CCD or CMOS

[jonnypb]

looking to get a camcorder for my dad and will spend upto £450ish

can't decide to get a camcorder with a cmos sensor or one that uses CCD

if i were to get a 3CCD is that better than cmos or vica-versa?

from what i've read is cmos better in low light but a 3ccd one will produce better colours?

thanks

[redsox_mark]

Well here is the Sony (CMOS) side of the story..
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...-of-Choice.htm

Whilst each has some advantages, really I don't think any one technology has an advantage in terms of quality. The low light vs. colours tradeoff is a size vs. number of sensors issue rather than CMOS vs CCD. It just so happens that the companies who have many single large sensor models (Sony) use CMOS, whilst Panasonic and JVC go with 3 CCD. Sony also has 3-CMOS models, like the FX7.

Best advice is not to worry about this too much, and compare one camcorder with another as an overall package. Sometimes the best choice may be a single CMOS model, others it may be 3 CCD, or even 3 CMOS.

[rhubarbe]

I have a Pana HDC-SD7 (3CCD) and a Canon HV10 (CMOS) and I can't tell the difference.

[senu]

Using still cameras as an example, The Nikon D80 uses a CCD and Canon 30/40D CMOS... Whichis better??
It is the implementation of the technology and not the specifics
I have 2 Sony HDV camcorders, one uses Cmos and the other CCD..
Ive also used one with a 3X CMOS..
It isnt the sensor that makes one better than the other

[Chris Muriel]

I agree with all those who answered in terms of actual sensor technology being largely irrelevant.
The signal conditioning and processing after the sensor itself has more relevance, e.g. a decent implementation of correlated double sampling (CDS) which is what goes on immediately after the sensor itself and before any digital processing.
Here's a fairly old article but it explains the principals :
http://www.analog.com/library/analog...ignal_pro.html

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_pixel_sensor

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge-coupled_device

Chris Muriel, Manchester

[rhubarbe]

So, there you have it, guys: Delphi, Dodona, Didyma and now Manchester.

[jonnypb]

Thanks for all the replys. I kind of like the Sony DCR-SR190 - £410ish. Would this one be a good one to go for?

Mainly used for capturing family moments, both indoor and outdoor use

Thanks

[senu]

I really don't know it but I would imagine that for a average priced HDD camcorder you could do worse.

If you spend bit more and considered tape you could get a Hi definition model HDV .Canon or Sony model or Panasonic SD all of which would be better IQ

[rhubarbe]

I'd go for this if you want an HDD cam. 3CCD, HDD, SDHC and only £339.

http://www.purelygadgets.co.uk/showp...5126&wysiwyg=2

Bit of a bargain, or "bargin" as they say on eBay.

[redsox_mark]

Interestingly enough, the SR190 is a single large CMOS, the Panasonic H250 is 3 small CCD...

Video performance between the two should be very similar. For the price I agree the H250 is a good deal.

[redsox_mark]

Or high def Panasonic (memory card based) one here for £420...
Hi-Def Panasonic HDC-SD1 Super Bargain Price ?

[rhubarbe]

Well, it's got to be that one, then, really.

[jonnypb]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

Or high def Panasonic (memory card based) one here for £420...
Hi-Def Panasonic HDC-SD1 Super Bargain Price ?

does look nice but alot of people are saying the AVCHD codec format is just a stop gap until blu-ray is released for the camcorder and people are put off as it's not like dvd or hdd recorders that you can play in your standard dvd player or pc without any problems as with AVCHD codec theres a bit of converting that needs done to it before it can be played in a dvd player

[redsox_mark]

It is true that AVCHD needs further processing if you want to play it on an ordinary standard def DVD player.

I'm not sure about it being a "stop gap until blu-ray is released". In terms of DVD camcorders yes - we've already seen models which record direct to a blu-ray disc announced, and for direct to DVD cams this will replace AVCHD. But for HDD and flash memory? The stream format and most of the structure of AVCHD are derived from the Blu-ray Disc BDMV format, which is why AVCHD files play on a Blu-ray player. Or to look at it another way, AVCHD is already a blu-ray compatible format for HDD and flash memory... will it soon be replaced by another?

With the world quickly moving to high def, you could say any standard def camcorder is a "stop gap".

If your priority is easy creation of standard def DVDs, then clearly AVCHD isn't the way to go. But if you have any high def kit (or plan to get it soon), and a fast PC, it is an option.

[MarkE19]

Back to the origional question of CCD vs CMOS

In real life use a camera/camcorder with a/3 CMOS sensor(s) will have better battery life as a CMOS requires less power.
I have a Canon 350D & an older Canon P&S that both use the same batteries. The 350D with CMOS will take a few hundred pictures on a single battery, but I only get around 50 on the P&S with CCD. I know this is still camera, but it is the sensor that makes the difference.

Hope this helps,
Mark.