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1991        R

canon rc-260 still video camera case exterior 1991 canon rc-260 still video camera case open 1990

canon rc-260 still video camera kit 1991 canon rc-260 ion hi-band still video camera frolnt 1991canon rc-260 hi-band still video camera top 1991 canon rc-260 hi-band still video camera top 1991

CANON RC-260 - 1991.   Hi-band still video camera. For export only (not for Japanese market). The RC-260 was a full-feature (record / playback / erasure) still video camera. It had a 1/2 inch 230,000 pixel CCD image sensor, recording and playback with horizontal resolution of 320 TV lines. In addition to the camera, the kit included the BA-24P charger, PP-A8 power pack, RF-302E RF unit, TA-C26 tripod adapter, TC-C2670 tele converter lens, WC-C2635 wide converter lens, VF-50 video floppy disks, various cables, manual, and a molded hard case. MSRP was about $1,700.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PP57&lpg=PP57&dq=FUJI+%2B+%22DS-H1%22&source=bl&ots=tA6O50_f-t&sig=ACfU3U01OybzONK7ON0X-jWUskwVvjjZ6w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjA34jLor71AhXRZc0KHdHSCf4Q6AF6BAgCEAM#v=onepage&q=FUJI%20%2B%20%22DS-H1%22&f=false

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Canon_RC-260


chinon vmc-1 memory card camera 1991
CHINON VMC-1 - 1991.  Multi-zone autofocus, electronic zoom memory card camera.  Up to 30 images per card. Popular Photography.  January 1991.  p55.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=CHINON+%2B+%22VMC-1%22&source=bl&ots=tz3S3-273t&sig=o0w9KDoVUg1CVyTkg5TXyaND8b0&hl=en&sa=

X&ved=0ahUKEwiqp6bileXYAhVDY6wKHROAAxAQ6AEIVTAL#v=onepage&q=CHINON%20%2B%20%22VMC-1%22&f=false


crossfiel celsis-130 and 160 3-ccd cameras 1991
CROSFIELD CELSIS-130 and 160 - 1991.  Examples of professional studio model digicams.  The Celsis-160 used a Fuji HC-1000 base, and had a fixed resolution of 1,280 x 960 pixels.  The Celsis-130 used a Krontron unit base and had a resolution of 3072 x 2320 pixels.   They  used three CCDs.  In this case, each CCD had a single dye to gather the requisite color information.  This kind of camera is best suited for studio photography.  Because the light must hit three CCDs, it must be split into three beams, which results in a lower intensity of light for each beam.  This, in turn, means that the camera will be less able to handle lower-than-optimal lighting conditions and will require longer exposure times. The three-CCD design also tends to significanlty increase the cost of the camera.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

http://www.caffnib.co.uk/xfld_gloss.html

https://silo.tips/download/digital-image-file-formats-tiff-jpeg-jpeg2000-raw-and-dng



fujix ds-h1 digital memory card camera 1991
FUJI DS-H1 -  1991.  Digital memory card camera. F/2 3X zoom lens.  Shutter 1/800 second.  Up to 20 image per card.  400 line resolution.  Not marketed.  Popular Photography.  January 1991.  p55.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PP57&lpg=PP57&dq=FUJI+%2B+%22DS-H1%22&source=bl&ots=tA6O50_

f-t&sig=ACfU3U01OybzONK7ON0X-jWUskwVvjjZ6w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjA34jLor71AhXRZc0KHdHSCf4Q6AF6BAgCEAM#v=onepage&q=FUJI%20%2B%20%22DS-H1%22&f=false

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/prototypes-rarities/item/fujix-ds-h1-prototype


fujix ds-100 digital memory card camera 1991fujix cr-500 memory card reader drive 1991
FUJI DS-100 -  1991.  Digital memory card camera.  1/2-inch, 390K pixel CCD.  8-24mm (first digicam with 3-power zoom) f/2 power zoom lens.  ISO 100.  Shutter 1/4 to 1/749 second.  Built-in flash, auto white balance, autofocus, video output.  Price, about $5,000.  Fuji sold a $2500 dedicated card drive for the Fuji DS-100 (CR-500) that provided a front-panel slot for the camera's memory card (HG-15).  Owners of the Fuji DS-100 memory card camera were required to purchase the CR-500 card reader (above right) in order to read the HG-15 memory card. The $360 HG-15 memory card could store 5 of the DS-100's 390K pixel images at full resolution or 21 at lower resolution. The size of a large hardcover dictionary, the DS-100 Memory Card Processor connected to the Mac's SCSI port, a system that yielded faster image transfers than the serial connections used by most other cameras at the time.  The DS-100 included a transfer utility as well as an Adobe PhotoShop plug-in module that imported images using PhotoShop Acquire command.  The DS-100 also had output jacks for RGB, composite, and S-Video.  Popular Photography.  December 1991.  p111.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/cameras/item/fujix-ds-100

 

fujix pr-1h still video camera system 1993  Fuji PR-1H  still video camera system 1993  

  
FUJI(X) PR-1, PR-1H, PR-2, PR-2J  - 1991.  Fuji called it their still video pro system. It consisted of a camera head, a still video player/recorder, control section, and remote control (RM-5000).  Thanks to Mr. Matsumo for identifying what was an unknown camera to us back in 2002 when it appeared on an Asahi web site page.  These latest photos are from a seller on a Japanese web site similar to eBay. We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

http://matsumo.my.coocan.jp/english/e-index.htm

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/item/fujix-pr-1



hasselblad db 4000 digital back 553elx film camera  1991
HASSELBLAD DB 4000 -  1991.  Example of professional model digital studio camera that used a digital back attached to a standard film camera.  The professional model Hasselblad DB 4000 was a Hasselblad motorized model 553ELX film camera combined with a Leaf digital back.  ISO 300, 1/125 to 1 second.  2048 x 2048 pixel CCD.  14-bit capture per color channel, 8-bit storage.  The Leaf back fit the body of the Hasselblad in place of a film magazine and used a SCSI 2 interface to Apple Macintosh/Quadra computers.  The DB 4000 is typical of numerous professional model digital cameras that combine high-quality film camera fronts with various brands of professional digital backs.  Digital Studio Cameras.  February 20, 1993.  p7.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera. 

https://systemfolder.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/mac-cameras-1993/

Konica KC-32A

KONICA KC-32A - 1991.   Prototype improved version of the 1988 KC-300 still video camera.  Instant playback and autobracketing.  Up to five frames at various exposure levels at speeds up to 20 frames per second.  Photol not available, but similar in appearance to the KC-DX1 above.   Not marketed.  Popular Photography, January 1991, p54.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide information concerning this camera.

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/item/konica-kc-32a

https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PP56&lpg=PP56&dq=KONICA+%2B+%22KC-32A%22&source=bl&ots=tA6O5007_q&sig=ACfU3U2sUqPMEKW9JIauLsRsJq4gLxxt0A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisro-
Bp771AhUfCTQIHVK6BWkQ6AF6BAgDEAM#v=onepage&q=KONICA%20%2B%20%22KC-32A%22&f=false




 Konica KC-DX1

KONICA KC-DX1 - 1991.  Digital camera prototype.  Photo first shown in French computer magazine SVM (Science & Vie Micro) October 1991, page 53.  400K pixel CCD.  Fixed-focus 10mm f/4 lens.  Playback capabiity and .9-inch color liquid-crystal display monitor on top.  It could store up to 10 high quality digital images on its microchip-based memory card.  .9-inch color LCD on top for viewing photos taken.  Not marketed.   Popular Photography, January 1991, p55.

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/item/konica-kc-32a

https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PP56&lpg=PP56&dq=KONICA+%2B+%22KC-32A%22&source=bl&ots=tA6O5007

_q&sig=ACfU3U2sUqPMEKW9JIauLsRsJq4gLxxt0A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisro-

Bp771AhUfCTQIHVK6BWkQ6AF6BAgDEAM#v=onepage&q=KONICA%20%2B%20%22KC-32A%22&f=false


nikon nasaf4 digital ccd camera 1991

NIKON NASA F4 - 1991.  A modified Nikon F4 was first flown into space on board the Space Shuttle Discovery in September 1991. The standard Nikon F4 film body was converted to digital by placing a one megapixel monochrome CCD at the film plane. The battery-operated Electronic Still Camera (ESC) retained all the features of the F4 camera body and accepted any lens or optics with a Nikon mount. Nikkor lenses used included a 20mm f/2.8 AF, 35-70mm f/2.8 AF, 50mm f/1.2 and 180mm f/2.8 AF.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_NASA_F4



Norman Breslow Basic Digital Photography by Norman Breslow   

NORMAN BRESLOW, BASIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY - 1991.   In 1991 Norman Breslow published the first  book describing  methods of digitizing  and altering photographs  to produce original works of art.   He did this using  a TARGA-16 digital photography graphics board which could create an image with over 32,00 colors, a great deal more than other graphics boards at that time.    Breslow's works of art are of historic value because they were created manually rather than with the  filter programs  available today  with virtually  all  imaging programs.  Below are several samples of Breslow's work.  The three photos above are selfies of  Breslow made by using the techniques described in his book.  Click on the reference URLs below the photos to read more about Norman Breslow and view many more of his historic works of art.

Norman Breslow phnoto  Norman Breslowphoto

Norman Breslow photo 

 


https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Digital-Photography-NORMAN-BRESLOW/dp/0240800559



  Olympus VC-100

OLYMPUS VC-100 - 1991. Still video camera. 1/2-inch 360K CCD.  ISO 160.  10-27mm f/2.8 zoom lens.  Shutter 1/30 to 1/2000 second. Built-in flash.  Hi-band still video Field and Frame modes.  Price, $1400 in Japan.  Popular Photography, December 1991, p109.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Olympus_VC-100

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/olympus-history-website-launched-2738


Pentax IQZoom700 and IQZoom70-R 

PENTAX IQZOOM700 / ZOOM70-R- 1971. - 1991. Manufactured by Asahi Optical Company of Japan.   The IQzoom700 and the zoom70-R appear to be the same except for the countries they were sold in (both manuals are dated 1991).  The manual for the zoom70-R states that the warranty does not apply to products purchased in the U.S.A., U.K., or Canada.  Warranties from those countries supersede the zoom70-R warranty.  Lens: power zoom 35-70mm f/3.5-6.7.  Auto focus.  Shutter 1/5 second to 1/250 second. 

The above camera in near mint  condition was donated to DigiCamHistory.Com by Ron Hardwick, one of Ohio's top professional golf instructors.

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Pentax_IQZoom_700



 

PHILLIPS EXPLORER VKR 9550 Pro - 1991.  In 1991 Phillips introduced the VKR 9550 (S-VHS PA) , a combination camcorder and still video camera.  Using the ESP "Electronic Still Picture" mode in the camcorder and SPR 6400 still video printer, it was possible to print any image from the tape in still video's highest quality "frame" mode.  The 9550 recorded complete frames every l/25th of a second, which it then divided into a pair of fields for TV playback. VITC code was used to access the individual frames for replay. The result was a doubling of definition assisted by its 2/3" sensor chip. Popular Photography February 1991, page 52.  ELECTRONICS Australia, December 1991, page 21.

https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PP212&lpg=PP212&dq=PHILLIPS+EXPLORER+VKR+9550+Pro+%2B+

1991&source=bl&ots=tA6O5019Yp&sig=ACfU3U0iuF8oDXS6kyeSc91HK4rzUV_

ENA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJ7bGzq771AhUSj4kEHXfJCx8Q6AF6BAgnEAM#v=onepage&q=

PHILLIPS%20EXPLORER%20VKR%209550%20Pro%20%2B%201991&f=false


polaroid g color still video camera
POLAROID G CAMERA -  1991.  Color version of the 8801 HiRes 1988 camera.   G camera for graphics, put a high resolution image directly onto a computer.  Popular Photography, January 1991, p55.   Photo provided by Richard Kee who was Director, Electronic Imaging, of the group at Polaroid that developed the 8801 system.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.   (lAlso see Larish, John J. Understanding Electronic photography, 1990, page 99.

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/category/polaroid-3


rico mikrai digital back 1991ricoh mirai film camera 1991
RICOH Digital Back -  1991.  Shown on Ricoh Mirai camera front. Demonstration model only, not produced. Another example of a professional studio camera consisting of a film camera front and a digital back.  Popular Photography, January 1991, p55.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this item.

http://www.australianphotography.com/gear/top-10-weirdest-camera-designs-of-all-time

Rollei rolleiflex 6008 digital back film camera 1991 rollei scanpack digital back for rolleiflex 6008 1991

ROLLEI Digital ScanPack -  1991.  Rollei entered digital photography with the Rollei Digital ScanPack (right) for the Rolleiflex 6008. Attached in the place of an interchangeable film back, the images were 5850 x 5000 pixels (29.25MP), a very high resolution for that time. MSRP for the ScanPack: $19,000.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Rollei

sega game gear game console 1991

SEGA GAME GEAR -  1991.  My daughter, Tatiya, donated her Game Gear to the collection, but as usual, she had lost the manual so that it was necessary for me to purchase a copy on eBay. Keep your manuals folks - you need them to operate your equipment properly and you may get more for it when you sell it because buyers don't want to have to pay extra to go on eBay to purchase the manual! The Sega Game Gear   is an 8-bit handheld game console released by Sega in 1990 in Japan, and1991 in North America and Europe, and Australia in 1992. As part of the fourth generation of gaming, the Game Gear primarily competed with Nintendo's Game Boy, the Atari Lynx and NEC's TurboExpress. The handheld shares much of its hardware with the Sega Master System and is able to play its own titles as well as those of the Master System, the latter being made possible by the use of an adapter. Containing a full-color backlit screen with a landscape format, Sega positioned the Game Gear as a technologically superior handheld to the Game Boy.

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

 

Sony mvr-5300 still video player recorder 1991

SONY MVR-5300 - 1991.  The MVR-5300 was a typical still video image recorder/player of the still video (analog) era (MSRP $4,950 = $8,250 in 2011 dollars). It recorded and played back up to 25 full frame (or 50 field) images on a 2-inch still video mini diskette. Horizontal resolution of 500 TV lines due to the Hi-band recording format. RS-232C computer interface. Shown below is a Sony MVR-5400 ($5,000 MSRP), also of 1991, and two Konica KR-400 ($2,000 MSRP) still video recorders of the same era.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this item.

http://www.profilesinhistory.com/flipbooks/A93DR_CF/files/basic-html/page114.html

klonica kr-400 still video player 1991 Konica KR400

SONY MVR-5400 - 1991                                                                     KONICA KR-400 - 1987

sony seps-1000 digital studio camera front view 1991sony seps-1000 digital studio camera side view 1991  
SONY SEPS-1000 DIGITAL STUDIO CAMERA -  1991.  SEPS-1000 (Sony Electronic Photography System) Shown in mounting bracket for studio portrait work.  Three CCDs and optical beam splitter (first), 2476 x 1108 pixels.  Used Sony's on-chip micro lens system (first) to concentrate light doubling light sensitivity to ISO 400.  Northrop Corporation adopted the Sony Electronic Photography System eliminating the use of 1.2 million gallons of water for processing photos as well as the electrical energy required to heat the water to 90 degrees. Additionally, more than 5000 gallons of hazardous waste per year was eliminated with a dollar savings of about $1 million annually. Digital Photography: Pictures of Tomorrow, John J. Larish, 1992, p13.Price, $29,995.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

http://www.epi-centre.com/reports/9311ed.html
 

sony minidisc audio disc
MINIDISC - 1991.  MiniDiscs were announced in 1991 by Sony as a disk-based digital medium for recording and distributing consumer audio that is near CD in quality.  The Minidisc was developed as a recording and playback device that would use a disk smaller than the CD to replace the audio compact cassette.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this item. 

http://www.minidisc.org/sony_announcement.html
 
 

sony mvr-100 still video player recorder 1991
SONY MVR-C100 - 1991.   Consumer still video player/recorder.  RGB Sync output for direct connection to computers with image capture boards.  MSRP $1150.  Popular Photography, June 1991,  p73.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this item.


https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=SONY+%2B+%22MVR-C100%22&source=bl&ots=tA4N18-fYm&sig=ACfU3U3552Aat6WhydNRLgByOJJtrdiXeg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwigv

qj-5tHwAhVCXM0KHb28AHIQ6AEwEHoECBEQAw#v=onepage&q=SONY%20%2B%20%22MVR-C100%22&f=false   (PopularPhotography,June 1991, page 73).



STill VIDEO PRINTERS - 1991.  In the early days of electronic photography (analog still video or digital) manufacturers came out with a variety of ways to print color digital photos.  A number of brands produced 'still video printers' which could capture frames from camcorders and VCRs and convert the images into digital foremat for print purposes.  The upper left photo is an ad for the Panasonic PV-VP1 which listed for $1,300.  The photo on the right is from a December 1991 Popular Photography article which discussed five of the 'most affordable' models on the market with prices ranging from $999.95 to $1,795.  Pixel size varied from 448 vertical to 640 horizontal and all produced prints in the 3 x 4-inch range.  Popular Photography, December 1991, page112.



tamron fotovix ntsc ccd video camera scanner 1991
TAMRON FotoVix - 1991  An unusual type of video camera.  The FotoVix converted negatives or slides into NTSC video output for viewing on a TV monitor or recording to tape, but could also scan small objects.  Stills could be viewed on a PC through use of a video capture device.  CCD of approximately 410K pixels.  Quality of stills was reported to be relatively poor.  Discontinued in 2000. MSRP $1149.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this item.

http://www.earthseapublishing.com/magazines/photolabmanagement/pdf/1996%2001%20Tamron%20Fotovix%20IIISD.pdf

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/userfiles/file/digital_imaging_1990-2010.pdf

1991
 

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1991
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1995 A-C
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1996 D-N
1996 O-R
1996 S-Z
 1997 A-D
1997 E-H
1997 I-O
 1997 P-Q
 1997 R-S
1997 T-Z
1998 A-D
1998 E-F
1998 G-K
1998 L-N
1998 O-P
1998 Q-R
1998 S
1998 T-Z
1999+
   



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History Sites
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