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With both the D3 and D300, Nikon has started to use CMOS sensors, instead of the usual CCD. CMOS technology is what Canon has been using in its DSLRs all along.

Will Nikon stop using CCD technology entirely, or will it keep it for the consumer market, while reserving CMOS for its semi-professional range?

Maybe we are witnessing the start of CCD technology obsolescence?

What do you think?

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Nikon D90 + MB-D80 + SB-600 + AF-S VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 + AF-S 35mm f/1.8 + AF 85mm f/1.8 | My photos on Flickr.

I think the advances in CMOS make CCD obsolete.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I'm not sure the shift is a good thing. I intentionally bought a D50 with CCD because I liked the type of image it produces compared to Canon's CMOS. But, I haven't seen many D3 or D300 images so maybe that'll change.

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BrianS
D50, 70-300mm VR, 50mm f/1.8

I didn't realise that there were image quality differences between the two types. I always thought that the reasons for choosing either one were down to other technical or economical factors. Either way, I'm not too bothered about the kind of sensor that is in my camera as long as the image quality is good.

Wasn't Nikon supposed to have invested heavily in the LBCAST(JFET) type sensor that can be found in the D2h? Whatever happened to that?

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Graham
Flickr

Yup, obsolete too (LBCAST that is)!
And to clarify further: "obsolete" doesn't mean that the IQ is bad. It just is a combination of design and manufacturing parameters that let the makers steer towards CMOS.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

.
I finally got around to reading Canon's Full-Frame CMOS White Paper (1.1 MB .PDF file) this evening. Pages 13 through 19 and onwards have an informative analysis of the pros and cons of CMOS vs. CCD which, obviously, are applicable whoever the manufacturer.

Bob.

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Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

wow thanks alot that helped me

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Thanks for the link, Bob. I'll sure read it.

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Nikon D90 + MB-D80 + SB-600 + AF-S VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 + AF-S 35mm f/1.8 + AF 85mm f/1.8 | My photos on Flickr.

The CCD is a technology more purifield and mature than CMOS.

The CCD has advance over CMOS:
-The CCD controls more better the noise
-The definition is better
-The production is more cheap

The compact digital camera still use the CCD for this, but its bigger problem is the transfer speed of each pixel.

The maximum speed of transfer was of CCD 10MPx of the Nikon D200, this sensor was a variation of the CCD 10MPx of D40x, D80, K10D, GX-10 and a100. This sensor had 4 channel output (2 channel in other cameras) and 5fps.

A camera with 3 to 5fps a CCD could be a good option and Sony modified the CCD 10MPx for a200 and a300 and now this is a SuperHAD.
The new CCD in the a350 of 14MPx is a good example about use of a CCD in actual DSLR.
For DSLR entry-level and APS-C no more than 12 or 14MPx and 3fps, a CCD is a good choise.

CMOS has good advantage:
-Less energy
-More transfer speed (10fps)
-More capacity in the chip integration

Excuse my english...

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Samsung NX100
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS
iFn 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED
iFn 20mm f/2.8 (coming soon)
30mm f/2
50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED OIS
Sony VAIO CR140F White

I think I read somewhere that Nikon made use of their research in the LBCAST technology in the D3's CMOS sensor. Can't find my source though sorry.

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Graham
Flickr

One question...

I had been reading about the sensor and I read Canon EOS-D30 had a sensor of 3MPx APS-C CCD and the EOS-1D with 6MPx (I don´t remember) a APS-H CCD too.
Is it rigth??

Is interest the sensor evolution in the market...

Excuse my english...

_________________
Samsung NX100
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS
iFn 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED
iFn 20mm f/2.8 (coming soon)
30mm f/2
50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED OIS
Sony VAIO CR140F White

Actually, alexramos,

I had believed CMOS controls noise better, and the definition is better.

Quote from a camera brochure I once read:
"CMOS is the next step in technology after CCDs."

Hope no one minds a Sony user participating in the Nikon forum.

SnS

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.: Sony DT 18-70mm :: Sony 75-300mm :: Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 :: Minolta 24mm f/2.8 :: Sony 50mm f/1.8 :: Samyang 8mm f/3.5 fisheye :: SLIK Pro 330DX :: Manfrotto 496RC2 :.


my flickr

I think the better advantage of the CMOS than CCD is in the flexibility of design and the more spread possibility about control noise, but the CCD has, itself, a better performance in the least noise.

But the need for speed (high rate for transfer) mean the brands to use the CMOS and improve it.

Excuse my english...

_________________
Samsung NX100
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS
iFn 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED
iFn 20mm f/2.8 (coming soon)
30mm f/2
50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED OIS
Sony VAIO CR140F White