The news that Nikon is keeping pace with the technology behind the camera should not surprise anyone, TechinSites Reporting Nikon’s flagship Z9 mirrorless camera is powered by a Sony semiconductor image sensor.
It is more or less an open industry secret Nikon has used Sony semiconductor sensors at the center of many of its DSLR and mirrorless camera systems. Although both Nikon and Sony Semiconductor avoid these questions when asked on record, Nikon has been using Sony sensors on both its DSLR and mirrorless cameras for the past two decades, long before Sony’s separate imaging business began selling large sensor cameras.
The latest release, which was first reported by Nikon rumors And based on a Techinsights analysis, Nikon’s Z9 is using a mirrorless camera — or more or less – based on Sony Semiconductor IMX609AQJ sensor45 A 45.7MP stacked backside-illuminated sensor
 |
| A close-up shot of the Z9’s full-frame sensor. |
Techinsights provides this information as part of its Device Essentials Folder (DEF), which third parties can purchase from the company to better understand the architecture of various technology components – in this case, the design of the sensors inside the Nikon Z9. Techinsights’ DEF includes aa ‘downstream product teardown, package X-ray, die photograph, non-invasive optical photo of die feature and SEM image of delayed pixel array at metal, transistor and diffusion levels.’ Techinsights also provides ‘exploratory cross-section SEM imaging of common pixel arrays and peripheral structures.’ In other words, it is safe to assume that Techinsights’ report is accurate and highly detailed.
Again, this news is not surprising to those who have been focusing on Nikon hardware for the past decade. As Sony Semiconductor (which has changed its name over the years) is developing image sensors, other manufacturers are purchasing their technology, which includes (but is not limited to): Canon, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Phase One, Samsung, Sigma and others. Nevertheless, it is good to get confirmation of a detail that has been suspected since the launch.
