Image Sensor: the vitally tiny object that gives you digital images

In the digital camera world, there are two technologies for capturing images digitally. One is CCD (Charge-Coupled Device). Another is CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). Each has its own strengths and weakness. Practically, neither is superior to the other although someone selling only one technology has claimed otherwise.

Both are developed to act like films used in film cameras. They collect light and then transform it into electric signals. After that, signals will be processed at the camera image processor which produces the ready-to-save images.

As of now, all PowerShot except the SX1 IS use the CCD technology. The PowerShot SX1 IS is the first Canon compact camera that has CMOS. CMOS are widely used in the EOS line (DSLR cameras) of Canon. However, choosing CCD or CMOS cameras is not much significant since both are great and the image sensor is not the only factor behind image quality. One other important factor is you, the person behind the camera.


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