I have recently resurrected 3 of my old CCD cameras - a Nikon D70s, a Nikon D200 and a Panasonic L1 four thirds camera (the mirrored type). I have not really used these much since buying my first CMOS sensor camera some years ago - a Nikon D700. In addition I still do, in any event, use a Leica M8 which similarly has a CCD sensor. All dinosaurs., I know. I did so specifically to test this theory about CCD sensors as I too have been reading about it on the internet.
I have not comprehensively done so yet. But I can say that the files from these are certainly nice enough, in fact probably better than I remember them to be (which is silly as I have many wonderful photos from these cameras and hence this should be no surprise). Do they have some kind of "magic" ju-ju? Call me an uncultivated vulgarian perhaps, but I cannot see it yet - though am willing to keep trying. What I can say is that these cameras are certainly capable of making good images (no surprise). But are they "better" than CMOS produced ones? That's the "rub".
I think my major "take away" so far is that, just as with CMOS sensors (and in fact even more so) it pays dividends to under expose these files, especially when shooting outside with bright skies etc. within the frame where I will typically under expose by as much as one full f stop. Without this, at the very least the files can look "thin" and at worst it runs the risk of producing ugly blown highlights. I realize that files from a CCD sensor are probably less capable than CMOS ones of being worked extensively in post to pull detail up from shadows, but I prefer dim shadows to blown highlights so on the whole I am happy with this compromise.
I suspect that I will continue to give these cameras a "run" from time to time even after I finish my "experiment" though I will avoid them in circumstances where I know the results will be marginal (e.g. at night or in very dim conditions when high ISO may be otherwise be needed and these sensors are know to be limited.)
BTW my favorite of this bunch is actually the D200 which still produces good images and feels fantastic in the hand - with better ergonomics than any of the others mentioned including the much later D700 which somehow fels a bit less comfortable, perhaps due to its greater bulk.
One of the photos I produced with the D70s (probably the least capable camera of the above list) is pictured below. Yes it has been worked on in "post" so is anything but straight from the camera - a part of my experiment was to see how well such files could produce the raw material for my normal approach to making images. I am pretty happy with it as I find it to be a pleasant image which reminds me that these cameras can at least do much of what I want.
Through a Glass, Darkly by
Life in Shadows, on Flickr
