No, it is not a misperception. The measured electron well depth in the 6MP sensor has increased from 25,000 electrons in a D70, to 30,000 in a D50, and the D40 sensor (removed from the camera) was measured at 37,000 electrons, The 10MP sensor in the D200 was measured at 33,000 electrons, while the D40x sensor was recently measured at 50,000 electrons, and there have been improvements in read noise, and dark current as well, which make the newer sensors perform better at the RAW level. The signal to noise ratio of a camera determines the performance, and new sensors collect more signal, and often have lower readnoise as well. Nikon/Sony do not release data about specific sensors in specific cameras and the data we do have from Sony is based upon preproduction reference sensors, and does not reflect manufacturing improvements.





Brooks P wrote:
> That is a common misperception,