What Is a CCD Camera? The CCD Look and the Cheapest Ways to Get It

What Is a CCD Camera? The CCD Look and the Cheapest Ways to Get It

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The quick answer

A CCD camera is a digital camera with a CCD image sensor, the older sensor type used in most point-and-shoots and many early DSLRs before CMOS took over. I describe the CCD look as a little more organic than modern CMOS cameras, and that's a big reason old digicams are popular again.

The cheapest ways to get it are a used digicam like the Canon SD600, Canon A1100 IS or Casio EX-Z750, or an old CCD DSLR like the Nikon D50 or D80. Just don't expect the CCD label alone to guarantee a look. I'd judge real sample photos, condition and the complete setup before buying.

Prices below are what I paid or quoted when I filmed each video, not current offers. Old camera prices move a lot, especially for models that go viral.

Watch my 10 cameras under $100 video

Watch the full video on YouTube

In this article

What a CCD sensor is

Every digital camera has an image sensor that turns light into a photo. CCD stands for charge-coupled device, and it's the older of the two main sensor types. A CCD collects light at each pixel, then passes that charge across the chip so it can be read out at the edge. A CMOS sensor reads each pixel where it sits, which is faster and uses less power.

That speed and efficiency is why camera makers moved to CMOS. They started phasing out CCD in the mid-2000s, and most point-and-shoots had switched by around 2010 and 2011. Today, pretty much every new camera and phone uses a CMOS sensor.

So when people say "CCD camera," they usually mean an older digital camera from roughly the late '90s to around 2010. In my 10 cameras under $100 video, the newest camera was from 2010, and I said the 12 megapixel range is kind of the end point for these older CCD digicams.

A lot of people really like CCD sensors and say they render colors better and look more natural than CMOS. In my own words, CCD is an older sensor type that has a little more organic look than the CMOS sensors in almost everything new.

But the trend is about more than the sensor. The Y2K digicam appeal can mean a small silver body, a direct flash, simple controls or visibly imperfect photos. I enjoyed the soft, imperfect photos from cameras like the Sony P32, even though they were far from technically clean.

That's also why prices jump when a model goes viral. A camera that was fun as a cheap find doesn't become a better camera because it's trending. My viral camera tier list goes through which trending cameras I think are actually worth buying.

CCD vs CMOS: what you actually see

Here's the honest part: the cameras I tested didn't all make the same pictures, even though they all have CCD sensors. The soft 1.5MP Leica Digilux Zoom and the sharp 12MP Canon A1100 IS look completely different. The lens, resolution, flash and in-camera processing change the look as much as the sensor does.

That's why I'd judge the actual sample photos rather than expect a CCD label to guarantee a look. Many of the photos in my original video were also edited with my own preset pack, so processing was part of what you saw.

A few differences you might notice in practice:

  • Smear from bright lights: CCD sensors can show vertical streaks above and below very bright light sources.
  • Low light: Most cheap CCD cameras get noisy fast as the ISO goes up. With my Nikon D80, I found pretty much anything above base ISO noisy.
  • Video: CCD digicams usually record low-resolution video, and CCD DSLRs like the D50 and D80 don't record video at all.

How to tell if a camera has a CCD sensor

  • Check the exact model's specs: Search the full model name plus "specifications" and look for the sensor type. Sony lists many of its older compacts as "Super HAD CCD," like the S2100.
  • Look at the release year: Most compacts from before about 2010 use CCD sensors. Cameras from 2011 on are much more likely to be CMOS.
  • Watch for Canon "HS" models: Canon's HS System compacts use high-sensitivity CMOS sensors, so an ELPH or PowerShot with HS in the name isn't a CCD camera.
  • Don't assume by brand or style: The Nikon D50 and D80 have CCD sensors, but the Canon Rebel XS from the same era uses CMOS. A retro-looking body doesn't mean a CCD sensor either.
  • Don't trust a "CCD" title alone: Confirm the exact model and look at real sample photos from that camera.

The cheapest CCD point-and-shoots I'd look at

In my video, I found ten digicams I'd buy for under $100 each at the time, and every one has a CCD sensor. I won't repeat the whole list here, but these are where I'd start. For every pick and what to check before buying, read my best vintage digicams guide or the original 10 Best Vintage Digicams Under $100.

The Sony S2100 is a good camera too, with sharp 12MP photos, but it's one of the models that went viral. I'd buy it cheap for its photos, not pay a big premium because it's popular. My S2100 buying guide explains how much I'd pay.

With any old digicam, check the full setup before you buy: the battery, the correct charger, the right type of memory card and a way to get photos off it. A missing charger or a card the camera can't read can cost more than the camera.

CCD DSLRs: Nikon D50 and D80

If you want a CCD sensor with interchangeable lenses and a much bigger sensor than a digicam, an old Nikon DSLR is the cheapest way I know to get one.

Nikon D50

The D50 is a 2005 DSLR with a 6MP APS-C CCD sensor, and I found one for right around $50 in my $50 DSLR video. It also has a built-in autofocus motor that works with some much older Nikon autofocus lenses. Shooting it feels closer to shooting film: there's no video, no Live View and only a tiny review screen.

I'd choose it for its photos, handling and lens options rather than expecting the sensor to guarantee a particular color style. Check Nikon D50 availability at MPB or read my Nikon D50 review.

Nikon D80

The D80 is the step up. It's a 2006 DSLR with a 10MP APS-C CCD sensor, and when I bought mine, they were going for about $40 to $60 used depending on condition. It was in a more professional line than Nikon's entry-level cameras, so it has a deeper grip, a top settings screen and a much nicer build. I actually enjoyed using it more than the newer Nikon D3100.

The tradeoffs are real. It doesn't record video at all, the 2.5-inch screen isn't good for checking focus or exposure, and it gets noisy above base ISO. The autofocus worked better than I expected, and with good Nikon lenses it can take awesome photos. Check Nikon D80 availability at MPB.

If you're deciding between an old Nikon and an old Canon, note that the Canon Rebel XS uses a CMOS sensor. My Canon Rebel XS vs Nikon D50 comparison covers how they shoot.

Watch out for fake "vintage" cameras

The CCD trend has flooded marketplaces with cheap generic cameras made to look like old digicams. The ones I tested made poor photos and video, even though their listings claimed 48MP, 64MP, 4K or even 8K.

  • Look for a real brand: Canon, Sony, Nikon, Kodak, Casio, Ricoh, Panasonic and Leica are all safe starting points. Many knock-offs have no branding at all.
  • Find an exact model number: If you can't look up the camera's real specs, skip it.
  • Ignore huge megapixel and 4K claims: A big file size doesn't mean real detail, and the zoom on these is often just a digital crop.
  • Ask for real sample photos: Sample files from that exact camera tell you far more than the listing photos.

For the full breakdown, read my guide to fake digicams and how to avoid them.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CCD camera?

It's a digital camera with a CCD image sensor, the older sensor type used in most point-and-shoots until around 2010 and in early DSLRs like the Nikon D50 and D80. Almost every new camera and phone uses a CMOS sensor instead.

Do CCD cameras really have better colors?

A lot of people say CCD sensors render colors better and look more natural, and I think they have a slightly more organic look. But the lens, resolution, flash and processing matter just as much, so I'd judge real sample photos from the exact model instead of buying for the CCD label.

How do I know if a digicam has a CCD sensor?

Look up the exact model's specifications and check the sensor type. As a rough guide, most compacts from before about 2010 are CCD, and Canon models with HS in the name use CMOS sensors.

What is the cheapest CCD camera worth buying?

The Nikon D50 was about $50 in my video and gives you a big APS-C CCD sensor with interchangeable lenses. For a pocket camera, the digicams in my video were all under $100 when I filmed, and the Canon SD600, A1100 IS and Casio EX-Z750 are where I'd start.

Can CCD cameras record video?

Most CCD digicams record video, but usually at low resolution, like 640 x 480 on the Canon SD600. CCD DSLRs like the Nikon D50 and D80 can't record video at all.

My verdict

A CCD camera is just an older digital camera with a CCD sensor, and the look people love comes from that sensor plus the lens, flash, low resolution and processing of the time. If you want to try it cheaply, start with a used Canon SD600, A1100 IS or Casio EX-Z750, or a Nikon D50 or D80 if you want interchangeable lenses. Skip the generic "vintage" cameras and overpriced viral models, and buy the camera whose sample photos you actually like.

Keep reading

Watch more of my camera reviews and buying guides on FoxTailWhipz.

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