Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What is the characteristic of digital sensors in relation to light sensitivity?

1. They can adjust sensitivity like film

2. They can only amplify captured light data

3. They have unlimited sensitivity

4. They are less sensitive than film

The correct answer is: They can only amplify captured light data

Digital sensors have the ability to capture light and convert it into electronic signals, but their operation is fundamentally different from that of film. When it comes to light sensitivity, digital sensors do not possess the same kind of adaptive sensitivity that film does. Instead, they utilize an amplification process to enhance the captured signal based on the amount of light that strikes the sensor. This means that once light is captured, the sensor can increase the strength of the signal but cannot inherently adjust its sensitivity to light in the same way that film can, which can be rated for various ISO settings. Additionally, digital sensors do have a limit to their sensitivity, and while they can effectively handle different light conditions through amplification, this does not equate to unlimited sensitivity. As ISO settings increase, digital noise also becomes a factor, further distinguishing digital sensors from film. Thus, the characteristic that most accurately describes the nature of digital sensors in relation to light sensitivity is their capacity to amplify the light data that they capture.