Using a reverse-engineered CCD scanner unit, YouTuber Gigawipf, real name Yannick Richter, has invented a 3,200 megapixel camera with an effective sensor size larger than medium format and full-frame cameras. But, before you go out and rush to build your own, it’s worth noting that it is only capable of photographing static scenes, and they must be well lit. The build also uses a Raspberry Pi 5 (a mini computer), and captures 16-bit images, and with an 8inch touch-screen on the back, it’s not exactly compact! The images output have a resolution of 80,000 x 40,000 pixels. Watch how it’s done in the video below:
If you’re not familiar with Phthon programming, soldering, 3D printing, CNC manufacturing, and reading Japanese data sheets for Epson flatbed scanners, then this DIY project may not be for you. But if you want to see how it’s all done, then Gigawipf does a great job of showing the months long process from beginning to end in the video, including adding a secondary camera/sensor that is used for focusing the medium format Pentax 6×7 lens.
Like real scanning, you can preview your image before taking the final image at the full-resolution. The 8inch touch-screen setup he has created has made the camera look relatively easy to use thanks to the user interface. However, you do have to be aware of how long it takes to take a photo, with it taking several minutes for a full scan/photo depending on the resolution selected, as well as longer for processing. You can also read more about the Project Gigapixel Linear CCD camera on the website Hackaday. Via YouTube.
Related reading
- Best Second-hand Digital Medium Format Cameras
- I’ve been using the World’s first medium-format compact digital camera
- Why does everyone love CCD sensor cameras so much?
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