# Difference in Film Types: Live vs Still **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-in-film-types-live-vs-still/147806 "2003-01-10T19:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-in-film-types-live-vs-still/147806/21 "2003-01-12T05:36:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\*Modern digicams are going in the direction of larger CCDs. Even with the same pixel count this makes for dramatically better images. The “size” of a pixel in a bitmap may be an abstraction but the physically larger photosite on the CCD will gather more photons when compard to a smaller CCD with a lens having the same angle of view and relative aperture. This results in better signal to noise ratio, more dynamic range and better control of color and contrast. We are reaching the point where it’s difficult for professionals to tell the difference between an image from a 35mm film camera and a 6 megapixel DLSR. The next generation of 10-14mp DLSRs might erase the difference altogether. \*\* In addition to this, check out the Foveon X3 sensor, currently being used in the Sigma SD9 DSLR, which has three times the color information each pixel or something like that (IIRC layered sensors that each capture red green and blue). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-in-film-types-live-vs-still/147806/22 "2003-01-13T04:54:00Z")
A strip of [black and white](http://history.acusd.edu/gen/recording/pix/43595.jpg) 35mm film from 1935. A strip of [color](http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/oldcolor/fortune-page02.htm) 35mm film from 1934. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-in-film-types-live-vs-still/147806/23 "2003-01-13T05:02:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by censored \* > \*\*In addition to this, check out the Foveon X3 sensor, currently being used in the Sigma SD9 DSLR, which has three times the color information each pixel or something like that (IIRC layered sensors that each capture red green and blue). \*\* More or less right. Conventional CCDs use a Bayer filter (or a proprietary diagonal patten for Fuji) which means each pixel only records one primary color. Half are green, a quarter red and a quarter blue. The raw data is interoplated into a standard format RGB bitmap. With the Foveon CCD each pixel records all three primary colors. It has a lot of potential but the marketing blunder of the low resolution and putting it in proprietary Sigma cameras is holding it back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-in-film-types-live-vs-still/147806.md?page=1)