CMOS vs CCD

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
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what is the difference between two? Which is better for modeling?
 

finbarqs

Diamond Member
Feb 16, 2005
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you wont notice the difference today, but CCD uses an active pixel sensor as opposed to CMOS which uses a passive pixel sensor. (CCD's battery life is a lot worse than CMOS because of this!)

but in all actuality, CCD captures "finer" detail than CMOS. so, yeah. CCD.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
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Mar 4, 2000
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And, the CCD is more expensive to manufacture, and therefore makes products using CMOS cheaper, all other things being equal.
 

finbarqs

Diamond Member
Feb 16, 2005
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you'll learn more... then your photography will go downwards, then upwards, then you'll hate it, and you'll love it again!
 

finbarqs

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Feb 16, 2005
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Sounds like a katy perry song... Actually, I'm intrigued by the new Sigma SD1... That's got some serious detail in it that CCD's can't even capture!
 

magomago

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Sep 28, 2002
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Sounds like a katy perry song... Actually, I'm intrigued by the new Sigma SD1... That's got some serious detail in it that CCD's can't even capture!

if they overcome the problems that plague virtually every other sigma camera....
 

finbarqs

Diamond Member
Feb 16, 2005
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if you're talking about low light sensitivity, then yeah... it's not gonna beat a nikon D3/D700 or a 5D Mark 2. What it WILL have over those is that the uniformity of the grain will be more pleasing (actually LIKE using high ISO film) rather than the traditional noise you see on digital sensors!

Oh and auto focus I think is still 14 points, but I think if you stick with center point, it'll be fine :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjUlJU6SKEU&feature=related
 

Kingkazma

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Feb 23, 2011
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well dslrs use cmos since they take stills so things like rolling shutter really dont matter.

but for a hdslr user like me ._. that kinda sucks.
 

nboy22

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2002
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Red One does have rolling shutter problem.

Yeah I was gonna say, it does have the issue... There are plugins to help correct the issue though, such as The Foundry's Rolling Shutter for adobe after effects.
 

finbarqs

Diamond Member
Feb 16, 2005
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oops, i remember reading somewhere how they combat the rolling shutter issue.. Sucks for people who just plopped down 58k for their EPIC camera... But then again... Perhaps maybe they don't use it in conditions where Rolling shutter would affect it heavily...
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
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CCD is cheaper than CMOS but I really like a Canon PowerShot SX1 IS over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
 

Knavish

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May 17, 2002
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FYI in a scientific setting, from a microscope to a telescope, CCDs are used where ever image sensitivity is important. (Frequently black and white, 16 bits per pixel, seconds to minutes of exposure time.)

I've been told by machine vision specialists that CMOS focal planes require substantial processing to to correct for nonuniform response between pixels. (I've looked at raw CMOS output from one camera and it looked like a Star Trek starfield from all the bright and dim pixels.) I'd be willing to bet $$$ that all modern DSLRs do some intensive processing on the image even before the "raw" output -- specifically nonuniformity correction and dead pixel replacement.

All this being said, CMOS DSLRs do produce amazing looking images to the human eye. FYI, a decent ~750x500 scientific grade CCD camera starts just below $2000!
 
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