Continuing progress in the resolution and quality of solid state matrix sensors has made the use of digital cameras onboard an aircraft an interesting option. Although not yet anything like comparable to the resolution of scanned 9'×9' film, direct digital data capture has meanwhile become a viable alterative for a number of applications. The current article discusses the advantages of solid state sensors over film and compares the potential of linear array and matrix sensors. Practical results from pilot studies employing matrix sensors for aerotriangulation and digital elevation model measurement are presented.