Have CMOS camera sensors improved over time, especially for high ISO image quality?
Asked 10/14/2013
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I’m trying to understand whether DSLR and mirrorless CMOS sensors have meaningfully improved since the early 2000s. For example, newer cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark III seem to perform much better at high ISO than older full-frame cameras like the original 5D. If both use CMOS sensors, what has actually changed? Do sensors themselves keep evolving, or are the improvements mostly due to image processing and other camera electronics?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
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The Canon 5D Mk 3 and Mk 1 does not have the same sensor. They both have sensor based on a CMOS production technique, but that does not mean the sensors are identical.
CMOS is also the same technique used to produce the electronic chips in your computer and mobile phone, and we know those have changed (improved) since 2000. Some of these improvements have also affected sensors used in cameras, but can not explain all the improvement.
There are other improvements with CMOS sensors that have resulted in higher dynamic range, much better ISO performance, new focusing techniques (Canon's dual pixel system) and a whole lot of smaller changes.
Originally by user7271. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7271
12y ago
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Yes—CMOS sensors have improved significantly over time, and newer cameras do not use the same sensor just because both are CMOS. “CMOS” is the manufacturing technology, not a single sensor design.
Over the years, sensor performance has improved through better sensor architectures and supporting electronics, including lower-noise readout, improved microlenses, gapless photodiodes, and in some cases backside illumination. These changes help collect more light and reduce noise, which improves high-ISO image quality and dynamic range. Newer sensor designs have also enabled features such as on-sensor phase detection and Canon’s Dual Pixel AF.
Image quality gains are not only from the sensor itself, though. Camera processing pipelines and noise-reduction algorithms have also improved, so newer cameras can deliver cleaner results from the captured data.
So the short answer is: yes, sensors continue to evolve, and better high-ISO performance in newer cameras comes from both improved sensor design and improved processing.
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