1970s

FIRST CCD VIDEO CAMERA - 1970.  In 1970 Bell Labs researchers constructed the world's first solid-state video camera using a CCD as the imaging device.
http://www.bell-labs.com/project/feature/archives/ccd/
http://www.bell-labs.com/news/1999/september/20/1.html

       CCD Wafer                   CCD Construction         Assembled CCD

EIGHT-INCH FLOPPY DISKETTE - 1970. IBM invented the eight-inch floppy diskette and its drive to improve the distirbution of microcode patches and diagnostics. It was first used in 1971 on th eIBM System/370 Model 145. The eight-inch floppy won rave reviews for its reusability, portability, and inexpensive high-density storage capability. Now it would take a hundred thousand of those eight-inch floppies (80KB each) to store the same data that many digicamers routinely place onto their 8-GB Compact Flash card.

http://www.cs.clemson.edu/~mark/uprog.html

http://www.chiia.com/1971-197.htm

FIRST COMMERCIAL SSTV CAMERA AND MONITOR - 1970. Robot Research, Inc. produces the first commercial version of the slow scan TV HAM radio image transmission devices originally developed by Copthorne McDonald in 1957. The company's first products were the 70A monitor (left) and 80A camera (center). Robot Research still produces SSTV equipment today and their products are used by many HAM operators. The Kenwood handheld VC-H1 is also popular for amateur radio transmission of images (see 1998). Products of both companies can frequently be found on eBay.

www.flickr.com/photos/38075735@N00/196353462

www.flickr.com/photos/38075735@N00/196355814

http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/wb8dqt/modes.htm

http://www.ultimatecharger.com/html/Basics.html

http://www.ultimatecharger.com/html/sstvhistory.html

INTEL 4004 MICRO PROCESSOR - 1971.  In November, 1971, Intel publicly introduced the world's first single chip microprocessor, the Intel 4004, invented by Intel engineers Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff, and Stan Mazor (left to right above). The 4004 contained 2250 transistors on a single chip.

http://www.computerhistory.org/exhibits/internet_history/internet_history_70s.shtml
 

THE FIRST E-MAIL - 1971.  QWERTYUIOP – these letters (or something similar) made up the first message to be sent electronically over e-mail.  If the letters looks familiar, it's because they make up the top row of the standard keyboard.  The person responsible for the first e-mail was Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer.  Tomlinson was employed by Bolt Beranek and Newman, a company contracted by the United States Defense Department in 1968 to build ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet.  Before the first message could be sent Tomlinson needed to come up with an address.   He chose the @ symbol to distinguish addresses to mailboxes in a local machine and messages that were to be sent out onto the network.  Tomlinson says that he chose the @ symbol because it wasn't a person's name and for it's symbolic meaning, at; someone@someplace.  The first two machines to communicate via email were actually sitting right next to each other, both connected to the ARPANET.   At that time, computers communicated through a separate computer on the ARPANET network. This was where the transfer of "QWERTYUIOP" took place.  Within two years seventy-five percent of ARPANET traffic was e-mail. 
http://openmap.bbn.com/~tomlinso/ray/home.html 
http://www.mailmsg.com/history.htm
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/entdev/article.php/1408411

ONE-STEP INSTANT PHOTOGRAPHY - 1972.  The Polaroid SX-70 Land camera is introduced - the first fully automatic, motorized, folding, single lens reflex camera which ejected self-developing, self-timing instant color prints. Many consider the SX-70 to be Dr. Land's masterpiece. There are many variations of the SX-70. MSRP $180.

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?PolaroidSX-70.html~mainFrame

FIRST U.S. ELECTRONIC PHOTOGRAPHY SYSTEM PATENT - 1972.   Texas Instruments patented a film-less electronic camera.  Inventor:  Willis A. Adcock;  (Dallas, TX).  Assignee:  Texas Instruments Incorporated (Dallas, TX).  Filed:  June 27, 1972 and again on October 29, 1976 and June 23, 1977.  Abstract :  "A completely electronic system for recording and subsequently displaying still life pictures includes an optical-electronic transducer for generating electronic signals responsive to an optical image. The signals are stored and subsequently applied to a visual display. Means are provided for applying the signals at a scan rate synchronized with the scan rate of the display to effect a stationary display of the optical image. Preferably, the display is a conventional television set."

The computerized patent office filing system only extended back to 1975 at the time of th is posting, however, the refilings made in 1976 and 1977 are essentially the same as the original 1972 application and can be viewed in their entirety, including drawings, by doing a patent search.  To perform this search, go to the patent office's web site shown below and select "Patents" in the drop-down menu.  When the patents' page appears, select "Quick Search."  On the quick search page place the patent number in the "Term 1" box and select "Patent Number" in the "Field 1" (4,057,830 or 4,163,256) box.  In the "Select years" box select "All years" and press the search button.  To view the patent drawings, which are TIFF images, you must first download TIFF plug-ins which are free.   For PCs use:
AlternaTIFF: http://www.alternatiff.com/ (tested: IE, Netscape, Opera)
interneTIFF:  http://www.innomage.com/interneTIFF.htm (tested: IE, Netscape)
For the Apple Macintosh®, Apple's freely distributed Quicktime version 4.1 or later works, but does not provide printing capability. It is available from the Apple Web site at: http://www.apple.com/software/.
For Linux®, a plug-in called "Plugger" works with Netscape Communicator®.  It is available at:http://fredrik.hubbe.net/plugger.html
The U.S. Patent Office web site is at: http://www.uspto.gov
Date reference:  http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bldigitalcamera.htm

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/hasrg/histsci/ssvoral/engelbart/start1.html

FIRST ASTRONOMICAL CCD IMAGE - 1974.   In 1974, a Fairchild 100x100 pixel CCD and an 8-inch telescope produced the first astronomical CCD image.   Click on image to see enlarged view.
http://www.fairchildimaging.com/main/history.htm
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/ccd.html

SONY AVC-3250 - 1974. The AVC-3250 was used in many schools and corporate video studios of the time. Two thirds-inch vidicon tube for pickup, detachable four-inch CRT viewfinder for aiming. Lens: f 1.8, 12.5mm - 75mm.  6 to 1 zoom. This camera and others in the series were the work horses of their day. For those interested, a fine collection may be established sticking just to video cameras. See the web site below for an idea of items available.

http://www.labguysworld.com/Sony_AVC-3250.htm

Shown below is the Akai VC-115 studio videocamera which was used for much the same purposes as the Sony AVC-3250.

Shown above is a TEAC video camera similar to the Akai VC-115 , the HC-100. For those collectors looking for a specialty area, early vidoe cameras and camcorders are plentiful in excellent condition and at bargain basement prices. This HC-100 with fitted cased was obtained on eBay for only $20.

KODAK XL 340 - 1974. One of the many amateur movie cameras marketed by Kodak over the years that can now be purchased by the collector in excellent condition very inexpensively . Film: Super 8 cartridge. Shutter: 9, 18 frames per second. Lens: Manual focus Ektar 9-21mm f/1.2

http://www.city-net.com/~fodder/kodak/s8cam.html

SATCOM 1 - 1975.  SATCOM 1, America's first commercially available geo-stationary satellite was  placed into orbit by a Delta rocket December 12, 1975.  Geo-stationary means that the satellite was placed at a distance above the earth's surface and over the equator where it would revolve around the earth within the exact same time period that it takes for the earth to rotate on its axis (synchronous orbit).  This causes the satellite to stay continually above the same point over the earth's surface so that satellite receivers do not have to follow a moving satellite.  It also means that spy satellites can view the same area of the earth's surface twenty-four hours a day.   http://www.skyrocket.de/space/index2.htm
http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae55.cfm
 

BETAMAX - 1975.  Sony introduced Betamax videotape, the first successful consumer videocassette.  The first Betamax product released in the United States, the combination LV-1901 TV/VCR floor model, appeared in November 1975 priced at $2295.  The one hour Betamax cartridges were considerably smaller than the earlier U-matic cartridges, and the system derived its name from the resemblance of the tape path inside the mechanism to the Greek letter "ß." The LV-1901 contained a 19" color TV and the SL-6200 VCR, which went on sale in Japan on May 10, 1975. The LV-1901 shown above is on display at the American Museum of the Moving Image along with many other vintage TV and video products. Click on image of the LV-1901 to see an enlarged view.
http://www.cedmagic.com/history/betamax-lv-1901.html
http://www.vidipax.com/formatgd/fg22.html

 

   FIRST CCD FLATBED SCANNER - 1975.   Introduced by Kurzweil Computer Products using the first integrated chip.  Ray Kurzweil and his team at Kurzweil Computer Products created the Kurzweil Reading Machine and the first omni-font OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology.  They did this work in support of individuals who are blind.
http://www.kurzweiltech.com/aboutray.html
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw050505 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanner_%28computing%29
 

ALTAIR 8800 HOME COMPUTER - 1975.  The Mits Corporation introduced the  first popular home computer, the Altair. The Altair computer kit sold for about $400 and began the personal computer revolution.

http://www.blinkenlights.com/altair.shtml

KODAK PROTOTYPE CCD DIGITAL CAMERA - 1975.  A Kodak engineer, Steve J. Sasson, holds a camera he constructed, the world's first known still image digital camera.  The camera used the newly developed Fairchild black and white 100 X 100 Pixel (.01 megapixel) CCD as an image sensor and required 23 seconds to record a single image onto digital cassette tape. The camera weighed 8 1/2 pounds.  Rochester (NY) Democrat & Chronicle, page 8D, October 16, 2001.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Sasson

HITACHI (SHIBA) SHIBADEN FP-100 - 1975.   Example of a professional model closed circuit studio TV camera of the era. Lens:Shibaden Fujinon TV zoom 1:1.8, F=20-100mm. Shiba Electric merged with Hitachi Electric in 1973 to form Shinsei Hitachi Electronics.

http://www.h-kokusai.com/global/corporate/history_before.html

http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/history/bibliography/biblio.php3?id=S

CANON 110ED - 1975. The 110ED was one of many 110 cameras marketed by Canon and others during the era. Picture size : 13 x 17mm. Canon lens f2/25mm. Shutter: 8 - 1/500sec. ISO 800

www.mediajoy.com/ en/cla_came/canon110ed/

If you like to collect unusual cameras there are many available, often quite inexpensively. For example, the Kodak Analyst Super 8 shown below is a Super 8 movie camera with one unusal feature - it has a timer which allows the user to take time lapse photographs rather than movies. The Analyst appears on eBay fairly frequently and can be purchased in excellent condition for about $30.

FIRST PHOTO FROM ANOTHER PLANET, VENERA-9 - 1975. On October 20, 1975 The Soviet lander Venera-9 transmitted the above panorama from Venus.

http://www.mentallandscape.com/C_CatalogVenus.htm

FIRST PHOTO FROM MARS, VIKING 1 - 1976. On 30 August 1976, Viking 1 landed on Mars and took a photo of Chryse Planitia with its 6-bit scanning camera.

science.nasa.gov/headlines/ y2001/ast20jul_1.htm

KH-11 - 1976. The KH-11 , referenced by the codenames Crystal and Kennan , also commonly known as "Big Bird", was a type of reconnaissance satellite launched by the American National Reconnaissance Office from December 1976 to October 2005. Manufactured by Lockheed, the KH-11 was the first American spy satellite to utilize electro-optical digital imaging, and create a real-time optical observation capability. It is believed to resemble the Hubble Space Telescope in size and shape, as the satellites were shipped in similar containers. Using a powerful 2.3-meter mirror, the theoretical ground resolution with no atmospheric degradation would be approximately 6 inches. Data was transmitted through the United States military's Satellite Data System relay network. Shown above is a leaked KH-11 photo showing the Nikolaiev 444 shipyard in the Black Sea taken in 1984.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KH-11

CANON AE-1 - 1976.  First 35mm camera with built-in microprocessor.  About $630 with f1.4 lens.  Click on image for enlarged view.
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/

MINOLTA ZOOM SLR - 1976.  First 110mm SLR camera.

en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Minolta_110_Zoom_SLR

5.25-INCH FLOPPY DISK - 1976.   In 1976 Shugart Associates began production of 5.25 disk drives, believed to be the first standard computer medium that was not promulgated by IBM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk

FAIRCHILD MV-101 - 1976.   The first commercial CCD camera, the Fairchild MV-101 with 100x100 pixel resolution, was used to perform Procter & Gamble product inspections.  No photo available.
astro-canada.ca/ _en/a2310.html

http://digitalphotoat.blogspot.com/2006/03/evolution-of-digital-phototechnics_19.html
 

VHS – 1976. JVC introduced VHS (video home system), the most successful of all home video formats. It was introduced as a competitor of Sony’s Betamax. ½ inch, 250 lines of resolution. Maximum length of tape was 180 minutes in SP mode, 540 minutes in EP mode.
http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/company.html
  http://www.labguysworld.com/formats.html
http://www.jvc.co.uk/template.php?page=100014


JVC HR-3300 - 1976.  The first VHS home video cassette recorder was introduced in Japan by Japan Victor Corporation in September of 1976.  In April of 1976 JVC had demonstrated a VHS prototype to Sony, but Sony considered VHS to be a copy of Beta and refused to adopt the VHS design.   VHS eventually  replaced Sony's Betamax design in the comsumer market although  Beta is  stilled used for non-consmer products.
http://www.betainfoguide.com/Tidbits.htm

  SONY SL-7200 - 1976.  The first stand-alone Sony Betamax VCR in the United States, the SL-7200, came on the market in February 1976 priced at $1295. This unit sold much better than the previous TV/VCR combo LV-1901. The external clock to turn the unit on and off at preset times was an optional accessory.   The clock was placed externally at the request of Sony chairman Akio Morita.  Upon seeing a prototype unit in a lab with an internal clock, he insisted that the clock be external so that if the clock malfunctioned it could be repaired without requiring that the entire VCR be brought into a service center. http://www.cedmagic.com/history/betamax-sl-7200-1976.html
 

APPLE I - 1977.  Apple introduced its first home computer, the Apple I.  The Apple I was based on the MOStek 6502 chip, whereas most other kit computers were built from the Intel 8080.  The Apple I was sold through several small retailers and included only the circuit board.  Users bought the workings and built their own case.   A tape-interface was sold separately.  The Apple I's initial cost was $666.66.   Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the most famous members of the Homebrew Computer Club, designed the Apple I in 1976.   Many leaders in mainline computer companies like IBM and Digital did not believe that personal computers were powerful enough to have a market.  Sales of the Apple I and other PC's that followed proved them wrong.  Click on image to see enlarged view. http://photo2.si.edu/infoage/infoage.html
 

APPLE II- 1977.  The first Apple II's were shipped in June 1977 and retailed for $1298 each. The Apple II was the first computer with a color display, and it had the BASIC programming language built-in, so it was ready-to-run right out of the box. The Apple II could be considered the first user-friendly system.

www.g4tv.com/icons/ episodes/3781/Apple_II.html

CASI PHOTO SYSTEM - 1977.  The CASI was intended to be used for the making of portraits, the first commercial use of such a system. It required the use of a TV camera, computer and printer. The company, Computer Amusement Systems Inc., is still in business. June 1984 Popular Science, page 129. Photo and information provided by Mike Mozart, JeepersMedia. http://www.youtube.com/user/JeepersMedia

www.photo-creations.com/aboutus.htm

KONICA C35-AF - 1977.  Konica introduced the C35-AF, the world's first compact point-and-shoot autofocus camera. http://www.konicaminolta.com/




ROLLEI 35T - 1978.  When the Rollei 35 was first introduced in 1966, it was the world’s smallest mass produced full frame 35 mm camera – it could fit in a shirt pocket (H = 2.57inches, W = 4 inches, D = 1.5 inches). High quality all metal construction and high quality optics led to its great success. The lens collapsed and receded into the body. Front mounted f-stop and shutter speed controls were linked to a “match needle” metering system. In order to make use of all available space the hot shoe flash mount was positioned on the bottom of the camera. Other oddities included a left hand film advance and a completely removable back for film loading. Various models have been produced with the SE model being the most advanced. Originally made in Germany, some production was done in Singapore.  http://www.clickondavid.com/em.html

RCA BW003 - 1978. An example of an early consumer video camera. The B-003 was a 2/3 inch vidicon camera that was intended to compliment early VHS machines and allow the consumer to shoot home movies. The viewfinder is a simple peep sight with a reticule marked for either a 25mm or a 12.5mm lens for close-up and/or wide angle shooting. The microphone was built into the front of the camera. Many such early video cameras are available to the collector very inexpensively. The one shown above was purchased on eBay in excellent condition with manual, converter and cables for $20.

KODAK TELE-EKTRA - 1978. Kodak's version of an inexpensive 110 camera. Many manufacturers produced 110 cameras during this time period and they make an interesting collection in and of themselves. They take up very little space and most are very inexpensive. The above camera in excellent condition with manual and a box of vintage flashbulbs was purchased for $3.00. Visit the web site below see a number of Kodak 110 cameras

Kodak Instant Cameras – 1976-86.   In October 1985, after nine years of patent litigation with Polaroid, Kodak was banned from making and selling instant cameras and film. The ban took effect January 1986, at which time Kodak announced a trade-in program. The owners of 16.5 million cameras were given the chance to trade in their cameras for a share of Kodak common stock, a new camera, or $50 worth of Kodak merchandise.  By June of 1986, several class action lawsuits had been filed against Kodak by instant camera owners.  The final settlement called for owners to return the camera's nameplate for a refund of cash and credits.  The numerous Kodak Instant cameras without nameplates have virtually no collector or commercial value. Some Kodak instant cameras have the following names: Champ, Colorburst, EK, Handle, Happy Times, Kodamatic, Partyflash, Party Star, Partytime, Pleaser, Trimprint.  Shown above, left and center with nameplate, Colorburst 200 (1978-80), MSRP $59.50. Second from right is model EK4 (1976-78), MSRP $53.50.  On far right is The Handle (1977-79), MSRP $39.95.

http://www.ozcamera.com/k-instant.html

NOVELTIES - One area where one can collect a great many photography items without spending a lot of money and without requiring a lot of storage space. The types of camera novelties available on eBay is almost unlimited: cuff links, cups, clothing, toys, office accessories, decorative items, fake cameras, storage containers, etc. Several are shown below.

COCA-COLA CHRISTMAS EDITION CAN CAMERA - 1970s.  One of many can cameras made in the late 70s and early 80s. A 110 camera was fitted inside. Most can cameras were made by Eiko. With few exceptions, all of Eiko's cameras were "can cameras", that is, cameras built into a tin can. These were often sold or given away as promotions by soda and beer manufacturers. Various models were made from 1977 to 1983, but they all included a 110 camera hidden inside a can with a variety of nameplates.   Many came from countries other than the U.S. and all were awkward to use.

http://www.subclub.org/subjpegs/cocacola.jpg

FISHER PRICE GO TO THE ZOO CAMERA TOY - 1973. Each time the yellow button is pushed the flash cube rotates and a different zoo animal appears in the viewer.

MICKEY MOUSE CAMERA - 1965 . The first version of this camera used the right ear as a shutter release. Later versions had the shutter release on the side of the head. Date of the first version varies depending on the source, anywhere from the 50's to the 70's.

brightbytes.com/ collection/character.html

MODERN VIDEO DISC - 1978.  Philips and Sony collaborated to make digital imagery a reality.  Sound and images were digitally recorded and imprinted as micro-pits on a disc.  A laser then optically scanned the information and converted it into pictures and sound on a home TV.  Pioneer made use of the format as Karaoke Entertainment which made the format popular in commercial circles of Asia. Discs and players are readily available on eBay. Lewis M. Branscom, Confessions of a Technophile, 1995, page 130

SONY HVC-1000 - 1979. The HVC-1000 is an example of an early Beta video camera. Originally, the HVC-1000 required an adapter to record to Beta recorders. Later, it could record directly to the Sony SL-2000 and SL-2500 of 1982. The Sony BC-300 battery charger shown on the right was for NP-11 batteries used in Betamovie camcorders. It's somewhat unique in that it held three batteries and charged them sequentially one at a time. User could select the order of charging. Once a battery was charged it could be removed while the remainder continued to charge. Sony information provided by Jack Carter, Sony technician. The above camera with fitted hard case was purchased in excellent condition for only $9.99

http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/history/bibliography/fullbiblio.php3

RCA CC002 - 1979. A semi-professional closed circuit video camera of the type used by various schools and universities. For those looking for a specialized area of collecting these types of video cameras are often available on eBay at a fraction of their original cost. The camera above in excellent condition in its original box was obtained for only $44. Although not apparent in the above photo, the CC002 is significanlty bigger and heavier than the typical home video camera of the same era.

  DIGITAL AUDIO TAPE SYSTEM - 1979.  Sony introduces digital recording tape.  CBS Records International is the first major record company headquarted in the United States to take delivery of Sony's new PCM-1600 (pulse code modulation) digital audio processor and editing equipment.  

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/corporate_information/company_of_firsts

DURST M600 - 1979.  Typical enlarger of the kind used during the era when many photography hobbyists developed and printed photos in their own home photo lab.

SONY TPS-L2 WALKMAN - 1979. Sony  introduced the Walkman TPS-L2 personal stereo.  A midnight-blue-and-silver with high quality sound, the TPS-L2 debuted in July 1979. Called the Soundabout in the United States, it didn't record or come with a speaker, but two could listen at once through a pair of headphone jacks, and an orange button called the Hotline let the owner talk over the music. MSRP $200. http://www.reason.com/hitandrun/2004/07/early_music_sha.shtml

CCD CAMERAS IN ASTRONOMY - 1979.  An RCA 320 x 512-pixel liquid nitrogen cooled CCD system began operation on a 1-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.  Observations quickly demonstrated its superiority over photographic plates.  CCDs are best for high-resolution imaging -- this is where they really come into their own.  Because of the dim light associated with large image scales, the relatively poor sensitivity of photographic emulsions just cannot compete.  CCD cameras are excellent at imaging small planetary nebulae, and they can render thousands of obscure galaxies as spectacular, exotic objects.

    Kitt Peak National Observatory        Orion Nebula (Click for large view.)
RESPONSE 300 SYSTEM - 1979.  Scitex, an Israel-based company, marketed the Response 300 System which created full-color separations and allowed the operator to change image details or combine images.  The Scitex Response 300 represented the first generally available technology that allowed treatment of a graphic arts page as a data file that could be electronically manipulated as a complete entity.  Prior to that time, electronics and computers had seen use in graphic arts, but only to process data on the fly, without storage and without the ability to edit, change and manipulate complete page images.  The U.S. topographic map at left was created using the Scitex Response 300 System.  Click on image for enlarged view.
http://www.wikipatents.com/ca/2040727.html

1970s