Charge coupled device (CCD) cameras contain light-sensitive silicon chips that detect electrons excited by incoming light. They also contain micro circuitry that transfers a detected signal along a row of discrete picture elements or pixels, scanning the image very rapidly. CCD cameras use two-dimensional CCD arrays with many thousand of pixels.

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) cameras use image sensors that operate at lower voltages than charged coupled devices (CCDs), reducing power consumption for portable applications. Each CMOS active pixel sensor cell has its own buffer amplifier, and can be addressed and read individually. 

High speed cameras are designed for rapid image acquisition for scientific or industrial analysis of rapidly changing or moving processes.

Low light cameras are designed for low light applications. They contain sensors that are highly sensitive to light and reduce images to a series of lines.

Video cameras take continuous pictures and generate signals for display or recording. They capture images by breaking them down into a series of lines. This search form does not include consumer devices such as camcorders.