Melville, NY—Canon USA announced the company has launched the Canon MS-500 ultrahigh-sensitivity interchangeable-lens camera (ILC). According to Canon, “the MS-500 is not only the world’s first ultrahigh-sensitivity camera equipped with a SPAD sensor, but it also features the world’s highest pixel count on its 1-inch single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor of 3.2 megapixels.”
The company announced the development of the camera in April 2023. Further, visitors to the Canon booth at NAB 2023 saw a working sample of the camera in action firsthand. The new MS-500 helps to strengthen Canon’s ultrahigh-sensitivity camera lineup. The line also includes the ME20 and ML series..
Canon MS-500 Main Features
In areas with extremely high-security levels, such as seaports, infrastructure facilities and national borders, high-precision monitoring systems are required to surveil targets day and night. The new MS-500 camera achieves a minimum subject illumination of 0.001 lux in night mode. Moreover, when you combine it with ultra-telephoto broadcast lenses, the camera can capture clear color videos of subjects several miles away, even at night.
The SPAD sensor uses a technology known as “photon counting.” Consequently, it counts light particles (photons) that enter a pixel. When incoming photons are converted to an electric charge, they are amplified approximately one million times and extracted as digital signals. This makes detecting even small amounts of light possible.
In addition, every single one of these photons is digitally counted. As a result, it prohibits the introduction of additional noise during signal readout. This is a key advantage of SPAD sensors and what enables clear color video shooting even under 0.001 lux low light.
What’s more, the MS-500 camera has a built-in, industry-standard B4 bayonet lens mount widely used for 2/3-inch broadcast lenses. The lens mount also allows operators to utilize Canon’s lineup of broadcast lenses.
Custom Picture Functions
Noise and atmospheric turbulence, particularly in dark environments, may cause issues with video resolution, especially in long-range surveillance. To help mitigate this, Canon made CrispImg2 a standard setting in the custom picture menu. Moreover, CrispImg2 is a preset mode that optimizes resolution and contrast while suppressing image noise.
Users can also create their own custom picture profiles to adjust and save image quality settings according to shooting environments. This feature enables users to shoot high-visibility videos at virtually any time of day or night. The MS-500 camera also includes haze compensation and smart shade control features. These features help reduce the effects of haze as well as mist while automatically adjusting contrast and image brightness.
The Canon MS-500 SPAD sensor camera ships in September 2023. It will have an estimated retail price of $25,200.
