OLEDs for digital cameras - introduction and industry news - Page 4

Sony announced their 0.5" XGA (1024x768) OLED microdisplay - as used in four new cameras. It turns out that Sony is producing this OLED display on their own. The cameras that use this displays are the A77 and A65 DSLRs and the NEX-7 and NEX-5N mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (the NEX-5N doesn't come with the viewfinder, but you'll be able to buy it for $350).

To create those small pixels, Sony used a new design that uses white OLEDs and color filters. Sony also uses in-built D/A converters and driver electronics to create a small footprint.

Update: Sony announced the OLED viewfinder (and four cameras that use it) - and it's made by Sony.

Sony is preparing another new camera with an OLED viewfiner, the NEX-7, according to new rumors. It actually has the same 24.3 mp sensor as in the A77 - and the same XGA OLED viewfinder. The back display is a 3" LCD.

Update 2: It's official - the OLED microdisplay is made by Sony.

Update: We got this rumor confirmed by a trusted source.

We just got an interesting rumor sent to us by an anonymous tipper. Remember Sony's A77 OLED viewfinder? Our tipper says that the microdisplay is made by Samsung. Samsung is using a "laser based technology" and not FMM (see more on Samsung's upcoming move to LITI here). Samsung is also using "new organic colors".

The display itself is 0.9" in size and has a 4:3 format. According to earlier reports the resolution is XGA (1024x768).

eMagin reported their 2Q 2011 results - in line with expectations. The company had $7.4 million in revenue (37% higher than 1Q, but lower than 2Q 2010). Operating income was $623,000. The company changed their accountant and will have to take some more time to complete the full Q2 earning release. They are also still experiencing yield and production issues.

The company is still on ytack to bring a new seal machine and next-gen OLED deposition machine online during the second half of 2011.

Update: It seems that there's not OLED back-display, only an OLED viewfinder, see translation below

Update II: eMagin says that Sony's viewfinder does not use their technology.

Back in March there were rumors that Sony's upcoming Alpha A77 DSLR will have an OLED viewfinder. That camera is not official yet, but Sony did submit it to a design contest - and from that page (which was taken down in the meantime) we can see that indeed it has an XGA OLED electronic viewfinder (or Tru-Finder as Sony calls it). We're not sure, but it also mentions a second OLED display - perhaps the 'normal' camera back display will also be an OLED (if someone can translate the Japanese text below, it'll be great).

The viewfinder resolution (XGA, or 1024x768) is rather a disappointment - as it was rumored that this will use Sony's 720p (1,280x720) resolution. There were also some rumors that eMagin is behind that OLED microdisplay. While eMagin do not have an XGA product, they have mentioned that they are working with a customer on a special 'commercial' microdisplay, so this may be it (disclose: I'm holding some shares in eMagin...).

Olympus' PEN E-P3 interchangeable lens type digital camera is now shipping for $899. That's actually earlier than expected (the official release date was August 2011). The E-P3 has the world's fastestauto-focus, a new 12.3mp Live MOS Sensor, Full-HD movie encoding and a 3" VGA OLED touch display.

Olympus' PEN E-P3 can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.com (for $899). You can also pre-order it in the UK for £799.99. The E-P3 is an interchangeable lens type digital camera with the world's faster auto-focus, a new 12.3mp Live MOS Sensor, Full-HD movie encoding and a 3" VGA OLED touch display.

There are rumors that Sony's upcoming A77 DSLR will have an OLED viewfinder with 3 million pixels (more than double the pixel count in the current A55/33 LCD viewfinder). The new viewfinder will also have a faster refresh rate and better brightness (which is to be expected from an OLED micro display...). It is said that the same viewfinder will be used in next-gen Sony NEX cameras, too (as an optional external EVF or a built-in one, it's not clear).

This is not the first we hear of Sony's OLED microdisplays: back in January 2011 Sony unveiled a 3D head mounted display with two OLED microdisplays. Those displays were said to be made by Sony and feature 720p (1280x720) - which means 921,600 pixels. This makes us wonder whether the 3 million pixel count in the rumor is correct. After all, even eMagin's highest resolution OLED microdisplay (the SXGA OLED-XL) offers only 1280x1024 resolution (1,310,720 pixels). Perhaps (as some commenters suggested) these are 3 million sub-subpixels - which fits 720p more or less.

Olympus' XZ1 OLED camera is now shipping for $429. The XZ-1 is an "enthusiast compact" camera with a bright lens (F1.18 at 28mm and F2.5 at 112mm), 10mp sensor and image stabilization. The display is a 3" VGA OLED. The camera can record 720p videos and has a built-in flash and a hotshoe.

Olympus announced (well, sort of, it appears in Amazon) the price of the XZ1 - $449. You can pre-order this exciting camera now too. The XZ1 is an "enthusiast compact' camera with a bright lens (F1.18 at 28mm and F2.5 at 112mm), 10mp sensor and image stabilization. The display is a 3" VGA OLED. The camera can record 720p videos and has a built-in flash and a hotshoe.

Unfortunately, we still do not have a release date...