Whats the difference between a CMOS and a CCD sensor. Is it just one is Canons version and one is Nikons version? Is one better than the other?
It's two totally different technologies. Neither one is superior to the other, just different, and they are not proprietary technologies either. It's difficult to explain but give this article a shot and see if it helps... http://www.dalsa.com/markets/ccd_vs_cmos.asp
I think that article does a good job trying to explain. I do remember early on about how CCD sensors were sharper and better than CMOS, and then I heard Canon went with CMOS for their dSLR line. Well, like the article said, the reverse of what the original expectations were came true. CMOS is the larger sensor primary type now, and CCD has 99% of the P&S market. (I think the only exception is Sigma's DP-1 which has the Foveon CMOS sensor). Meanwhile, the more expensive dSLRs are now all CMOS: Olympus: CMOS Pentax K20: CMOS (all other Pentax are CCD) Canon: All CMOS Nikon: D3, D300: CMOS D60,D80,D200,D40: CCD Sony: A700 is CMOS. Everything else is CCD. Sony's 24mp A900 is CMOS. A better discussion isn't CMOS v CCD, it would be Bayer v. Foveon v. new Kodak v. Fuji's Super-CCD (those are the sensor styles/design)
