IMX766 Sensor: Details & Performance
The IMX766 is solid hardware, but the real action is in the RAW pipeline and ISP tuning. And that's exactly what we'll look at—evidence-based, myth-free, with practical implications for you.
Quelle: Custom Presentation
IMX766 Sensor Basics
The IMX766 is a 50-megapixel smartphone sensor in a 1/1.56-inch format with 1.0-µm pixels and 2×2 OCL phase-detection (All-Pixel PDAF). It is used in devices such as the Oppo Find X3/X5 (partly used as wide-angle and ultrawide) and the OnePlus Nord 2 is installed. Sony explains the All-Pixel-AF mit On-Chip-Lens (OCL). . The differences in image results among smartphones with the same sensor are due to RAW processing, denoising and tone-mapping, as described in the Android-Kameradokumentation described.
The IMX766 is a quad-Bayer sensor. Four neighboring subpixels carry the same color filter. In low light, they can be analogously combined (binning), which yields more signal and less noise. In bright light, the arrangement can be remosaicked back to high resolution. The Quad-Bayer-Technologie is documented by Sony. The 2×2-OCL-PDAF technique uses the Quad-Bayer structure for autofocus over almost the entire area, as Sony erklärt. . RAW/DNG captures are on Android generally possible via Camera2/DngCreator, provided the device exposes RAW. The Android-Entwicklerdokumentation describes this.
Development & Deployment
Quelle: myfixguide.com
OPPO and Sony introduced the world's first IMX766 sensor in the OPPO Reno5 Pro+ 5G, a milestone in mobile camera technology.
2021 led Oppo with the Find X3 Pro a dual-use: wide-angle and ultrawide-angle, each with IMX766 50 MP. Shortly thereafter, OnePlus used the IMX766 as the main camera with OIS in the Nord 2 The IMX766 as main camera with OIS. 2022 followed the Find X5 Pro with again two IMX766 modules and additional ISP “MariSilicon X” for noise and HDR processing. Parallel appeared manufacturer-specific derivatives such as the IMX766V in vivo models ( X70-Serie, V27), ), according to the manufacturer a customer-specific derivative.
Seit 2023/2024 often appear successors such as the IMX890 (same format, 50 MP) in main cams, e.g., OnePlus 11/12R. . This suggests that OEMs push to the top while IMX766 remains in the mid-high segment.
Quelle: twitter.com
The Sony IMX766 sensor is characterized by its 1/1.56" sensor size, all-pixel autofocus and 4-in-1 pixel binning technology, which improve image quality.
The IMX766 remains widespread for several reasons: firstly, it offers a good cost-performance balance with a sufficiently large area and modern Quad-Bayer-/OCL-AF-Technik. . Secondly, there exists a mature ecosystem, as many ISPs master its quirks. OEM ISPs such as MariSilicon X promise better low-light video/HDR through sensor/RAW-tuned processing, as described in the context of the Oppo Find X5 described. Thirdly, platform dynamics shape the result: Multi-Frame pipelines (e.g., HDR+) reduce noise and widen the dynamic range via RAW-burst merging, causing sensor data to be more influenced by software. This is explained in Forschungsarbeiten zu HDR+ and Multi-Frame-Techniken explained.
Quelle: YouTube
The clip explains clearly why sensors don't 'see color' and why Bayer/Quad-Bayer and demosaicing are so important.
Image Processing & Quality
It is documented that the IMX766 is listed in reputable manufacturer sources as 50 MP, 1/1.56-inch, 1.0-µm pixels and 2×2 OCL-PDAF. Various smartphones use it as main or ultra-wide sensor, as the specifications of the Oppo Reno8 5G, , the Oppo Find X3 Pro and the OnePlus Nord 2 show. The quad-Bayer operation (binning/remosaic) as well as all-pixel AF are technically dokumentiert. . RAW/DNG is via Android-Camera2 provided.
Exact sensor-characteristics such as full MTF curves, full-well capacity, or precise read-noise values for the IMX766 remain unclear since these are not publicly accessible in an official datasheet. Evaluations rely primarily on OEM communication and practical tests. Statements about 'objective' superiority should always be related to implementation and pipeline, as the Android-Kameradokumentation and HDR+-Forschung emphasize.
The claim 'Same sensor = same image quality' is false. ISP design (3A, demosaic, NR, sharpening, tone-mapping) and multi-frame processing massively shape the result; two devices with IMX766 can look very different, as shown in the Android-Kameradokumentation and Forschung zu rekonfigurierbaren ISPs publications. Also '50 MP are always more detailed than 12.5 MP binned' is not necessarily true: Quad-Bayer relies on binning for low-noise images; the remosaic/demosaic quality limits the effective detail resolution, especially in fine color-pattern scenes. This is explained in the Sony-Dokumentation zu Quad-Bayer and Demosaicing-Forschung sources.
Quelle: techjuice.pk
The Sony IMX766 sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) in the Realme 9 Pro+ enables impressive shots even in low light.
OEM press releases describe the IMX766 as a 'flagship sensor' with a focus on low-light/HDR, as in the Find X3/X5 — sometimes even installed twice. OnePlus positioned the Nord 2 as a major leap over the IMX586 of the original Nord (56% more light per the press release). At the same time, the market shift of many top models to the IMX890/neueren LYTIA-Sensoren, shows that OEMs would like more headroom at the top; this relativizes the inflated 'sensor-only' narrative.
Practical Implications
If you pick a phone with the IMX766, pay attention not only to the sensor but also to the optics (aperture, OIS), ISP/SoC, software features (e.g., dedicated night- or HDR-video pipelines) and whether RAW is unlocked. Manufacturer pages list the sensor and camera specs, e.g. Oppo and OnePlus. For RAW workflows: check Camera2/RAW on your device; the Android-Doku and praxisnahe Guides help you get started.
Quelle: YouTube
The walkthrough shows how RAW/DNG captures are practically implemented with Camera2.
Open questions remain regarding the exact differences between IMX766 variants (e.g., IMX766V) beyond marketing—such as QE, SNR, rolling shutter time. Manufacturers do not provide such detail data; here only standardized measurement series (Siemens star, Slanted-Edge MTF, PTC) help. vivo spricht beim IMX766V Of a customer-specific sensor, remains technically vague. Also open: which ISP settings (NR levels, halo protection, tone-mapping) deliver the best balance per scenario? Research into reconfigurable/learnable ISPs makes progress, but OEM pipelines remain proprietary, as discussed in Forschungspapieren discussed.
The IMX766 is a capable, well-understood 1/1.56-inch sensor with all-pixel AF, delivering convincing results in many devices—provided the pipeline and tuning are right. If you want to compare, don't just rely on the datasheet; instead, look at RAW samples, multi-frame behavior, OIS/ optics and the ISP look. This will help you make a more robust decision than simply 'Sensor A vs. Sensor B'—and get more out of what the IMX766 actually offers, as the Sony-Dokumentation, sources Android-Kameradokumentation and HDR+-Forschung demonstrate.