"But we're still doing that today, after decades of digital camera technology, and it really makes no sense anymore: why are we still lump-sum recording light instead of using sensors that can tell how much light passes through it per time unit, instead of "filling up"? (...) Instead of starting a sensor, letting light fall on it, and then turning it off and asking it how much light it found, we have the technological capability to make sensors that change electrical resistance based on how strong a light hits them."
That would mean almost unlimited dynamic range.
One avenue for possible disruption that the article does not mention is through digital cinematography first, where a sensor would have to be "only" 8 Mpixels (4K), and the users have more budget and care about dynamic range. This could starts with the likes of Red or Black Magic and eventually trickle down to the photo market.
Is there any prototype of such a sensor anywhere? What would it take for this to be produced using current processes? Is there any foundry today that could miniaturize these photoresistors?
Thanks again for the article, very refreshing!