Kodak's U.K. division announced a breakthrough in sensor development yesterday with the company's introduction of a 50 megapixel CCD imager.

Kodak

Designed for the professional photography market, the Kodak KAF-50100 sensor is constructed on a 48x36mm form – a common medium-format frame size. Capturing 8176x6132 pixels, the imager is capable of resolving unprecedented levels of detail (Kodak's press release states that in a aerial photo covering a mile and a half, the sensor would be able to resolve objects as small as a standard-size notebook computer).

Improved pixel design in the latest sensor promises faster response, lower power consumption, and more accurate color reproduction compared to previous medium-format imagers.

"Volume production" is set to commence in the fourth quarter of 2008. According to PhotographyBlog.com, the first camera to receive the new sensor will be the Hasselblad H3DII-50.