[sdai]

One major contributing factor to the improved noise performace from CMOS sensors are their relatively simplified structure so manufacturers can integrate peripheral electronics on board more easily to address the noise issue at the per pixel level.

Another reason why Sony and Canon all went down the CMOS path is because its relative ease of parallel output structures to gain speed.

But CCD always archive superior performance benchmarks vs. CMOS to date ... especially in the dynamic range department. This is why all high end applications stick to CCD ... when cost is not an issue.