Capturing An Image

Take, for example, the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS). Relatively cheap to manufacture, the CMOS chip was introduced a few years ago as an inexpensive alternative to the superior, yet expensive, charged couple device (CCD) sensor used in digital cameras and flatbed scanners. For the most basic of models, it succeeded; but inherent shortcomings in image quality kept CMOS technology from truly stealing CCD's thunder. "The challenge with CMOS sensors has always been image quality," contends Len Mizutowicz, national technical sales manager for Fuji Photo Film USA.