CMOS for a P&S

[ukcatfan]

I just came across this story on Canon investing in a new CMOS factory that will also supply some p&s models. This could be very interesting for the future of p&s cameras.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0707/070715canoncmoscompact.asp

Kevin

 

[Groucho]

Well, I don't know if that is really going to change anything. Here is an article from back in February about Sony developing a new 1/1.8" CMOS sensor that can output 6mp at 60fps. (Or high-speed at 300fps!) Now that sounds pretty neat, that's a good bit higher resolution than 1080P high-def! Now we need to see it in some actual cameras...

 

[Anewman]

Well, I don't know if that is really going to change anything.

Traditionally canon p&s cameras have been using CCDs(sony), I think it will be interesting to see if switching some models over to Cmos will have an effect on noise levels. Also IMO it might lead to Canon using bigger sensors in some p&s cameras, now that would be producing their own chips for them.


I agree, this could become very interesting.

 

[ukcatfan]

Traditionally canon p&s cameras have been using CCDs(sony), I think it will be interesting to see if switching some models over to Cmos will have an effect on noise levels. Also IMO it might lead to Canon using bigger sensors in some p&s cameras, now that would be producing their own chips for them.


I agree, this could become very interesting.

That is the trend that I am hoping will happen. Just being a similar sized CMOS does not mean that there will be any improvement, but if they are making the sensors, they might be able to force the market to accept larger sensors in a p&s. It will never go to DSLR size IMO because then people will not be able to use the cameras as easily and that is not what they want from the p&s market level. It would also cause focal length ranges to decrease with larger sensors. Also, the average p&s user does not want to concern themselves with DOF. It is currently huge on a p&s due to the sensor size.

Kevin

 

[webshark3]

Remember this:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0405/04052402cheezfoxz2.asp

There's a big difference between doing CMOS, and doing CMOS right. FOrtunately, Canon is the company to do it right.

As I understood it, CMOS sensors are inherently noisier than CCD. It's Canon's technology that keeps them cleaner than current CCDs. Could be wrong. Thought I read that years ago in a tech article.

 

[Anewman]

As I understood it, CMOS sensors are inherently noisier than CCD. It's Canon's technology that keeps them cleaner than current CCDs. Could be wrong. Thought I read that years ago in a tech article.

Think that was the perception a few years ago, but IMO it was a result of comparing CHEAP CMOS sensors with higher end CCDs. There just happened to be many more cheaply produced CMOS back then.

While the fact is that there are good and bad sensors regardless of what type they are, if you compare a good CMOS with a good CCD the noise levels should be comparable.