The First Digital Camera

by : Roberto Sedycias
A digital camera is basically a digital device that enables images to be captured. Digital camera images are stored electronically rather than on film. Although the digital camera is a recent addition to the world of photography, the concept of the possibility of a digital camera was begun in the 1950s.

The early concept of the digital camera was closely linked to television technology. It began with digital images being recorded on scanners and in the form of digital video signals. In 1951 broadcasting companies were recording images as electrical impulses and onto magnetic tape from their television cameras, and this paved the way for digital camera technology to begin. By 1956 electrical impulse recordings were common practise within film industry, and camera manufacturers began to dream of a digital camera device.

The first record of a patent for a type of digital camera was in 1972 when Texas Instruments patented a camera that did not require film. A pioneer in the history of digital camera was Steve Sasson, an engineer at Kodak. Central to this early concept of the digital camera, and still used by digital cameras today, is the Charged Coupled Device. Steve Sasson produced his first digital camera image in 1979. Although the digital camera image was less than perfect, it showed that the digital camera was a possibility. The first camera to be marketed was the Sony Mavica electronic still camera in 1981. It was not a true digital camera as the image was recorded on mini disc, and then attached to a television or video. It made public the possibility of a camera that stored images using techniques other than film. The first camera for general use with a computer was the Apple Quicktake 100 camera which appeared in1984. This showed the possible quality, and the desire for the digital camera was born.

It contained 1.4 million pixels and was suitable for a digital camera image measuring 5x7 inches. Kodak marketed the first readily available digital camera that met all standards, with the Kodak DC40 in 1995. 

                                              Kodak DC40 Digital Camera was formerly on early 1995


The DC40 camera is very easy to use and offers the following Features:

• Flash settings
• Timer setting
• Exposure settings
• Energy saving "Sleep Mode"
• Built-in lens cover
• Your choice of battery or power adapter as power supply
• Battery use display
• Capability for accesories lens attachments
• Standard tripod mount

BASIC OF DIGITAL CAMERA

Digital Camera Basics

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joel_Taylor

     Shopping for a digital camera can be a difficult task considering the sheer number of choices out there. 

• Pixels

Digital images are composed of thousands or millions of tiny squares called picture elements, or pixels for short. If an image is magnified several times, the appearance of the pixels can become more obvious, and at high magnifications each colored pixel can be distinguished individually.

• Megapixels

    Basically, the term megapixel means one million pixels, and it is used to describe the maximum number of pixels found in an image produced by a digital camera. It is generally the criteria used to classify cameras, and checking the Geeks.com selection (http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=CAM) shows that their cameras are all sorted into ranges of megapixels (MP).

   Many people assume that because cameras are marketed so heavily by their megapixel specification, that this is the single most important criteria when choosing a camera. More megapixels do not necessarily equal better images, they mean larger images (both in physical size and in file size).

All it means is that the maximum image size of the CX7525 is 2560 x 1920 and the maximum image size of the LS743 is 2408 x 1758. Many other features in the cameras can impact the quality of the images they produce, and may be far more important for the typical user to consider than the maximum overall size of each image.

     Larger image size may do nothing for a user who only wants to view images on his computer screen, or for use on the web, but the higher megapixel images are important for those looking to make prints of their images. Generally, higher pixel counts in an image translate to the ability to create larger prints.

• Sensors - CMOS and CCD

CCD Sensor at Digital camera

Digital cameras use a small sensor to capture the image before transferring it to flash memory for storage. CMOS sensors are usually found in cheaper cameras and offer lower image quality than a CCD sensor that would probably be found in a more expensive camera. 

CMOS Sensor Circuit             

         

For more details about CMOS, please visits this website 

http://www.microscopy.fsu.edu/primer/digitalimaging/cmosimagesensors.html

• Zoom - Optical and Digital

     Most digital cameras offer some sort of zoom, but it is important to identify which type is being provided. Digital zoom uses circuitry to enlarge a portion of the standard sized image and crops the content outside of the zoomed area. The quality of images produced using digital zoom suffer due to the nature of the process, and optical zoom is a far more desirable feature.

    The price of a camera with optical zoom may be a good deal more than one with digital zoom, but the quality of the images cannot be compared. The Kodak CX7330 and the Kodak CX7300 are comparable cameras in many regards, but the CX7300 features only digital zoom, while the CX7330 features both optical and digital zoom for about $30 more.

• Memory - Digital Film
• Aliasing
• Aspect Ratio

    Aspect ratio describes the shape of a digital image, or any image for that matter, where the first number represents the width of the image and the second number represents the height. Standard film cameras generally use an aspect ratio of 3:2, but most digital cameras have adopted a 4:3 aspect ratio so that images better fit on a standard computer monitor. 

• Connectivity

    In general, cameras provide a cable to connect to a computer either via serial, USB, USB 2.0, or Firewire.

Some specialized cameras may take advantage of the high speed Firewire protocol for connecting to a computer. Some cameras don't require any cables at all, as they can transmit the images to a PC wirelessly.

History of the Camera

     Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able to project images onto paper or glass but the study of capturing, processing and printing the images took many more years. The early camera that first became a phenomenon was a little more than a pinhole camera and can be traced back to 1558. It was called the Camera Obscura. Both the Camera Obscura and the Camera Lucida provided an image that was temporary, which could not be lastingly captured on to paper for later reference.

   Capturing images to retain them longer and permanently became the next big quest for researchers. Up until 1850, the process of capturing images was cumbersome requiring upto half an hour of light exposure. Kodak created in 1888 by George Eastman has been a modern day pioneer of sorts in cameras and photography for the masses. This development led to another key invention - the motion picture camera by Thomas Edison's in 1891.

         Modern Times

       During the 20th century the pace of technology development in cameras and photography continued at an accelerated pace much like many other key technology developments. In the case of the camera, the developments simplified the whole process of photography, making it accessible to one and all at affordable prices and the camera industry denizens of our times made it into a mass phenomenon. -->20th century chronology in the history of the camera:

• 1913: 35 mm still-camera created
• 1935- 1941: Kodak starts marketing Kodachrome film and subsequently launches Kodacolor negative film. Canon released the Hansa Canon in 1936, the first 35mm focal-plane shutter camera.
• 1948: The concept of the Polaroid camera is introduced in the market. American scientist Edwin Land developed the process for instant photography. 
• 1957: Frenchman Jaques Yves Cousteau invented the first waterproof 35mm camera for underwater photography named the Calypso Phot. 
• 1972: The electronic camera that does not require film was created and patented by Texas Instruments. This is however not the same as a digital camera though you don't require film in digital cameras as well. The launch of the digital camera is still many years away.
• 1975: Kodak's experiments with digital imaging kicked off around the mid seventies but it will take another 20 years before a digital camera for the home consumer market is launched.
• 1981: Sony launches a commercially available electronic still camera. Similar to the 1972 invention by Texas Instruments, the Sony electronic camera came with a mini disc on which images were recorded and stored. 
• 1985: Digital processing technology makes its entry. Digital imaging and processing is introduced by Pixar.
• 1986: The camera industry becomes even more consumer focused and taps the fun and travel connotations behind camera usage, with the launch of the concept of the disposable single use cameras. 
• Also in 1986 - 1987, Kodak started taking giant strides in digital development. Digital means, the photographic image is divided into tiny units of dots or squares known as pixels. Pixels are the programmable units of an image that can be processed by computers. 
• 1990: Kodak introduces Photo CD's. 
• 1991: Kodak introduces a digital camera targeted at professionals and journalists. Kodak is credited with the invention of a pixel based camera technology known to us as the digital camera. Digital cameras don't use film similar to their predecessor electronic cameras but the storage method is entirely different and the final photograph is of much higher resolution. In a digital camera photos are recorded and stored in digital form. This digital data can be transferred to a computer and processed for printing. Kodak and Canon are well known digital camera manufacturers and there are also several other key brands as well.
• 1994: The Apple Quick Take camera, a home use digital camera is launched. This known as The digital era:

    The development of digital camera technology is considered to be linked to the development of TV and Video technology. The principles of transmission and recording of audio-visual images using digital electrical impulses finds use in camera imaging as well.

    Through the 1990's the developments continued in camera technology, the focus now shifting to the field of digital imaging which is where the future lies. Use-friendly features like software that can download digital images directly from camera onto home computers for storing and sharing on the internet is the new norm in the market place.

     The camera, the computer, the software industry and the worldwide web are today irrevocably interlinked to empower the user in experiencing the benefits of camera usage to full potential. The innovation that sparked many an invention in the camera industry found its way into the digital world as well and continued among digital camera manufacturers. Many of Kodak digital camera models with EasyShare capabilities are compatible with Windows XP. The Kodak EasyShare software enables users to transfer digital camera pictures directly from camera to their computers and then print the pictures or even email them.

     Manufacturers in a related industry like the printing industry have adapted their products to be in sync with the images created by digital cameras. Cell phone manufacturers have tied up with digital camera manufacturers to develop new age camera phones in recent years. These camera phones can capture images and share the images through the cell phone.

    Among the 21st century digital developments are the advanced product offerings from digital cameras manufacturers and these are sure to occupy an important place in the ensuing history of camera development. For instance, the Kodak Professional DCS Pro SLR/c is a high-end digital camera and the Kodak website calls the DCS Pro SLR models the most feature-rich digital cameras on the market. It has an image sensor that can handle 13.89 million pixels and this makes it the highest resolution digital camera available. High resolution determines the sharpness or level of detail in photographic images. Digital camera sales figures for 2003 show that the two key players Kodak and Canon have recorded impressive growth.


What does the future holds for camera users?

Four key ongoing camera developments that are likely to further improve the process of photography:

1. Greater resolution from even the simplest, low cost camera models

3. Compatibility across a range of software, hardware and image types

While the higher-end digital evolution continues, the prices of the simple camera have crashed to such an extent that even children and teens are proud owners of uncomplicated cameras. The camera and photography interest starts young and this creates a truly large audience base for the camera industry.

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