On: Reverse-engineering a tiny 1980s chip that plays C...

[genewitch]

You'd think someone would have a service dedicated to this, but I've wanted a monochrome dslr or mirrorless for like a decade and a half, already.

Preferably Nikon, but my limited understanding is that the canon sensors are easier to debayer.

[jcims → genewitch]

Crazy thing is you can buy the same sensors monochrome for industrial and astro applications but the cameras are twice as expensive.

Eg Sony IMX455 61MP sensor in the $4k ASI6200: https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/product/asi6200mm-pro-m...

[strenholme → jcims]

The cheapest I have seen an IMX455 in a new camera is $3000 for the Sony A7RIV when it’s on sale. And that doesn’t have a lens. Once one has a couple of lenses, a case, a tripod, filters, and memory cards, we’re in the $5000 ballpark.

The IMX455 is an incredible hi end sensor; there’s only about three medium format sensors that exist with higher resolution—forget getting one of those for “only” $5000—but the cost of entry to have one in a usable camera is pretty substantial.