CMOS vs CCD

ScottE wrote in post #3729671
Which current Canon camera does not use a CMOS sensor? The way Canon promotes CMOS I thought they had given up on CCD.

Scott

Probably the CCD on the PnS Canons. But all that will change end next year when Canon releases the CMOS for compacts.

Only Canon's Earliest DSLRs used CCD sensors. All current Canon DSLRs use CMOS sensors.

Here is a list of Canon DSLRs from introduction to current:

Model.............Released....Type....MP........Size........Factor
EOS DCS 3...........6/1995....CCD.....1.3....20.5 × 16.4...1.7561
EOS DCS 1..........12/1995....CCD.....6......27.6 × 18.4...1.3043
EOS D2000...........3/1998....CCD.....2......22.8 × 15.5...1.5789
EOS D6000..........12/1998....CCD.....6......27.6 × 18.4...1.3043
EOS D30............10/2000....CMOS....3.25...22.7 × 15.1...1.5859
EOS-1D.............12/2001....CCD.....4.15...28.7 × 19.1...1.2544
EOS D60.............3/2002....CMOS....6.3....22.7 × 15.1...1.5859
EOS-1Ds............11/2002....CMOS...11.1....35.8 × 23.8...1.0056
EOS 10D.............3/2003....CMOS....6.30...22.7 × 15.1...1.5859
EOS 300D............9/2003....CMOS....6.3....22.7 × 15.1...1.5859
EOS-1D Mark II......4/2004....CMOS....8.20...28.7 × 19.1...1.2544
EOS 20D.............9/2004....CMOS....8.25...22.5 × 15.0...1.6000
EOS-1Ds Mark II....11/2004....CMOS...16.7....36.0 × 24.0...1.0000
EOS 20Da............2/2005....CMOS....8.25...22.5 × 15.0...1.6000
EOS 350D............3/2005....CMOS....8.00...22.2 × 14.8...1.6216
EOS-1D Mark IIN....10/2005....CMOS....8.20...28.7 × 19.1...1.2544
EOS 5D.............10/2005....CMOS...12.80...35.8 × 23.9...1.0056
EOS 30D.............3/2006....CMOS....8.20...22.5 × 15.0...1.6000
EOS 400D............9/2006....CMOS...10.10...22.2 × 14.8...1.6216
EOS-1D Mark III.....2/2007....CMOS...10.10...28.1 × 18.7...1.2811

ScottE wrote in post #3729671
Which current Canon camera does not use a CMOS sensor? The way Canon promotes CMOS I thought they had given up on CCD.

Scott

Cosworth was not referring to "current" cameras only,.. his reference to a "top of the line" model with a CCD is the original 1D "classic" 4.5MP
And at the time of the 1D classic, just as Cosworth says, the CCD was the best technology available, Canon that really pushed the development of CMOS was only starting out with it with the 3MP D30 at the time,. they did not put a CMOS into a pro model until the 1Ds a while later.

Hi all,

Canon put a lot into setting up their very own CMOS sensor R&D and manufacturing, and is reaping the dividends from their rather substantial investment.

For one thing, this is what allows them to offer a choice of full frame, 1.3X/APS-H and 1.6X/APS-C format D-SLRs alongside each other at what are relatively reasonable price points, all things considered.

It's only logical that they'd also ultimately develop the smaller CMOS sensors to use in their own P&S digitals (rather than buying CCDs from someone else). P&S, due to their smaller sensors, are up against a wall in terms of megapixels, much more than 10MP isn't really feasible. Also, currently much above ISO 400 loses image quality pretty quickly in the CCD sensor P&S. CMOS may make higher ISOs more practical in those cameras, too.


Meanwhile, most other D-SLR manufacturers have had to outsource their sensors, and what's available for photographic purposes are largely CCD. Choices of sizes and capabilities are limited to what the suppliers already have or can put into production fairly quickly and relatively affordably. Sony makes CCD sensors. So did Kodak, although I'm not sure if they still do. I think Panasonic and Samsung also make CCDs, but am not certain of this.

Both CCD and CMOS sensors have had their own issues in the past. Between continuing development of both the hardware and the software algorithms used to operate them, they've each improved in leaps and bounds. The capabilities of each have somewhat converged and they are relatively equal in most aspects, now.

Still, there are some differences. By their nature CMOS use less power and, due to that, are less likely to have "cross talk" between photosites (which causes image "noise" at higher ISOs in particular). A CCD may be able to come close in performance, but is going to need more aggressive noise reduction done by the software during image processing. CCD for imaging were cheaper to produce historically, but Canon has driven their cost for CMOS down but self-manufacturing.

Canon's just recently announced the first 50MP imaging sensor, also CMOS. It's not really intended for use in cameras - yet - but you can bet they will happily sell it to whoever for whatever scientific uses they might find for it, so long as the buyer is offering products that don't compete directly with any of Canon's.

So you might say Canon first become a behind the scenes, major player in the imaging sensor field on their own behalf, and now will be a supplier for others as well. Nice position to be in, especially if you can control to some degree what your direct competitors have access to.