CCDs were the gold standard for camera sensors from the early 80s till the late 2000s, and are still used in areas of specialized photography, including Optical Microscopy, Space Photography, and Near-Infrared Imaging.
The CCD Resurgence, from what was once considered obsolete technology, is a renewed interest among photographers, content creators, and younger generations seeking an alternative to the hyper-polished aesthetic of modern digital imaging, and is one of the most unexpected trends in contemporary photography.
The move, driven by the distinctive visual signature produced by older CCD sensors, is unlike modern CMOS sensors, which prioritize high dynamic range, sharpness, and clean output.
CCD sensors, as they are known, deliver a unique aesthetic characterized by several defining qualities, which include distinct color rendering, gentle highlight bloom, and micro-contrast and fine noise.
Beyond image quality, the appeal of the resurgence is the physical experience of using CCD-era cameras, or digicams, which includes features like dedicated buttons, mechanical dials, and the tactile photography experience that modern devices lack. The retro design aesthetics of early-2000s compact cameras, combined with their unpredictability (slower autofocus, occasional quirks), also contribute to the charm of these cameras as creative tools rather than merely functional devices.
Featured
- CCD Digital SLRs For 2025, What's Your Pick? - A look at the Nikon D200, Nikon D80, Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, Sony DSLR-A350, Olympus E-500, and Pentax K-m.
- 5 CCD Camera Picks for 2024 - Looking at the means of moving film photography to low-noise, high-quality images as captured on CCD sensors.
- 10 Vintage CCD Digitals For Photo Enthusiasts - A quick look at vintage digital cameras fitted with CCD sensors for enthusiasts of low-noise, high-quality film-like images.
- From Analog Scans To CCD Sensors, The Need To Move On - The need to move on from the nostalgia of printed analog images to film-like emulations of digital cameras with CCD sensors.
- Lumix DMC-FZxx CCD Digital Bridge Camera Picks - My pick of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZxx digital bridge cameras for image tests and reviews.
Pages
- Tamron SP 90mm 1:2.5 Adaptall-2 Macro, A Cult Classic - Tamron SP 90mm 1:2.5 Adaptall-2 Macro, a cult classic, with images shot on a 10MP CCD Nikon D200.
Posts
- Sony DSLR-A350, Pentacon 30mm f/3.5 - Image making with the Pentacon 30mm f/3.5, a later iteration of the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Lydith 30mm f/3.5, on the Sony Alpha DSLR-A350.
- Nikon D200, Nikon Series E 35mm f/2.5 - Image making with a legacy standard normal equivalent, the Nikon Series E 35mm 1:2.5, on a 10MP APS-C CCD Nikon D200.
- Sony DSLR-A350, Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 - A look back at the Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6, the standard-zoom bundled as a 'kit lens' with early Sony Alpha DSLR cameras.
- Pentax K-m, SMC Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8 - Image making with a legacy 40mm equivalent SMC Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, on the 10MP APS-C CCD Pentax K-m (K2000) digital SLR camera.
- Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (RS), First Impression - First impression images with the highly acknowledged Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 (RS) mounted on a 14.2MP CCD Sony Alpha DSLR-A350.
- Sony DSLR A-350, Minolta AF Zoom 24-50mm f/4 - Out and about with the Minolta AF Zoom 24-50mm f/4, an equivalent standard normal zoom on the 14.2MP CCD Sony DSLR A-350.
- Olympus E-500, Sigma Mini-Wide II 28mm f/2.8 - Image making with a legacy Sigma Mini-Wide II 28mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime mounted on a 2x crop sensor Four/Thirds digital SLR camera.
- Nikon D200, Nikkor Ai 28mm f/3.5 - Image making with a legacy Nikon Nikkor Ai 28mm f/3.5 on an equally vintage 10MP CCD Nikon D200 AOS-C digital SLR camera.
- Pentax K-m, Sigma Mini-Wide II 28mm f/2.8 - Image making with a legacy Sigma Mini-Wide II 28mm f/2.8 prime mounted on a CCD Pentax K-m digital SLR camera.
- CCD Resurgence, Preserving The Cult - A look at a low-cost vintage digital SLR camera and lens kit for CCD enthusiasts.
- Nikon D200, Sigma Zoom-γ 21-35mm 1:3.5~4 - Back for a visit to the park I once frequented, with a different camera and lens setup.
- Pentax K-m, Pentacon 30mm 1:3.5 - A look at vintage primes and legacy lenses equivalent to the standard normal primes on 4/3 mirrorless or APS-C digital SLR cameras.
- Pentax K-m, Meyer Optik Görlitz Lydith 30mm 1:3.5 - A look at vintage primes and legacy lenses equivalent to the standard normal primes on 4/3 mirrorless or APS-C digital SLR cameras.
- Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5 - A look at vintage primes and legacy lenses equivalent to the standard normal primes on 4/3 mirrorless or APS-C digital SLR cameras.
- Pentax K-m, Sigma Mini-Wide 28mm f/2.8 - A look at vintage primes and legacy lenses equivalent to the standard normal primes on 4/3 mirrorless or APS-C digital SLR cameras.
- Nikon D200, Sigma Zoom-γ 21-35mm 1:3.5~4 - A new set of impressions with the Nikon D200 and a newly re-acquired copy of the Sigma Zoom-γ 21-35mm 1:3.5~4.
- Minolta AF Zoom 24-50mm 1:4, First Impression - Looking at the Minolta AF Zoom 24-50mm 1:4, a 1992 constant aperture equivalent standard zoom lens.
- Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF Zoom 70-210mm 1:4 - A look back at the Minolta AF Zoom 70-210mm 1:4, a highly acknowledged classic and one of the giants for Minolta colors.
- Olympus SP-500UZ, Celebrating My Twentieth Year! - A short garden shoot with a 20-year-old Olympus SP-500UZ for high-quality, low-noise film-like images, for which CCD sensors are acknowledged.
- Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 28-85mm 1:3.5~4.5 - Impressive images with a vintage A-mount Minolta AF 28-85mm 1:3.5~4.5, a medium-range zoom lens introduced by Minolta in 1985.
- Nikon D200, Micro-Nikkor Ai 55mm 1:3.5 - Close-ups with the Nikon D200, and a Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5 Ai, acknowledged for its image quality, sharpness, and optical characteristics.
- FinePix S2 Pro, AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm 1:3.3-4.5 - A quick look at image making with a vintage pair, the Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro and AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm 1:3.3~4.5.
- Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 24mm 1:2.8 - First impression close-up square cuts with the 1985 Minolta AF 24mm 1:2.8 on a 14MP CCD Sony DSLR-A350.
- Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm F3.5 Macro - First impression images with the Minolta AF 50mm 1:3.5 Macro, a low-cost alternative to the Minolta AF 50mm 1:2.8 Macro.
- Olympus Evolt E-500, Zuiko Digital 40-150mm 1:3.5~4.5 - First impression images with the Olympus E-500, the DSLR camera with the 8MP Kodak KAF-8300CE CCD imaging chip.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40, Colors Enhanced - Taking advantage of advanced sensor technology and the low price availability of vintage digital cameras fitted with CCD sensors.
- Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm 1:2.8 Macro - First impression images with the Minolta AF 50mm 1:2.8 Macro, on a Sony DSLR-A350.
- Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd, A Retro Look - A retro look at the 2009 10MP CCD Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd, an economical and low-cost option for beginner CCD enthusiasts.
- Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 100-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 APO - Early images with a compact and lightweight Minolta AF APO 100-300mm 1:4.5~5.6 lens mounted on a 14.2MP CCD Sony DSLR-A350 camera.
- Stopped-Down Metering On The Pentax K-m - Executing stopped-down metering on manual exposure mode with MF legacy lenses on the Pentax K-m / K2000.
- Pentax K-m, SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4, Start Of Day - Fantastic colors, and superb images, on a sunny and bright start-of-day street shoot at and around Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur.
- Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, A Stuttering Start - A new look at a 2002 6.2MP CCD Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, the Nikon-Fuji 'Frankenstein', with an AF-Nikkor 35-70mm 1:3.3~4.5.
- Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, A New High - The 2002 Nikon F-mount Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro digital SLR camera is a new high for enthusiasts of CCD digital cameras.
- Pentax K-m, Pentax-A 35-70mm 1:4, 'Nat' at Balai Baru - Street scene at the Balai Baru Nat, Kangar, Perlis with a Pentax K-m and a fixed aperture SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm 1:4.
- Nikon D200, AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4 D, Early Morning Crops - Early morning crops with an AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4 D mounted on a 10MP CCD Nikon D200.
- Pentax K-m, SMC Pentax A 35-70mm 1:4 II - Close-cut images with a Pentax K-m and SMC Pentax A 35-70mm 1:4, the only Pentax zoom lens with a fixed aperture.
- Olympus SP-510UZ, First Impression - Low-noise night images with a 7.1MP CCD Olympus SP-510UZ, a low-cost option for CCD enthusiasts.
- Pentax K-m, SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm 1:4 I - First impression images with an SMC Pentax-A Zoom 35-70mm 1:4 on the 10MP CCD Pentax K-m.
- Olympus SP-500UZ, First Impression - Image-making with a 6MP CCD Olympus SP-500UZ, a low-cost entry for CCD camera enthusiasts.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45, First Impression - Image-making with a sticky and uncomfortable-to-use zoom lever on a 14.1 MP CCD Lumix DMC-FZ45.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40, Zoom Extents - Testing the zoom extent of the Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5-108mm 1:2.8~5.3 lens of the 14.1MP CCD Lumix DMC FZ40.
- Nikon D200, AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 - Image making with an AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-70 mm f/3.3-4.5, mounted on the 10MP CCD Nikon D200, a quick look and a zoom walk.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40, Early Images - Image making with a 14.1MP CCD Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40, early images, and model update notes.
- Nikon D200, AF Nikkor 28-80mm 1:3.5~5.6 - Image making with an AF Nikkor 28-80mm 1:3.5~5.6 on the equally vintage 10.2MP CCD Nikon D200.
- Kodak PixPro AZ251, A Surprising Turnout - A surprising turnout from a 25x superzoom digital bridge 16MP CCD Kodak PixPro AZ251, a low-cost buy.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35, An Art Form? - Lounging on a creative art platform with the 12.1MP CCD superzoom Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35, First Impression - Image making with a 12MP CCD Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35, an update of the DMC-FZ28, first impression.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28, In Bloom - More images with the excellent image capture capabilities of the 10.1MP CCD Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28, First Impression - Image making with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28, a very impressive first outing with a 10MP CCD sensor digital bridge.
- Pentax K-m, SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:2 II - Image making with an SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:2 mounted on a 10.2 MP CCD Pentax K-m Digital, the garden green.
- Pentax K-m, SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:2 I - Image making with a vintage SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:2 on a 10MP CCD sensor Pentax K-m digital SLR.
- Pentax K-m, SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm AL - Image making with an SMC-Pentax-DA 1:3.5~56 18-55mm AL on a 10MP CCD Pentax K-M Digital, in the garden.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Living Colors - Images with an 8.4MP CCD Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 CCD - high-quality, low-noise, and almost film-like.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Up And Running Again - The preference for image making with an 8.3MP CCD digital camera, high-quality, low noise, and almost film-like rendering.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Colors II - Throwback 2009, image making with an 8.3MP CCD Lumix DMC-FZ18, looking at images worth preserving, Part II.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Black & White II - Throwback 2009, image making with an 8.3MP CCD Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, post-processed in black and white, Part II.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Colors I - Throwback 2009, image making with an 8.3MP CCD Lumix DMC-FZ18, looking at images worth preserving, Part I.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Black & White I - Throwback 2009, image making with an 8.3MP CCD Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, post-processed in black and white, Part I.
Video Guides
- Nikon Digital SLR Cameras With CCD Sensors - Video guides on Nikon digital SLR cameras with CCD sensors.
- Pentax Digital SLR Cameras with CCD Sensors - Video guides on Pentax digital SLR cameras with CCD sensors.
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