Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Which sensor type is known for generating high-quality images with low noise but typically consumes a lot of power?

1. CMOS

2. JPEG

3. CCD

4. Pixel

The correct answer is: CCD

The sensor type recognized for producing high-quality images with low noise while generally requiring significant power consumption is the Charge-Coupled Device (CCD). CCD sensors excel in capturing light and translating it into digital signals, which results in images that display finer detail and better color accuracy, particularly in low-light situations. The architecture of CCD sensors enables them to perform well in dynamic range and overall image quality, making them highly valued in professional photography. However, this high performance comes at the cost of power efficiency. CCD sensors tend to require larger amounts of energy to operate, especially when generating images with impressive clarity and minimal noise. This characteristic can lead to shorter battery life in devices that utilize CCD technology, which is an important consideration for photographers in various shooting environments. While Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors have made significant strides in quality and power efficiency, they do not typically match the noise performance of CCDs in the same high-end applications. JPEG and pixel are not types of sensors and do not pertain to the question of image capture technology directly. JPEG refers to a file format used for compressed images, while "pixel" denotes the smallest unit of a digital image rather than a sensor type. Hence, CCD is the most accurate