Canon MS-510 SPAD camera hits 0.0006 lux for $22,800

Canon unveiled the MS-510 multi-purpose camera at NAB 2026, built around a 1-inch Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor. The sensor carries approximately 3.2 million pixels — the highest pixel count in a SPAD imaging sensor announced for broadcast use — and achieves a minimum subject illumination of 0.0006 lux. That figure represents a 40% improvement over its predecessor's 0.001 lux threshold, enabling full-color video capture in near-total darkness.

Output is up to 1080p 59.94 via 3G-SDI, with a B4 lens mount, RS-422/485 control, and support for up to 20 customizable image presets. Canon describes the SPAD mechanism as one where a single photon striking a pixel generates an electron that is then multiplied approximately one million times through an avalanche effect — the underlying reason these sensors outperform conventional CMOS and CCD chips in extreme low-light scenarios.

The MS-510 is positioned for sports, wildlife, security, and specialty broadcast deployments where supplemental lighting is either impractical or prohibited. Canon is showing the camera at Booth C3825 in the Central Hall. Pricing is set at $22,800 USD, with availability expected later in 2026. The model is distinct from Canon's CINE-SERVO 40-1200mm cinema zoom lens, which targets a different segment of the production market.