Canon has announced that it has developed a 52MP APS-H sized sensor, the highest resolution to date in a sensor its size. But don’t get too excited yet–the technology is only a prototype right now, and while the company says the prototype has produced images, it is not expected to be found on any DSLR any time soon.

While Canon won’t say what kinds of cameras they expect the new sensor to appear on, engineers mentioned surveillance cameras and industrial-use inspection equipment as possible applications. However, a 52MP sensor in a traditional digital SLR may be very appealing to studio photographers.

According to an abstract published by Canon, the new CMOS design uses borrows concepts that have already brought higher-resolution still and video cameras. They claim that despite the small pixel size, the image reproduced using their experimental sensor showed “splendid high resolution.”

The sensor measures 31.6×23.1mm. Canon’s designers say they’ve reassessed the structure of the pictures and redesigned them in a way that, they claim, maintains sensitivitiy, dynamic range, and low color blending. They also claim leakage to neighboring pixels, which can cause problems with image quality, has been improved by about 10 percent.

Canon is one of a few camera companies that make their own sensors, which has helped give Canon an edge over many of its competitors, who must buy sensors from their cameras from outside sources such as Sony.