Difference between revisions of "CMOS"
m (link->CCD) |
m (Corrected heading) |
||
(5 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
− | '''CMOS''' (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is a technology | + | '''CMOS''' (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is a technology used in fabricating integrated circuit chips<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cmos CMOS] article at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia]</ref>. But in the context of photography, it is one of the two alternative technologies used in digital camera [[sensor|image sensors]]; the other being [[CCD]]s. |
− | + | Early digital cameras tended to use CCD sensors, as this was the more mature technology. The evolution of CMOS sensors had a steeper learning curve, and originally their use was confined to lower-cost products where image quality was not an overriding concern. However [[Canon]] and [[Sony]] refined CMOS sensors through several generations; today (2011) when comparing sensors of equal size, CMOS sensors generally exceed CCDs in image quality measures<ref>[http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/Sensor-rankings DxO Mark Sensor Rankings] at [http://www.dxomark.com/index.php DxO Mark]</ref>. | |
+ | |||
+ | Typically a CMOS design uses active circuitry placed on directly on the chip itself, which can speed image readout and help with noise reduction. The added circuit complexity does increase the up-front costs to the chip developer; thus we see sensor manufacturer [[Sony]] trying to recoup some of those costs by selling sensor chips to its nominal competitors in the camera market: Pentax, Nikon, Leica, etc. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As HD video has increasingly been seen as a must-have bullet point in digital camera sales, the speed advantage of CMOS chips has helped make them the default choice in new camera designs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Notes== | ||
+ | <references/> | ||
[[Category: Camera parts]] | [[Category: Camera parts]] | ||
[[Category: Digital]] | [[Category: Digital]] |
Revision as of 04:01, 16 July 2017
CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is a technology used in fabricating integrated circuit chips[1]. But in the context of photography, it is one of the two alternative technologies used in digital camera image sensors; the other being CCDs.
Early digital cameras tended to use CCD sensors, as this was the more mature technology. The evolution of CMOS sensors had a steeper learning curve, and originally their use was confined to lower-cost products where image quality was not an overriding concern. However Canon and Sony refined CMOS sensors through several generations; today (2011) when comparing sensors of equal size, CMOS sensors generally exceed CCDs in image quality measures[2].
Typically a CMOS design uses active circuitry placed on directly on the chip itself, which can speed image readout and help with noise reduction. The added circuit complexity does increase the up-front costs to the chip developer; thus we see sensor manufacturer Sony trying to recoup some of those costs by selling sensor chips to its nominal competitors in the camera market: Pentax, Nikon, Leica, etc.
As HD video has increasingly been seen as a must-have bullet point in digital camera sales, the speed advantage of CMOS chips has helped make them the default choice in new camera designs.