Superconducting tin bolometers are now reasonably well understood, and the results of calculations of performance are given over a large range of sheet resistances (0.01–1000 &OHgr;/□ at 4.2°K). Comparison of superconducting bolometers with semiconducting ones show that tin and germanium are equivalent in performance. The superconducting devices have the additional advantage of simplicity of sample preparation and lower impedance levels permitting higher operating speeds if desired.