mark IV images is limited by photon statistics at high signal levels and by electronic noise from reading the sensor (called readout noise) and noise from the downstream electronics at very low signal levels. In the case of high signal levels, a system that is photon statistics limited enables us to directly measure how many photons the sensor captures, and by increasing the exposure, we can determine how many photons are required to saturate the sensor. That is called the full well capacity, or simply, maximum signal capacity. With data on the lowest noise to the highest signal, we can then determine the dynamic range of the sensor.
The data and analysis results below show how the canon 1D Mark IV sensor performs. Table 1 shows the results and these results are shown on the graphs at Digital Sensor Performance summary for comparison with other cameras. The data show that the 1D4 is performing significantly above other sensors with similar sized pixels and even above some older cameras with larger pixels at the time of this writing. Canon in their white paper on the 1D4 ( PDF reference here) states they have made several improvements to the focal plane assembly, including higher transmission of the color Bayer filters over each pixel, better fill factor, and gapless micro lenses. These combine to deliver a high signal (collect more photons) in a given exposure, and the results below confirm Canon's claims.
The read noise, reaching a low 0f only 1.7 electrons at ISO 12,800 is the lowest I have yet measured and the lowest I have seen on any room-temperature sensor.
But even more impressive than the high signal and low read noise, is the far better control of fixed pattern noise. Figures 1 and 2 show histogram and a highly stretched image of the read noise at ISO 12,800. It is very difficult to see any fixed pattern noise. The control of fixed pattern noise and the very low read noise enables the best high ISO/low light performance I have seen. It will be interesting to see some astrophotos with this camera.
Table 1 ------------------------------------------------- Apparent Maximum Measured ISO Gain Read Noise signal Dynamic range e/DN (electrons) (electrons) stops 100 4.20 22.2 55600 11.3 200 2.10 11.5 27800 11.2 400 1.05 6.6 13900 11.0 800 0.52 4.0 6900 10.8 1600 0.26 2.9 3400 10.2 3200 0.13 2.3 1700 9.5 6400 0.066 1.9 860 8.8 12800 0.033 1.7 430 8.0 25600 0.016 1.7 e 215 7 e 51200 0.008 1.7 e 108 6 e 102400 0.004 1.7 e 54 5 e e = estimated by extrapolation Pixel pitch: 5.7 microns. 16.1 megapixels. S/N on 18% gray card, ISO 100 = 100. S/N on 18% gray card, ISO 1600 = 24.7 Sensor Full Well Capacity at lowest ISO: 55,600 electrons. Sensor dynamic range = 55600/1.7 = 32,700 = 15.0 stops. (note: limit read noise to ISO that give at least 8 stops dynamic range) ISO at unity gain (scaled to 12 bit) = 1680 (14-bit unity gain = ISO 420). Pixel linear density = 175.4 pixels / mm Pixel density = 30,780 pixels / square mm Sensor maximum signal density at ISO 200 = 856 electrons / square micron Sensor maximum signal density at ISO 1600 = 104.6 electrons / square micron Sensor dynamic range density at ISO 1600 = 17.7 stops dynamic range / square mm
Sensor read noise density (best read noise) = 298 electrons / square mm Low Light sensitivity Factor: 988. (=12-bit unity gain / read noise) New Low Light sensitivity Factor: 36.1 (= sensor max signal density at ISO 1600 / read noise at ISO 1600) Full Sensor Apparent Image Quality, FS-AIQ = 80.5. Focal Length Limited Apparent Image Quality, ISO 1600, Constant output Size, FLL-AIQ1600 = 60
Values in the above table are described at Digital Sensor Performance summary. Data used to derive the above parameters are given in Appendix 1.
Figure 1. Histogram showing the noise distribution of the read noise in a Canon 1D mark IV
camera. Histogram limits are 0 to 1024 out of 0 to 16383 original camera
levels (DN). The image of this stretched histogram, indicated by the 3 tick
marks below the histogram, whose limits are
432 to 644 original camera DN, are shown in Figure 2. The data range is 0 to 33.8
electrons from the left to right limits of the graph. The scale below the
three marks shows the range in electrons.
The histogram vertical scale is logarithmic in A, and linear in B (Photoshop).
The electron scale only applies the histogram A; the horizontal scale in B is not
linear.
Figure 2. Stretched read noise from the Canon 1D Mark IV at ISO 12,800.
Note that pattern noise is barely perceptible. The histogram of this image
is in Figure X. Minimum in this image = 432 and max = 644 in original camera
DN, out of 0 to 16383 (14-bits). That is a range of 7 electrons from black to
white in the image. This image is direct from a single raw file, with no
demosaicking (from dcraw). Note the black and white pixels are due to clipping
the levels, and are not hot or dead pixels.
Table 2 shows the noise as a function of ISO in image form. The images illustrate several things: 1) lower banding noise at higher ISOs. 2) Better detection of smaller signals at higher ISOs (the random noise decreases). 3) At a certain high ISO, improvements decrease, meaning there is no benefit to higher ISO. Note, ISO is a post sensor gain and does not increase sensitivity. Increasing ISO digitizes a smaller range (see Table 1) but does improve the noise floor. The 1DIV produces images with low fixed pattern noise at ISOs of 800 and higher.
Table 2a. Apparent Read Noise, Central Image | |
ISO 100 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 8509 electrons max= 8694 electrons mean= 8603 electrons standard deviation= 21.21 electrons | |
ISO 200 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 4250 electrons max= 4353 electrons mean= 4302 electrons standard deviation= 11.03 electrons | |
ISO 400 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 2100 electrons max= 2197 electrons mean= 2151 electrons standard deviation= 6.35 electrons | |
ISO 800 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 1019 electrons max= 1102 electrons mean= 1065 electrons standard deviation= 3.96 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 472 electrons max= 573 electrons mean= 532 electrons standard deviation= 3.00 electrons | |
ISO 3200 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 229 electrons max= 303 electrons mean= 266 electrons standard deviation= 2.46 electrons | |
ISO 6400 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 96 electrons max= 170 electrons mean= 135 electrons standard deviation= 2.09 electrons | |
ISO 12800 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 37 electrons max= 104 electrons mean= 67 electrons standard deviation= 1.91 electrons |
Table 2a. Apparent Read Noise, Central Image | |
ISO 100 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 8509 electrons max= 8694 electrons mean= 8603 electrons standard deviation= 21.21 electrons | |
ISO 200 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 4250 electrons max= 4353 electrons mean= 4302 electrons standard deviation= 11.03 electrons | |
ISO 400 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 2100 electrons max= 2197 electrons mean= 2151 electrons standard deviation= 6.35 electrons | |
ISO 800 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 1019 electrons max= 1102 electrons mean= 1065 electrons standard deviation= 3.96 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 472 electrons max= 573 electrons mean= 532 electrons standard deviation= 3.00 electrons | |
ISO 3200 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 229 electrons max= 303 electrons mean= 266 electrons standard deviation= 2.46 electrons | |
ISO 6400 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 96 electrons max= 170 electrons mean= 135 electrons standard deviation= 2.09 electrons | |
ISO 12800 Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 37 electrons max= 104 electrons mean= 67 electrons standard deviation= 1.91 electrons |
Dark Current and Thermal Noise
On long exposures, electrons collect in the sensor due to thermal processes. This is called the thermal dark current. As with photon noise, the noise from thermal dark current is the square root of the signal. One can subtract the dark current level, but not the noise from the dark current. Many modern digital cameras have on sensor dark current suppression, but this does not suppress the noise from the dark current. It does, however, prevent uneven zero levels that plagues cameras before the innovation (Canon cameras before circa 2008). Examples of this problem are seen at: Long-Exposure Comparisons.
The dark versus temperature for the Canon 1D Mark IV is shown in Table 3. The uniformity of the 1D Mark IV long exposure dark frames, Tables 4a, 4b, 4c is outstanding. There is no noticeable banding, enabling multiple frames to be averaged, or very long exposures to be made without annoying pattern noise. Thermal noise ultimately limits the weakest signals that can be detected. Thermal dark current is very temperature dependent, so only compare these values to other sensors made at the same temperature.
The dark current increased 16.1 times in the 1DIV from -3 to 23 degrees C or doubling about every 6.5 degrees C on average. Note too that the lower the temperature, the fewer hot pixels show in the image. This makes long exposure night imaging difficult in hot environments, but this is true of all uncooled digital cameras.
Table 3 Canon 1D Mark IV Dark Current vs Temperature Noise from Dark Current in Electrons Temperature Dark current versus Exposure Time (seconds) (C) (F) electrons/sec. 10 sec 30 sec 60 sec 120 sec 300 sec 26 79 1.263 3.6 6.2 8.7 12.3 19.5 23 73 1.193 3.5 6.0 8.5 12.0 18.9 17 63 0.381 2.0 3.4 4.8 6.8 10.7 17 63 0.315 1.8 3.1 4.4 6.2 9.7 16 61 0.329 1.8 3.1 4.4 6.3 9.9 14 57 0.258 1.6 2.8 3.9 5.6 8.8 14 57 0.277 1.7 2.9 4.1 5.8 9.1 14 57 0.308 1.8 3.0 4.3 6.1 9.6 13 55 0.251 1.6 2.7 3.9 5.5 8.7 12 54 0.255 1.6 2.8 3.9 5.5 8.7 10 50 0.218 1.5 2.6 3.6 5.1 8.1 7 45 0.204 1.4 2.5 3.5 4.9 7.8 5 41 0.158 1.3 2.2 3.1 4.4 6.9 0 32 0.157 1.3 2.2 3.1 4.3 6.9 -3 27 0.074 0.9 1.5 2.1 3.0 4.7 -5 23 0.070 0.8 1.5 2.1 2.9 4.6
Table 4a. Thermal Noise, Central Image | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 29 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 488 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 549 electrons standard deviation= 39.25 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 26 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 483 electrons max= 3651 electrons mean= 542 electrons standard deviation= 27.57 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 17 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 462 electrons max= 3651 electrons mean= 535 electrons standard deviation= 15.34 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 13 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 489 electrons max= 3651 electrons mean= 534 electrons standard deviation= 12.57 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 10 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 472 electrons max= 3651 electrons mean= 533 electrons standard deviation= 11.75 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 7 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 467 electrons max= 3651 electrons mean= 533 electrons standard deviation= 11.39 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 0 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 486 electrons max= 3347 electrons mean= 533 electrons standard deviation= 10.09 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= -5 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Central 500 x 300 pixel statistics: min= 485 electrons max= 2562 electrons mean= 532 electrons standard deviation= 7.09 electrons |
Table 4b. Thermal Noise, Full Image, sub-sampled | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 29 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 1 electrons max= 3655 electrons mean= 548 electrons standard deviation= 42.47 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 26 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 1 electrons max= 3653 electrons mean= 541 electrons standard deviation= 31.19 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 17 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 0 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 535 electrons standard deviation= 19.06 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 13 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 0 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 534 electrons standard deviation= 18.06 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 10 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 0 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 533 electrons standard deviation= 16.68 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 7 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 0 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 533 electrons standard deviation= 16.86 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 0 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 0 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 533 electrons standard deviation= 15.83 electrons | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= -5 C Image Range: -100.00 to 100.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 0 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 532 electrons standard deviation= 13.36 electrons |
Table 4c. Thermal Noise, Full Image, sub-sampled | |
ISO 1600 Exposure= 595 seconds T= 0 C Image Range: -20.00 to 20.00 electrons about the mean Full image statistics: min= 0 electrons max= 3652 electrons mean= 533 electrons standard deviation= 15.83 electrons |
The 1D Mark IV dark current as a function of temperature is shown in Figure 3. In general the trend for all canon cameras is similar, but cameras with larger pixels tend to have higher dark currents at the same temperature. All cameras seem to show a relative dip in the log-linear trend with relatively lower dark current between freezing and room temperature (~0 to 20 C).
See comparisons of dark frames from many cameras at: Digital Cameras and Long Exposure Times: Noise and Dark Current Comparisons ../long-exposure-comparisons/
Conclusions
The Canon 1D Mark IV sensor sets new performance standards for its time, including higher sensitivity per pixel (a combination of filter transmittance times effective fill factor times quantum efficiency), lower read noise, and lower fixed pattern noise. The low read noise of the 1DIV has been eclipsed by that for the Canon 1DX. Hopefully the new technology that went into this sensor will makes its way into other cameras as well. That will enable a new era in performance, especially for high ISO / low light photography.
The constant dark level with long exposure time indicates the camera has on-sensor dark current suppression. This, however, does not suppress noise from dark current. But it results in a uniformly dark level that needs no post processing correction. No long exposure dark frames are needed when making long exposures if recording raw.
The banding (fixed pattern) noise is very low. As of this writing, only the 1DX shows comparable banding noise, with the Canon 7D very close, but the Canon 6D is a significant improvement in fixed pattern noise. These four cameras are a cut above other cameras in this regard. The banding noise in the Canon 5DIII and older 5DII have worse banding noise, for example.
Dynamic range is still limited to a little over 11-stops, apparently by downstream electronics that must process the data extremely fast (at 10 frames per second; that is over 160 megapixels/second). I would like to see a camera option that used a slow 16-bit A/D converter and low noise amplifiers to deliver data with the full capability of the sensor, which is 15 stops. Even if it took 10 seconds to read out the sensor (longer readout times are used in scientific applications), there are situations where high dynamic range imaging would benefit.
Since this camera was announced in late 2009, it is still a top performer in its class, from wildlife action, sports, to long exposure low light photography. Only the new Canon 6D surpasses the 1D Mark IV for long exposure low light photography. The 1DIV surpasses the 1DX because the 1DIV has lower pattern noise and lower dark current
Appendix 1
Table A1: ISO 100 Sensor Data and Analysis Offset= 2047 Model gain = 4.2 e/DN Model read noise = 22.2 electrons Observed signal - offset -------------------------- min max mean 2-img std noise S/N signal ISO relative S/N S/N file (DN) (DN) (DN) (DN) (DN) (electrons) exposure model obs/model _73C5280 13236.00 13237.00 13236.30 0.70 sensor saturated _73C5281 13236.00 13237.00 13236.42 0.70 sensor saturated _73C5282 9838.00 10783.00 10255.89 70.23 49.66 206.51 42645.9 100 0.650000 206.4 1.00 _73C5283 9813.00 10676.00 10256.78 70.23 49.66 206.53 42653.2 100 0.650000 206.4 1.00 _73C5284 6164.00 6786.00 6479.05 57.55 40.69 159.21 25348.6 100 0.384616 163.5 0.97 _73C5285 6158.00 6824.00 6531.78 57.55 40.69 160.51 25762.9 100 0.384616 164.2 0.97 _73C5286 3776.00 4192.00 3979.53 45.36 32.08 124.06 15390.7 100 0.250000 127.4 0.97 _73C5287 3794.00 4256.00 4031.59 45.36 32.08 125.68 15795.9 100 0.250000 128.3 0.97 _73C5288 2327.00 2630.00 2467.75 35.54 25.13 98.20 9643.2 100 0.161290 99.5 0.99 _73C5289 2281.00 2603.00 2434.49 35.54 25.13 96.88 9384.9 100 0.161290 98.8 0.99 _73C5290 1424.00 1648.00 1538.85 28.08 19.85 77.51 6008.0 100 0.096154 77.5 1.00 _73C5291 1432.00 1652.00 1536.87 28.08 19.85 77.41 5992.6 100 0.096154 77.4 1.00 _73C5292 869.00 1028.00 951.19 22.34 15.80 60.22 3626.3 100 0.062500 59.6 1.01 _73C5293 872.00 1032.00 953.63 22.34 15.80 60.37 3644.9 100 0.062500 59.7 1.01 _73C5294 537.00 662.00 598.09 18.13 12.82 46.65 2176.5 100 0.040651 45.8 1.02 _73C5295 531.00 661.00 594.71 18.13 12.82 46.39 2152.0 100 0.040651 45.7 1.02 _73C5296 327.00 425.00 375.24 15.02 10.62 35.34 1248.7 100 0.024154 34.6 1.02 _73C5297 324.00 418.00 374.13 15.02 10.62 35.23 1241.4 100 0.024154 34.6 1.02 _73C5298 195.00 275.00 233.72 12.71 8.98 26.01 676.8 100 0.015625 25.6 1.02 _73C5299 190.00 275.00 233.10 12.71 8.98 25.95 673.2 100 0.015625 25.5 1.02 _73C5300 112.00 183.00 149.07 11.01 7.78 19.15 366.9 100 0.010122 18.7 1.02 _73C5301 117.00 191.00 149.15 11.01 7.78 19.17 367.3 100 0.010122 18.7 1.02 _73C5302 68.00 124.00 94.63 9.86 6.98 13.57 184.0 100 0.006024 13.3 1.02 _73C5303 65.00 123.00 93.30 9.86 6.98 13.38 178.9 100 0.006024 13.2 1.03 _73C5304 32.00 84.00 57.75 8.99 6.36 9.08 82.4 100 0.003906 8.9 1.02 _73C5305 33.00 86.00 58.96 8.99 6.36 9.27 85.9 100 0.003906 9.1 1.00 _73C5306 15.00 62.00 37.23 8.48 6.00 6.21 38.5 100 0.002533 6.1 1.01 _73C5307 14.00 64.00 38.70 8.48 6.00 6.45 41.6 100 0.002533 6.3 0.98 _73C5308 2.00 48.00 24.12 8.11 5.74 4.20 17.7 100 0.001506 4.2 1.01 _73C5309 2.00 49.00 25.41 8.11 5.74 4.43 19.6 100 0.001506 4.4 0.96 _73C5310 -13.00 38.00 13.91 7.86 5.56 2.50 6.3 100 0.000976 2.5 1.01 _73C5311 -7.00 37.00 15.88 7.86 5.56 2.86 8.2 100 0.000976 2.8 0.89 _73C5312 -13.00 35.00 10.27 7.69 5.44 1.89 3.6 100 0.000633 1.9 1.01 _73C5313 -12.00 34.00 9.93 7.69 5.44 1.83 3.3 100 0.000633 1.8 1.05 _73C5314 -17.00 28.00 5.67 7.64 5.40 1.05 1.1 100 0.000376 1.0 1.00 _73C5315 -18.00 28.00 6.00 7.64 5.40 1.11 1.2 100 0.000376 1.1 0.95 _73C5316 -20.00 27.00 4.58 7.60 5.37 0.85 0.7 100 0.000244 0.8 1.00 _73C5317 -18.00 25.00 3.36 7.60 5.37 0.63 0.4 100 0.000244 0.6 1.36 _73C5318 -19.00 26.00 2.60 7.55 5.34 0.49 0.2 100 0.000158 0.5 1.00 _73C5319 -21.00 24.00 2.66 7.55 5.34 0.50 0.2 100 0.000158 0.5 0.98 _73C5320 -21.00 24.00 1.36 7.55 5.34 0.26 0.1 100 0.000094 0.3 1.00 _73C5321 -21.00 23.00 1.62 7.55 5.34 0.30 0.1 100 0.000094 0.3 0.84 _73C5322 -25.00 24.00 1.27 7.52 5.32 0.24 0.1 100 0.000061 0.2 1.00 _73C5323 -22.00 22.00 1.95 7.52 5.32 0.37 0.1 100 0.000061 0.4 0.65
Table A2: Read Noise Data and Analysis Apparent Read Noise Gain file min max mean 2-img std noise (electrons) (e/DN) ISO _73C5408 2025.00 2068.00 2047.24 7.48 5.29 22.215 4.200 100 _73C5409 2025.00 2068.00 2047.19 7.48 5.29 22.215 4.200 100 _73C5412 2022.00 2074.00 2046.93 7.72 5.46 11.466 2.100 200 _73C5413 2022.00 2068.00 2047.01 7.72 5.46 11.466 2.100 200 _73C5416 2009.00 2087.00 2046.85 8.91 6.30 6.615 1.050 400 _73C5417 2011.00 2103.00 2046.88 8.91 6.30 6.615 1.050 400 _73C5422 1985.00 2127.00 2047.00 10.90 7.71 4.045 0.525 800 _73C5423 1978.00 2106.00 2047.00 10.90 7.71 4.045 0.525 800 _73C5428 1912.00 2197.00 2047.15 15.81 11.18 2.906 0.260 1600 _73C5429 1942.00 2208.00 2047.06 15.81 11.18 2.906 0.260 1600 _73C5434 1795.00 2330.00 2045.84 25.20 17.82 2.334 0.131 3200 _73C5435 1796.00 2320.00 2046.29 25.20 17.82 2.334 0.131 3200 _73C5440 1619.00 2553.00 2046.14 40.92 28.94 1.910 0.066 6400 _73C5441 1520.00 2546.00 2046.15 40.92 28.94 1.910 0.066 6400 _73C5446 1529.00 2583.00 2043.83 74.45 52.64 1.737 0.033 12800 _73C5447 1487.00 2750.00 2043.78 74.45 52.64 1.737 0.033 12800 Data acquired by Peter A. Hawrylyshyn, M.D. February, 2010. Thermal dark current data by R. Clark, January, 2014. Analysis by R. N. Clark February 13. 2010 - Jan. 2014.
References
1) CCD Gain. http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys559/lectures/gain/gain.html
4) http://www.photomet.com/library_enc_fwcapacity.shtml
Notes:
DN is "Data Number." That is the number in the file for each pixel. I'm quoting the luminance level (although red, green and blue are almost the same in the cases I cited).
16-bit signed integer: -32768 to +32767
16-bit unsigned integer: 0 to 65535
Photoshop uses signed integers, but the 16-bit tiff is unsigned integer (correctly read by ImagesPlus).
The sensor analysis was done with custom, in-house written software. Raw data were extracted from the camera raw files using DCRAW. Custom software read that data and all processing was done in 32-bit floating point.
Home | Galleries | Articles | Reviews | Best Gear | Science | New | About | Contact |
http://www.clarkvision.com/reviews/evaluation-canon-1div
First published February 13, 2010.
Last updated January 19, 2014.