Yes Scott there are several reasons why Canons CMOS sensors perform so well compared to "cheap" CMOS chips. First is the extra on chip circuitry then the ULTRA pure silicon they use to suppress random noise. The article explains all the other reasons. They are even cheeky enough to say why CCD's have shortcomings compared to their CMOS chips.
I would really be interested in seeing how a Canon 5D chip would perform with a two stage Peltier cooler to -40C and no Bayer filters and a sixteen bit A to D converter or better. The QE would be as good as any CCD and the signal to noise far better.
Makes you think does it not?
Here is a thread where I collected data at an ISO of 1600 with the 5DH camera cooled to a few degrees above zero.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=27502
Bert