What is a digital camera's "sensor"?

What is a digital camera's "sensor"?

Mark Comon (Vice President, Paul's Photo, Torrance, CA) gives expert video advice on: How does a digital camera take a picture? and more...

The sensor in your digital camera is tantamount to the film . It's a silicon array, a silicon chip. The light comes through the lens. The light strikes the chip. The chip converts that light into electronic energy, which is then sent on to the computer, into the camera, which converts it into a picture that is sent on to your memory card.