Super HAD CCD Sony – what?

April 24, 2023April 24, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Released in 2005, this Sony is a stunning performer thanks to its ‘Super HAD CCD’ sensor.

What is ‘Super HAD’? Hole-accumulation Diode Technology. As CCD sensors got smaller and resolution increased, Sony placed “on-chip microlenses” directly on top of each pixel on the CCD which have been able to gather and focus more light directly onto the individual pixels. From Sony – “By optimizing the shape of the on-chip microlens we have reduced the invalid area between each individual pixels’ microlens, and therefore have also reduced the amount of incident light lost.” What Sony’s Super HAD Technology means is a signal-to-noise ratio improved by 3 to 4 dB giving a clearer, crisper, and more natural high-quality digital image.

Straight from the camera. At 7.2 megapixels this image is more than acceptable, in fact, I like it over images of the same subject taken with much higher resolution cameras with bigger sensors (including full-frame sensors). To me, it looks like an image taken with a film camera.

Image captured with my Canon EOS R 30 megapixel CMOS mirrorless camera with a Canon RF 70-200 f4L IS USM lens. Admittedly this lens is not known for its close-up abilities so it’s not necessarily the best lens for this test. The lighting had changed by the time I shot this image over the previous image taken with the Sony.

If you’re interested in returning to using a digicam with a CCD sensor then you may find my Sony to be just what you want. I’ve added it to my camera shop CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

I believe the combination of superior Carl Zeiss optics and Sony’s Super HAD CCD sensor makes this a sleeper in the compact point & shoot digicam market. By the way, when new in 2005 it listed for $399 MSRP. In 2005 dollars that was a pretty expensive camera (even in 2023 that’s expensive).

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Comments are always welcomed as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by, and while you’re at it, feel free to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios hosted by Etsy). – Chris Whelan

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One subject, three cameras – surprising results!

April 23, 2023April 23, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I thought I’d share a few images from a quick photoshoot from the other day. The subject is a seed cone of a still young (about 4 years old) bald cypress tree that I grew from seed in a pot that’s presently sitting in my front yard.

See if you can guess which of these three cameras took which picture. All three were digital cameras – Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Only very minor post-production was used (no Photoshop or anything like that). The available daylight changed as the afternoon wore on so they’ll be slight differences in the quality of the lighting. There’s a wide range, and I mean a wide range in the number of megapixels of the camera’s sensors from 7.2MP to 30.3MP. Give it a go.

Did you guess?

OK, image number 1 was taken using a Nikon Coolpix P90 12.1MP bridge camera with a CCD sensor (1/2.33″) and a 24x optical Nikkor zoom lens. ISO 64, f3.2 at a full wide angle (4.6mm) using the macro mode. I think the capture is colorful and sharp and it holds up well zoomed in on a crop. Released in 2009.

Number 2. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W7 7.2MP digicam with a Super HAD CCD sensor (1/1.8″) and a 3x optical Carl Zeiss zoom lens. ISO 100, f2.8 at 7.9mm in macro mode. The level of detail is amazing and the edition of the colors is very pleasing. It holds up very well zoomed in on a crop. Released in 2005.

Number 3. Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera with a CMOS sensor at 30.3MP. The lens was a Canon RF 70-200mm f4L IS USM zoom lens. ISO 250, f4.5 at 200mm. I think I may have missed the best focus by shooting at f4.5 handheld at 200mm since when zoomed in on a crop the cone loses some of its sharpness especially compared to the other images. Released in late 2018.

My pick for the best shot is image number 2. It’s the most pleasing composition in my opinion. Overall the Sony handled the subject the best and was actually the easiest to shoot with.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Category Sony Cyber-shot Digicams

Super HAD CCD Sony – what?

One subject, three cameras – surprising results!