A question about small CCDs at DVinfo.net

Glenn Gipson · June 9th, 2003, 07:09 PM

Do smaller CCD cameras have poor exposure latitude performance, as well as poor low light performance?

Frank Granovski · June 9th, 2003, 07:13 PM

Re: "...poor exposure latitude performance"

Don't know what that means. Perhaps descibe this differently, so I know what you mean. I'm sure our experts will chime in on this one.

Glenn Gipson · June 9th, 2003, 09:05 PM

I guess it would be the dynamic range...that is, how much detail the camera can retain in the high lights they turn white (or over expose.)

Alex Knappenberger · June 9th, 2003, 09:12 PM

Yeah. The size of the CCD doesn't have anything to do with it's dynamic range. Infact, I don't know what really determines how good it is with dark and bright areas, but i'm sure it's the quality, not the size... However, it does have affect the depth of field, and the lowlight capabilities.

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/Glossa...c_Range_01.htm

Yow Cheong Hoe · June 9th, 2003, 09:36 PM

Yes, latitude has to do with the sensitivity of the CCD, not really the size.

Fujifilm is developing into this area, with their current SuperCCD 4th Generation SR. A check on the net will explain how this works.

But for digital video cam, no news as yet.

Vladimir Koifman · June 9th, 2003, 11:29 PM

Yes, all things being equal, dynamic range will be narrower with smaller CCDs.
This is because smaller CCDs have lower storage charge capacity in each pixel, so less electrons can be kept in each pixel.

On the other hand, CCD companies are innovating like crazy, coming with new solutions like one that Yow Cheong mentioned.
Also, new processes are being developed all the time with better pixel storage abilities. So "all things being equal" rarely happens when comparing different size CCDs.

Yow Cheong Hoe · June 10th, 2003, 04:49 AM

Out of topic here, but Asian names are really tough on Westerners.

Just call me YowCH for short. "Yow" is the family name and "Cheong Hoe" is my own name. Here, when we get formal, it'll be Mr Yow. In Chinese, the family name is placed first.

No offence, though! :-)

Vladimir Koifman · June 10th, 2003, 05:44 AM

YowCH, sorry for the mistake. I should have known this, as I visited Singapore some 3 years ago. Very nice city. In many respects, the best city I've seen in the world. And I've seen many.

June 9th, 2003, 07:09 PM	#1
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	A question about small CCDs Do smaller CCD cameras have poor exposure latitude performance, as well as poor low light performance?

June 9th, 2003, 09:36 PM	#5
Yow Cheong Hoe Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Singapore, Passport: Malaysia Posts: 407	Yes, latitude has to do with the sensitivity of the CCD, not really the size. Fujifilm is developing into this area, with their current SuperCCD 4th Generation SR. A check on the net will explain how this works. But for digital video cam, no news as yet. __________________ Cam: Panasonic MX350EN, SOLD my MX8EN Mac: G3 400MHz PowerBook, 256 MB, OS 9 PC: Pentium 4 2800MHz, 512 MB, WindowsXP SW: iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Ulead Video Studio, various little utilities

June 9th, 2003, 07:13 PM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Re: "...poor exposure latitude performance" Don't know what that means. Perhaps descibe this differently, so I know what you mean. I'm sure our experts will chime in on this one.

June 9th, 2003, 09:05 PM	#3
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	I guess it would be the dynamic range...that is, how much detail the camera can retain in the high lights they turn white (or over expose.)

June 9th, 2003, 09:12 PM	#4
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Yeah. The size of the CCD doesn't have anything to do with it's dynamic range. Infact, I don't know what really determines how good it is with dark and bright areas, but i'm sure it's the quality, not the size... However, it does have affect the depth of field, and the lowlight capabilities. http://www.dpreview.com/learn/Glossa...c_Range_01.htm

June 9th, 2003, 11:29 PM	#6
Vladimir Koifman Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Israel Posts: 115	Yes, all things being equal, dynamic range will be narrower with smaller CCDs. This is because smaller CCDs have lower storage charge capacity in each pixel, so less electrons can be kept in each pixel. On the other hand, CCD companies are innovating like crazy, coming with new solutions like one that Yow Cheong mentioned. Also, new processes are being developed all the time with better pixel storage abilities. So "all things being equal" rarely happens when comparing different size CCDs.

June 10th, 2003, 04:49 AM	#7
Yow Cheong Hoe Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Singapore, Passport: Malaysia Posts: 407	Out of topic here, but Asian names are really tough on Westerners. Just call me YowCH for short. "Yow" is the family name and "Cheong Hoe" is my own name. Here, when we get formal, it'll be Mr Yow. In Chinese, the family name is placed first. No offence, though! :-)

June 10th, 2003, 05:44 AM	#8
Vladimir Koifman Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Israel Posts: 115	YowCH, sorry for the mistake. I should have known this, as I visited Singapore some 3 years ago. Very nice city. In many respects, the best city I've seen in the world. And I've seen many.