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To really understand why the Foveon X3 sensor in the Sigma SD14 is inherently superior to conventional image sensors that use a standard color filter array, let’s take a close look at how each type works. The conventional image sensor A conventional CCD or CMOS image sensor detects color by means of a specific checkerboard pattern of blue, green, and red color filters added on top of the light-sensitive silicon layer of the sensor chip at the end of the manufacturing process. As a result of this design, there is only one color filter for each pixel location. While the best conventional sensors can take very sharp pictures and provide high color accuracy, their ability to resolve very fine details in color diminishes dramatically as the color details get smaller and smaller. In other words, you may not be able to see some of some very fine color details that are visible in the actual subject reproduced in the final image. The Foveon X3 image sensor The Foveon X3 CMOS image sensor, like color film, incorporates three separate light-sensitive layers placed directly above one another—in effect a separate color layer for each primary color. As a result, the Foveon X3 image sensor, unlike the conventional sensor, captures full color data in blue, green, and red at each pixel location. Ultimately, having more and better color information is why the Sigma SD14 can outperform other DSLR cameras in being able to accurately reproduce finer details in color images.   |
