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

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

soft greens as seen by the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W7

March 20, 2023March 20, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

From 2005, Sony’s 7-megapixel gem is a fun CCD throwback camera producing film-like images. Here are a few recent shots.

New bald cypress needles – f2.8 1/400 ISO 100

Young redbud leaves – f2.8 1/320 ISO 100

New growth river maple leaf – f5.6 1/250 ISO 100

The 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor is more than capable of capturing beautiful nature shots.

The not-so-secret reason for great images is a sharp (and fast) Carl Zeiss lens. These early Sony cameras often featured better-than-expected lenses in their compact digital cameras.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Contax Heaven – ‘Yashica, A New Horizon’

June 29, 2019June 29, 2019Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The title refers to a not widely circulated Yashica marketing brochure that was sent to virtually all US camera dealers in early 1975. In it, Yashica informed dealers that they would directly distribute their products (including the Contax line) to them and that they had a direct representative in Yashica USA. Definitely a bold move by Yashica during a desperate time in their history (and struggle to stay solvent).

Here’s some eye candy from that brochure –

IMG_20190627_0007 (1)

How about finding this under the Christmas tree then or now?

IMG_20190627_0005

Really the first introduction of the partnership between Yashica and Contax.

The marketing brochure (cover) from 1975.

The original letter (not a copy) that was sent to each camera dealer in the US. Each was signed by the President (or more likely an underling).

I personally haven’t collected anything with the Contax branding but that hasn’t meant that I wouldn’t want to – just no more room for another branch in the collection.

Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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Tag Carl Zeiss Lenses

Super HAD CCD Sony – what?

soft greens as seen by the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W7

Contax Heaven – ‘Yashica, A New Horizon’