Partially-Stacked CMOS Sensor (Patreon)

Perhaps one of the most interesting camera releases this year has been Nikon's Z6 III camera.
This is because it features an all-new 'Partially-Stacked CMOS sensor'. Fully-Stacked sensors are used in Sony's A9, A9II and A1 cameras and also the Nikon Z8 and Z9 cameras. Given the price-point of this Z6 III camera it would appear that the use of a partially-stacked sensor gives the camera most, but not all, of the performance benefits of using a fully-stacked sensor, but at a reduced cost. Benefits include faster frame rates for stills capture, 6K movie recording and the option to use a fully electronic shutter to shoot moving subjects with less shutter-distortion (rolling shutter).

It is important to note at this point, that Sony makes most, if not all, of the sensors for Nikon cameras. Neither company acknowledges this fact, but when the Nikon cameras are pulled apart they usually reveal a Sony part number on the sensor.

What is really interesting is that we see this new partially-stacked sensor appear in a Nikon camera, without it having first appeared in a Sony camera. If I was a betting man, I would hazard a guess, and suggest that we may see Sony use a partially stacked sensor in the next A7V camera - if and when it is announced (Sony have provided me with Zero information on their camera development strategies).

If Sony were to choose the A7V camera to introduce partially-stacked sensors to the Sony lineup of cameras, the use of a 24.5 megapixel sensor would, however, be a backwards step from the current 33 Megapixel sensor, in terms of resolution. So would we see Sony develop a higher resolution partially stacked sensor for the A7V and A7CIII cameras?

Very few photographers can afford to switch brands to acquire newer technologies from competing brands (due to our numerous lenses that can only serve one brand), so I thought it would be interesting to speculate what our next generation of Sony camera bodies may offer us. Sensors usually see the first light of day in a Sony branded camera so I thought it was important I address this by talking about the Nikon camera ...and no, I am not switching brands any time soon.