CMOS vs CCD ... Which is better?

Question

In terms of photo quality of an image taken by a digital camera that uses either a CMOS or a CCD technology; which is better, a camera that uses CMOS technology or CCD technology?

Answer 1

Neither is better.



CCD imagers are more expensive to produce; in theory CMOS imagers are cheaper to make. However, CMOS imagers are inherently more noisy due to the supporting circuitry on the chip itself.



Advances in technology and digital signal processing chips have made CMOS imagers better by removing the image noise. In fact, the images from CMOS imagers are now so good that you see them used in high-end cameras and not just point and shoots. CMOS now allows good images to be made for lower costs.



Initially, CMOS was used in point and shoots because it was cheap. At the same time, high end SLRs all used CCD sensors--more expensive, but obviously better image quality at that time. Canon then introduced CMOS to SLRs, relying heavily on their expertise in making the image processing/digital signal processing chips to remove the noise. The result was an extremely high quality image.



These days, there's no real difference in quality between a CCD or a CMOS sensor, and CMOS sensors are cheaper to make, which is why you see them in more cameras, including SLRs. If you're looking for an SLR, buy either kind. For a point and shoot, the key thing to look for is what kind of supporting chip is being used in a CMOS sensor. For example, Canon has its "Digic" chips, which are good for processing images or Panasonic has its "Venus" chips.

Answer 2

These answers are close. The most important thing to take away is that one isn't necessarily better than the other. CCD tends to be more uniform and have better fidelity in good light, and CMOS tends to be much more sensitive in low light. But both types of sensors take outstanding shots. The "Jelly effect" is known by photographers and video tech as "rolling shutter," and it exists on both CCD and CMOS sensors with low-bandwidth connections to their processing circuitry. It's possible to make a CMOS chip that can capture every pixel simultaneously, but this makes the chip much more expensive. Likewise, it's possible to make a CCD that exhibits rolling shutter. At work, I use the Vision Research Phantom, one of the fastest cameras in the world at 90,000 frames per second, and it has a CMOS sensor in it. Leica makes a splended camera, and always has, but the Germans didn't invent either the CCD or the CMOS sensor. The only reason to choose a Leica over a Canon or Nikon is the lenses you want to use, unless you're ready to commit to black-and-white digital photography, as Leica makes the only such camera.

Answer 3

The link provided by Jane H is a great description of the differences between CMOS and CCD technology; but the article itself says that the advancement of both CMOS and CCD has made both options capable of high quality images.



Here is a link to a site that directly compares the sensor quality of specific cameras. Perhaps this will be more effective at differentiating the cameras for you:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database



Keep in mind that the sensor is only one of many criteria you should be using to decide on a camera purchase. Your needs, budget, friends/colleagues shooting the same brand/system, comfort and ease of controls, ergonomics/mass, available lenses... these all should play a part in your decision.