Canon (3071K)
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Canon (3071K) |
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 Sony (1936k) |
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| Canon 300D | Sony DSC-F828 |
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| Canon 300D | Sony DSC-F828 |
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| Canon 300D | Sony DSC-F828 |
As you can see, the Canon gives you a more diffuse image (compare it to the image taken with the same camera, but using high grade lenses). This is mostly caused by the standard lens that is available with the camera (18 - 55 mm * 1.6).
Used with a high-grade lens, the pictures will be much sharper!
Both Sony pictures show significant chromatic aberations.
 Canon (2660K) |
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 Sony (2059k) |
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| Canon 300D | Sony DSC-F828 |
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Both pictures left were resized to ≅50% of their size.
A CCD sensor is basically an array of detector diodes. Before taking a picture, a small capacitor associated with each pixel is charged. During the exposure, the pixels exposed to light will loose some of their charge.
After exposure, the remaining charge of all sensors is transfered to a single converter (to convert the analog signal to digital). An image CCD works like an office building at closing time, when all employees leave the building using a single elevator: the elevator stops at each floor, taking one single employee downstairs. During the transfer, the remaining charge can leak to neighbours, which can cause vertical stripes. The CCD uses a dual technology: a bipolar transistor as sensor and a CMOS array for transfering the charge. Therefore, a CCD sensor is more expensive to build.
A CMOS sensor on the other hand is completely build using CMOS technology (the same technology used in memory modules can be used for producing CMOS sensors). Traditionally, CMOS sensors were used in cheap camera's because the output image was low quality. This was partly caused by the size of the photosensor being much smaller, because the associated drive circuitry is taking up all the available space. Light has more chances to hit the drive circuit that the sensor, wasting most of the available light. This results in a lower signal output, and thus a lower signal-to-noise ratio. New production methods (using a more elaborate manufacturing process and a microlens before each photosensor) made it possible to produce high-grade sensors.
Continuing with our office building analogy, the readout is performed by all the employees jumping out of their respective windows (©) —electrons don't get hurt when they reach ground zero, resulting is a faster readout. Another big advantage of CMOS is it's low power comsumption (roughly 1% of that of a CCD sensor), making it ideally suited for battery-operated equipment.
The 300D is a pared down version of the 10D and D60 models. With this model, they hope to lure those who invested hugely in Canon EOS lenses to switch to digital. It has most of the features of it's more expensive brothers, but it's build is cheappo looking (all plastics, low quality rubber) and the provided lens is at best when used as protection cap.
It's a nice camera for those who want a digital with a 'SLR' look and feel but don't want to buy an overly expensive camera. Overal, the SLR models are more expensive than their 'all-in-one' models because of the complicated mechanical lens system, but they are a great choice if you already own SLR lenses.