Sony announces a new 5.6 million dots OLED EVF with 240fps refresh rate

Sony announced a new ECX339A OLED Microdisplay featuring UXGA (1600 x 1200 resolution), the highest in class for a 0.5-type. This EVF also achieves the world’s smallest pixel pitch of 6.3μm (resolution 1.6x higher than the previous model). When paired with Sony’s original driving system, a frame rate up to 240 fps is supported (double that of the previous model).

This is a good news since EVF has been one of the week aspects of mirrorless cameras (at least for me). The new EVF promises to be even better than the one in the $6k Leica SL (4.4 million dots and 1,470,000 pixels). So we might see this in the upcoming Sony A7S III full frame mirrorless camera.

When paired with Sony’s original driving system*2, a frame rate up to 240 fps is supported—double that of previous product*1.

Enhancing the resolution on microdisplays has traditionally presented problems such as deteriorating image quality due to decreased pixel pitch and inferior viewing angle properties. The new product features optimized transistors layout and process to address uneven characteristics and loss of withstand voltage, the issues associated with transistor miniaturization. The Sony original variation compensation circuit also enhances picture quality. Additionally, the color filter is deposited directly on the silicon substrate, reducing its distance from the light emitting layer, and the filter’s color array has been modified. This helps to secure the viewing angle properties while achieving high resolution.
OLED Microdisplays are widely used in digital camera electronic viewfinders (EVF) for their superior high contrast, high color gamut, and high-speed responsiveness. Sony, having achieved this high resolution and high frame rate, now offers even more realistic image display and accurate capture of subjects for use in high-end cameras that demand extremely high image quality.

Going forward, Sony expects this high-definition OLED Microdisplay to be employed in a diverse range of fields and applications such as AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) head-mounted displays.

*1Compared with the Sony OLED Microdisplay ECX337A (0.5-type QVGA (1280×960)).
*2Driving method of dual vertical line simultaneously (“Dual-line progressive” driving technique)

Comparison of images on OLED Microdisplays New product (UXGA, left) and previous product (QVGA, right)

Main Features

1.High-resolution UXGA in a 0.5-type

The new product has achieved the world’s smallest pixel pitch of 6.3μm by leveraging Sony’s proprietary OLED display technology and miniaturization technology, and has superior resolution 1.6x higher than the previous model*1. Generally, transistor miniaturization results in characteristic variation and reduced withstand voltage. This product uses a Sony original compensation circuit and optimized layouts and process for each individual transistor to address these adverse effects. Furthermore, the color filter is deposited directly on the silicon substrate, reducing its distance from the light emitting layer, and the filter’s color array has been modified to secure the viewing angle properties while achieving high resolution.

Measures to secure viewing angle even with smaller pixel pitch New product (UXGA, left) and previous product (QVGA, right)

2.High-speed frame rate

A new drive circuit design supports a high frame rate of up to 240 fps*2, nearly double that of its predecessor*1. This has made it possible to capture fast-moving subjects in the viewfinder with higher accuracy, so users will not miss a photo opportunity, delivering a more comfortable shooting experience. In head-mounted display devices, this will help to improve image delay issue for items superimposed on real-world vision of AR and to avoid motion sickness during usage of these kinds of devices.

3.Low power consumption

By employing newly-designed peripheral circuits that operate on half the voltage of previous model*1, the new product delivers the same low-power operation as its predecessor when operating at the same frame rate, despite the nearly 1.6x increase in the number of pixels.

Key Specifications

via Sony