GearBits

Foveon-Based Polaroid Digicam

Foveon and Polaroid today announced a new digital camera integrating the 4.5 megapixel Foveon X3 sensor. The Polaroid x530 is the world’s first X3 point-and-shoot digital camera.

Foveon X3 image sensors capture color in three semiconductor layers, similar to color film. The result of this pixel multiplexing is richer colors, warmer tones, and sharper images compared to traditional digital image sensors.

Other cameras incorporating X3 technology are the Sigma SD-9 and SD-10 professional-class digital cameras.

The introduction of the Polaroid x530 brings this capability to mainstream consumers in an affordable point-and-shoot digicam.

Polaroid expects shipping in June 2004, at a suggested retail price of $399.