HD ----- CMOS vs CCD & Progressive Vs Interlaced video

SmUrF · Oct 31, 2006

There is just so much to think about when it comes to buying a camera and if u are new to HD like me,nearly impossible to work out what is going on. Which is better CMOS Or CCD , PROGRESSIVE or INTERLACED video..... sony have really put the hard yards down with there HD rang of camera's from the FX1(3CCD) to the pro version of the Z1(3CCD) to the new FX7(CMOS) and her Pro the V1(CMOS).....

can anyone help me out and paint a clear picture to which camera to get.. the camera will mainly be used for underwater surf photograhy and will be used mostly in Day light..

:? please help !!! :?

MarkG · Oct 31, 2006

Well, I suspect that CCDs are going to be replaced in general with CMOS chips over the next few years. The V1 images I've seen look pretty good, from what I understand (and I may be wrong) the resolution is lower than the Z1, the contrast handling is better and it's not as good in low light. So the choice isn't a no-brainer, it depends on what you plan to use it for.

Personally I'd go for progressive over interlaced just because there aren't many interlaced 1080 displays anymore: with people choosing LCD panels over CRTs, any interlaced footage has to be deinterlaced for display in any case.

Tim Kolb · Nov 2, 2006

It is a tough one.

CMOS, as MarkG states is where the most likely future lies...but in the short term, a CCD is more light sensitive as a CMOS sensor has a significant portion of each sensor's surface area occupied by a transisitor.

Progressive is a good thing, but interlace isn't that big an issue as most cams will simulate progressive with certain settings...the Canon does progressive segmented frame whereas the Sony Z1 just deinterlaces...

The panasonic isn't a bad camera but P2 cards introduce costs beyond just the cost of the cards themselves...

in the short term I'd say that Z1's are coming down in price and none of the Sony successor model cameras switch between 30f/25fps (North America/Europe) so that is a nice feature in that you can shoot 25 "p" on a Z1 and edit video that has a fairly "filmic" cadence without the goofy CineFrame 24 artifacts...