Fujifilm's new SuperCCD EXR sensor sticks to the hexagonal photosite array, but a different colour filter arrangement so that same-coloured photosites lie next to each other on diagonal lines. The first camera to use this sensor is the FinePix F200EXR, a compact with a 5x wideangle zoom. The sensor design means images can be processed in three different ways to maximise definition, low-light performance and dynamic range respectively.
This diagram shows the old photosite arrangement (left) and the new EXR arrangement (right). The Fine Capture Mode uses all the pixels for maximum resolution, Pixel Fusion Mode combines adjacent pixels to maximise light-gathering power for improved high-ISO/low light performance, and Dual Capture mode combines exposures from two sets of pixels to produce a high dynamic range result.
The disadvantage of the Pixel Fusion and Dual Capture modes is that because pixels are doubled up, the pictures are only half the resolution. So if the camera captures 16 million pixels in the normal high-resolution mode, you'll get 8-megapixel images in the high-sensitivity and high dynamic range modes.
This is more of a perceived problem than a real one, though. Megapixels are overrated, and 8 megapixels is fine for most needs and the reduction in resolution is well worth it for the extra image quality available in the conditions these modes are designed for.
