Pixel shift explained

Pixel shift is a method in digital cameras for producing a super resolution image. The method works by taking several images, after each such capture moving ("shifting") the sensor to a new position. In digital colour cameras that employ pixel shift, this avoids a major limitation inherent in using Bayer pattern for obtaining colour, and instead produces an image with increased colour resolution and, assuming a static subject or additional computational steps, an image free of colour moiré. Taking this idea further, sub-pixel shifting may increase the resolution of the final image beyond that suggested by the specified resolution of the image sensor.

Additionally, assuming that the various individual captures are taken at the same sensitivity, the final combined image will have less image noise than a single capture. This can be thought of as an averaging effect (for instance, in a pixel shift image composed of four individual frames with a classic Bayer pattern, every pixel in the final colour image is based on two measurements of the green channel).

An early pixel shift camera, the Kontron ProgRes 3012 digital camera, was used for the "Electronic Beowulf" project in the mid 1990s (https://www.uky.edu/~kiernan/welcome/1993.htm). The images were 3000x2000 pixels, 24 bit colour. Considered high resolution for the time.

List of cameras implementing pixel shift

All of the following cameras are fabricated with one imaging sensor, thus any kind of pixel shift requires a movement of the whole sensor.

Fujifilm

Nikon

Olympus

OM System

Panasonic

Pentax

Sony

Hasselblad

JVC

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Fujifilm GFX 50S II is the least expensive medium-format digital camera ever, refer to chapter '"Pixel Shift Multi-Shot" function to capture and generate 200MP images free of false color' . dpreview . 2021-09-02 . 2021-11-05.
  2. https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilm-gfx-100-ii-initial-review-medium-format-movie-maker
  3. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Fujifilm GFX 100' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  4. https://www.dpreview.com/news/3766780604/fujifilm-creates-gfx-100s-ii-5000-compact-medium-format-camera
  5. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Fujifilm GFX 100S' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  6. Web site: Fujifilm Introduces GFX 100 IR for 100MP infrared imaging, refer to chapter 'Press release' . . 2020-11-25 . 2021-11-05.
  7. Web site: Fujifilm X-H2 initial review . 2022-10-31 . DPReview.
  8. Web site: Fujifilm X-T5 initial review . 2022-11-02 . DPReview.
  9. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  10. Web site: Olympus announces OM-D E-M5 II with 40MP high resolution mode . . 2015-02-05 . 2021-11-05.
  11. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  12. Web site: Olympus OM-D E-M1X Review, refer to chapter 'High Res Shot Mode' . www.camerajabber.com . 15 May 2019 . 2021-11-04.
  13. Web site: History Repeating: Olympus PEN-F Review, refer to chapter 'High Res Shot mode' . . 2016-02-24 . 2021-11-05.
  14. Web site: Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 first impressions . . 2017-11-09 . 2021-11-05.
  15. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Panasonic Lumix DC-G9' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  16. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Panasonic Lumix DC-S1' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  17. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  18. Web site: Ricoh introduces weather-resistant Pentax K-70 with Hybrid AF and Pixel Shift, refer to chapter '5. PENTAX-original shake-reduction system featuring the Pixel Shift Resolution System' . . 2016-06-08 . 2021-11-05.
  19. Web site: Pentax KP: price, specs, release date confirmed, refer to chapter 'Pentax KP Pixel Shift Resolution System' . www.camerajabber.com . 25 January 2017 . 2021-11-04.
  20. Web site: PENTAX K-3 II - The new flagship model of the PENTAX K-series digital SLR cameras, refer to chapter '2. New-generation PENTAX-original shake reduction mechanism' . . 2021-11-05.
  21. Web site: Pentax K-3 Mark III initial review, refer to chapter 'Key specifications' . . 2021-11-05.
  22. Web site: Pentax K-1 Review - Image Quality, refer to chapter 'Pixel Shift' . . 2021-11-05.
  23. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Pentax K-1 II' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  24. Web site: Pixel-Shift-Multi-Aufnahme | SONY.
  25. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Sony α7R III' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  26. Web site: Pixel-Shift-Multi-Aufnahme | SONY.
  27. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Sony α7R IV' . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  28. Web site: Pixel-Shift-Multi-Aufnahme | SONY.
  29. Web site: The Buyers guide to ... Which cameras have pixel shift?, refer to chapter 'Sony α1 . www.camerajabber.com . 2021-11-04.
  30. Web site: Hasselblad creates 50MP multi-shot full-color camera . . 2009-11-19 . 2021-11-05.
  31. Web site: Hasselblad H4D-200MS offers 200 megapixel multi-shot images . . 2011-05-26 . 2021-11-05.
  32. Web site: Hasselblad unveils pixel-shifting 200MP H5D-200c MS . . 2014-08-22 . 2021-11-24.
  33. Web site: H6D-400C MULTI-SHOT . . 2021 . 2021-11-24.
  34. Web site: JVC GZ-HD3 HD Camcorder flyer.
  35. Web site: JVC GZ-HD7 Press Release.