How the Image Sensor Affects the Camera
The image sensor of a camera is the primary measure of the camera's quality. This is a misconception because everything affects the quality the camera is about to output. However, the focus on the image sensor is justified since it is the design of the pixels that really determines the quality of the image. There are two types of technologies used to make the camera's image sensor.
These two types are the charge-coupled device, or CCD, and the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, or CMOS. And despite being viewed as rivals in the camera industry, each type of image sensor really has its own strengths and weaknesses. So the better sensor depends on the situation it is to be used in.
CCD sensors were developed specifically to be used in cameras and for the purpose of capturing images. CMOS sensors were developed off standard technology already in use, such as memory chips in computers. However, CMOS sensors today are being developed further for the purpose of being in cameras and the image quality it provides is improving.
The main benefit of a CCD sensor over a CMOS sensor is the higher light sensitivity. Being more sensitive to light means it can produce a better image in conditions where lighting is low.
The two downsides to the CCD sensors are really the true advantages to CMOS sensors. The CCDs make the cameras more expensive since they are harder to put into a camera and an equivalent sensor uses almost one hundred times more power than a CMOS sensor.
With the CMOS sensor, it is very quickly closing the gap in terms of image quality to the CCD sensor. Cameras that are built with CMOS sensors are lower in cost because the cameras are much easier to build.
The CMOS sensors allow for much more integration possibilities and functions than the CCD could. It also has a faster readout which is important when you get into megapixels and require less energy and a smaller system size. You will find megapixel CMOS cameras much more than a megapixel CCD sensor simply because of the cost differentiation.
When it comes to megapixel sensors in cameras, the sensors themselves are about the same size or only slightly larger than traditional VGA sensors. This means that the size of each pixel is smaller. So while the megapixel camera can provide higher resolution and greater detail, it is less light sensitive since the pixel size is smaller and light reflected from an object is spread to more pixels.
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