Yes, electronic sensors are definitely quicker to pick up those early
rays, certainly when compared to a Campbell-Stokes recorder (bless
'em) with a dew-fogged sphere and a dew-sodden card taking much longer
to scorch than a dry card would.

It is also interesting to note that the CS recorders seem to record amazing
amounts of sunshine when compared to the electronic sensors during weather
that is dominated by a high frequency of brief bursts of sunshine.

Also my R&D recorder switches off during hazy conditions even though I can
still see shadows. We had a run earlier in the year of days with such
conditions and I recorded virtually no sunshine whilst I would think that
the hazy sun would still be strong enough to scorch the card on the CS
recorder.
________________
Nick.
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk