Only the most expensive DSLRs use full-frame sensors—one that's about the same size as a 35mm frame of film. More typical DSLRs, like the Nikon D7000 or Canon T2i use smaller sensors. This video shows what that means.

A full-frame image sensor, like in the 5D Mark II or Nikon D3s, is the equivalent of 35 millimeters. This image sensor is 300 millimeters. This is how well it can see in the dark:

In 1975, the first digital camera took 23 seconds to record a 100-line black-and-white photo onto cassette tape. Today, a Nikon D3s takes photos with 12 million pixels at 1/8000 of a second. And it can see in the dark.

Williard "Mr. Modesty" Boyle and George "Three Page Dissertation" Smith, sailors extraordinaire and co-winners of this year's Nobel prize in physics deserve time in our spotlight: They invented the CCD image sensors which gave our digital cameras eyes.

Spring is the primetime for new cameras, hence the cheap cam battlemodo, an entry-level DSLR battlemodo, not to mention loads of rumors and breakthroughs. It's a lot to keep up with, and you may not even know what's going on with the camera in your pocket. If that's the case, don't worry, here's a quick primer an…

Right now, your camera either has a CCD (most point and shoots) or a CMOS image sensor (lots of DSLRs) inside, which converts pretty pictures into an electrical signal. Japan's Research Center for Photovoltaics has developed a CIGS image sensor that's 100 times more light-sensitive than the silicon chip inside your…