In the beginning, there was light. And at the heart of every Cyber-shot digital still camera, it is the image sensor that collects the light that eventually becomes your creation. Since the appearance of the _rst CCD (Charge Coupled Device) in 1978, Sony has been developing its own image sensors, culminating in the release of the “Exmor” CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor in 2007. This highly ef_cient low-voltage sensor produces images with virtually no vertical striping and vastly reduced image noise. And it’s remarkably fast too, making possible burst shooting in Sony digital SLRs and rapid high-resolution imaging in Sony HD Handycam® camcorders. “Exmor” reveals details that amaze and rich tonality that takes your breath away. Incorporating Sony’s proprietary on-chip column A/D conversion, “Exmor” delivers results with markedly decreased noise and contributes to rapid image data processing. Leveraging on the “Exmor” advantage is the compact “Exmor R” sensor which utilises back-illuminated technology to nearly double sensor sensitivity for clearer low-light recordings such as a romantic candlelit dinner or a starlight-bathed landscape