Sony IMX811 meets UltraCam Osprey 4.2: A new era of efficiency
31 March 2025
The demand for higher resolution and greater efficiency in aerial imaging is constantly growing. To meet these evolving requirements, the new UltraCam Osprey 4.2 aerial camera integrates Sony’s latest IMX811 CMOS sensor. With an impressive 247 effective megapixels and a refined 2.81 µm pixel pitch, this sensor represents a major leap in performance and a significant advancement in imaging technology.
In this blog post, we will explore how the cutting-edge IMX811, combined with custom UltraCam optics and advanced UltraMap processing, delivers unmatched efficiency and renowned industry-leading UltraCam nadir and oblique image quality —while seamlessly integrating into the existing Vexcel ecosystem.
Sony has long been a leader in sensor development, and the IMX811 is yet another testament of its technological superiority.
In 2024, Sony introduced the IMX811, a truly remarkable imaging sensor with approximately 250 MP—an increase of nearly 100 MP over its predecessor, the IMX411, which featured around 150 MP. The IMX811 utilizes significantly smaller 2.81 µm pixels compared to the IMX411’s 3.76 µm pixel pitch. This reduction results in a pixel area that is 1.8 times smaller, potentially leading to decreased light intake, increased noise, and reduced dynamic range. However, Sony has impressively engineered the new sensor to overcome these challenges, ensuring it maintains the same superior image quality as the IMX411.
IMX811: Higher pixel density, same outstanding image quality. Although the two sensors are similar in size, the IMX811 packs 1.8 times more pixels into the same area—all while maintaining exceptional image quality.
Enhanced resolution, consistent quality
Despite the smaller 2.81 µm pixels, the UltraCam Osprey 4.2 continues to deliver the industry-leading image quality and dynamic range that made the UCO 4.1 (with a larger 3.76 µm pixel pitch) the benchmark in the market. This is achieved through:
- Our custom-designed lenses, which are optimized to fully resolve the new sensor
- Our proprietary True Pixel Processing (TPP), which significantly improves the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of the processed nadir and oblique images captured by the sensor
- Sony's outstanding sensor performance
Significant gains in collection efficiency
The IMX811 sensor boosts UltraCam Osprey 4.2 efficiency and coverage substantially. With 27% more flight line efficiency, it allows for a wider swath in both nadir and oblique imagery.
Additionally, the impact of air traffic control (ATC) restrictions is reduced, as:
- The standard lens system model enables data capture at higher altitudes while maintaining the same ground sample distance (GSD) as its predecessor.
- The tele lens system model further enhances collection capabilities, enabling 10 cm GSD capture at flight altitudes above 4,200 m.
Full compatibility with established workflows and systems
Rapid capture intervalls. With a higher pixel count comes an increase in data volume, which must be efficiently transferred and processed. The advanced computing system of the UCO 4.2 is designed to meet this demand, enabling data capture at up to 1 frame every 0.7 seconds.
Seamless integration with UltraMap Workflow. Data from the new UltraCam Osprey 4.2 can be processed within the UltraMap workflow as usual. There are no new system requirements for processing the larger images; comparable project sizes can be processed within similar processing times.
The UltraCam Osprey 4.2 will be commercially available in autumn 2025. In the meantime, select systems are being used in the Vexcel Data Program, ensuring that customers benefit from a fully refined and field-proven system at launch.
Read the official press release
Want to learn more about how the Osprey 4.2 can elevate your aerial imaging? Discover the full potential of this powerful system and explore its cutting-edge features.
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