CultureAugust 16, 2026

photodiode

FOH-toh-dye-ohd

Definition

A semiconductor device that converts incident light into an electrical current.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'phōs' meaning 'light' combined with 'diode', a term coined from the Greek 'di-' (two) and 'hodos' (way) to describe a device with two electrodes.

In the news

The article mentions a silicon photodiode as the key component in the Plaubel Makina 67's built-in light metering system, which helps photographers determine correct exposure.

Film photographers are still obsessed with the Plaubel Makina 67 – this medium-format camera is worth far more today than when it was new

Read the full article ↗

Digital Camera World

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