this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2025
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For a while the best/fanciest digital cameras had three CCDs, one for each RGB color channel. I'm not sure if that's still the case or if the color filter process is now good enough to replace it.
There are some sensors that have each color stacked vertically instead of using a Bayer filter. Don’t think they’re popular because the low light performance is worse.
This was sold by Foveon, which had some interesting differences. The sensors were layered which, among other things, meant that the optical effect of moire patterns didn't occur on them.
Some Sony phones have that type of sensor
At least for astronomy, you just have one sensor (they’re all CMOS nowadays) and rotate out the RGB filters in front of it.
Is that the case for big ground and space telescopes too? I can imagine this could cause wobbling.
Btw is that also how infrared and x-ray telescopes work as well?
It sure is! The monochrome sensors are also great for narrowband imaging, where the filters let through one specific wavelength of light (like hydrogen alpha) which lets you do false color imaging.
IR is basically the same. Here’s the page on JWST’s filters. No clue about xray scopes, but IIRC they don’t use any kind of traditional CMOS or CCD sensor.
3chip cmos sensors are about 20-25 years out of date technology. Mosaic pattern sensors have eclipsed them on most imaging metrics.