Sharp has revealed a very sleek 12MP camera sensor which is just 5.7mm (0.22-inch) thin. This is very promising for smartphones which can now take one step higher in camera specs without compromising width. The sensor even comes with optical image stabilization which will further improve the quality of your photos.Manufacturers have been working on image stabilization through software, but having a hardware solution is much better.
Sharp has managed to bring OIS to their sensor thanks to their patented dense packing technology. The 1/3.2" sensor also features back-illumination and 1080p HD video recording. The full specifications of the sensor follows:
| Model | RJ63YC100 |
| Imaging Element | 12.1 Megapixel 1/3.2-inch back-illuminated CMOS image sensor |
| Module dimensions | 11.0 x 11.0 x 5.47 mm |
| Optical functions | optical image stabilization (OIS) autofocus |
| Output format | RAW (4-lane MIPI serial output interface) |
| Lens F number | F 2.5 horizontal viewing angle - 61° |
Sharp is said to start shipping Sample units tomorrow, and volume shipments are expected in January. It will be interesting to see which devices will implement this unit.