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Digital
Still Cameras
Digital
still cameras use either a CCD or CMOS chip to
capture light coming into the camera lens and
converts this into digital information. The images
are stored in chip memory (either built-in RAM
memory, or a memory card) until they are downloaded
to a computer. Images are usually compressed when
they are stored in the computer memory (remember
that an uncompressed 640 x 480 24 bit image is
almost 1 MB in size so compression is vital when
there's onlu 4 or 8 megabytes of memory available.)
This compression, along with the resolution of the
CCD chip and the quality of the optics are the
greatest determinants of the quality of the final
image.
As
well as resolution problems, the other important
difference between a CCD and film camera is the
difference in dynamic range. Film has a wider
dynamic range than the average CCD. This means that
film can capture more detail when a scene contains
both brightly lit and poorly illuminated areas.
There are some manufacturers already claiming to
sell digital cameras with a range as great as film,
however these cameras are very expensive at the
moment.
For
the average user,the past few years has seen a
dramatic decline in the cost of these cameras,
while the image quality has improved. While under
$1,000 digital cameras still don't rival the
quality of images you can get with a 35mm SLR
camera, this might change in another couple of
years.
Other
issues to consider when looking at digital cameras
are:
- Transferring
images using a serial connection can take a very
long time. Other solutions (particularly using
memory card readers) offer better -- though more
expensive -- solutions.
- All
of these devices eat batteries. Consider getting
rechargeable batteries.
- As
you shoot more images you'll soon discover that
they start filling your disc space!
Even
if you aren't interested in Canon's products, you
might like to check out their site for the section
on the history and workings of digital
cameras.
<www.powershot.com>
According
to a new research study published jointly by
International Data Corporation and Future Image,
the worldwide Digital Camera market will Break
$5.4 Billion by 2002. As desktop systems become
increasingly more powerful, quality and
affordability of photo/near- photo quality inkjet
printers gain prominence, and Internet bandwidth
steadily increases, the worldwide digital camera
market will reap tremendous rewards.
As
fierce price wars drive sensor prices down,
megapixel digital image capture have dropped well
below the $1,000 price point. Cost reductions are
also being spurred by the proliferation of advanced
chipsets solutions which integrate numerous
previously discrete components onto a single chip.
As the need for additional chips diminishes, so
does price.
Key
Findings
- Internet
penetration of SOHO and home markets will help
drive the digital camera market and is already
at almost 80 percent penetration of PC
households
- The
megapixel category, which featured six models in
the fall of 1997, reached 35 models by July
1998
- The
worldwide digital camera market will experience
a 67.8 percent CAGR in shipments from 1997 to
2002
- Worldwide
revenues will grow from $1.2 billion in 1997 to
$5.4 billion in 2002
The
Digital Camera Market Review and Forecast,
1996-2002 contains worldwide forecasts and
detailed analysis for five digital camera segments.
It also presents shipments by application,
distribution channel and user segment. The report
is available for purchase from IDC (contact Cheryl
Toffel at 508-935-4389 or at <ctoffel@idc.com>)
or Future Image (contact Renata Fried at
650-579-0493 or at <RFFuture@aol.com>
Forbes
online dismisses digital cameras -- or at
least questions the market for them -- in the
article linked below. Some of the points are worth
noting (such as do most people want to spend the
time manipulating their images?)
<www.forbes.com
article "digital
cameras">
Looking
for a still digital camera and thinking about the
Nikon Coolpix 900? There are two very
detailed reviews of the camera already available on
the web at:
For
those interested in digital cameras, the Digital
Corner of Zone Zero has an excellent comparison
of the Olympus D600L, Nikon CoolPix
900, and Kodak DC 260. It does a good
job of covering the strengths and weaknesses of
each camera.
<www.zonezero.com
column "Digital
Cameras Yes! Part
2"
The
Digital Eyes website has a very favorable review of
the new Kodak DC260 camera.
<www.image-acquire.com
review "Kodak
DC260">
Imaging
Resource has published an Interview with the
Kodak DC260 Project Team which covers all
kinds of issues with this camera, including:
Compression/image quality, focus issues, exposure
control, scritping, and why there's no filter
thread on the lens. If you have this camera, or are
considering it, then this is worth a read.
<www.imaging-resource.com
special report "Interview
with the Kodak DC260 Project
Team">
PC
Magazines reviewed megapixel cameras
that cost less than $800. They reviewed the Casio
QV-5000SX, Canon PowerShot A5, Epson PhotoPC 700,
Fujifilm MX-700, Olympus D-340L, Panasonic PalmCam
PV-DC1580. The Fujifilm MX-700 and Epson PhotoPC
700 were rated best.
<www.zdnet.com/pcmag
first look "All
About Megapixels">
MacWorld
has a feature comparing mega-pixel digital
cameras. The review covers: Agfa ePhoto 1280,
Canon Powershit A5, Kodak DC210, Epson PhotoPC 700,
Nikon CoolPix 900, Olympus D-320L, D-3240L, D-500L,
D-600L and Polaroid PDC-3000. The winners were the
Olympus D-600L and the Canon PowerShot
A5, while the Agfa ePhoto 1280 and Polaroid
PDC-3000 rated lowest.
Unfortunately
-- probably due to timing -- the review does not
include the new Kodak 220 and 260 cameras.
<macworld.zdnet.com
Magazine Feature "Focus
On: Ten High-Quality Digital Cameras Put to the
Test by Macworld
Lab">
And
emediaweekly has a comparison of point and
shoot digital cameras under $1,000: Casio
QV-5000SX, Epson PhotoPC 700, Fuji MX-700, HP
PhotoSmart C20, Konica Q-M100V, Olympus D-340L and
Toshiba PDR-M1.
<www.emediaweekly.com
comparison "Digital
cameras shoot it
out">
The
second part of it's review looks at mega-pixel
cameras under $1,000. Reviewed are: Nikon Coolpix
900, Olympus D-600L, Agfa ePhoto 1680, Kodak DC260
Zoom, Ricoh RDC-4300. The review notes that while
some of the cameras produce "commercial-quality
output" you'll still get better results by scanning
film.
The
Nikon Coolpix 900 came out on top for its
"design, image quality and price" though the Agfa
ePhoto 1680 and Olympus D-600L images were
considered almost as good.
<www.emediaweekly.com
review "Digital
cameras shoot it out Part 2: Higher-end megapixel
models">
Agfa
has announced the ePhoto 1680 digital camera
which offers image resolution of up to 1.9 million
pixels (1.3 million pixel image enhanced by Agfa's
PhotoGenie technology) a swivel zoom lens (3X
optical and 2X digital), a 2-inch high-resolution
color LCD screen and removable flash memory.
Software includes Agfa's PhotoWise application for
accessing, managing and enhancing digital photos,
LivePicture's PhotoVista, for stitching together
seamless panaromic and 360(degree) surround images,
and LivePix SE. The ePhoto 1680 will be priced at
$899 and will ship in August.
<www.agfahome.com>
Imagek
is developing the EFS-1 electronic film
system which is an insert that fits inside a
regular 35mm camera and turns it into a "digital"
camera. The device looks like a film cartridge with
a thick plastic strip protruding from the side. You
can see images of the EFS-1, as well as photographs
allegedly taken with the device at the Imagek web
site. The quality of the sample pictures seems no
better than those taken with "average" quality
digital cameras.
The EFS-1 has prompted a lot of discussion amongst
those interested in digital photography. While it
seems possible to create a system that will work
with some 35mm cameras (after all Kodak creates
cameras based on Nikon and Canon SLR bodies) we
find it hard to believe they can create a
generalized device that will work in all, or even
the majority of SLRs. We can't help but wonder how
the device is triggered, and how the shutter and
aperture impact operation of the CCD (do you have
to set the shutter to open for long time period so
that the EFS-1 has time to take a picture?) Will
the device damage the internal mechanics of the
camera such as the pressure plate that keeps
regular film in place?
No one knows the answer to these questions just
yet, but we remain interested in this device, and
look forward to seeing one in operation.
<www.imagek.com>
Canon
is now shipping the Powershot A5, a small,
light weight digital camera with a resolution of
1,024 by 768 pixels. The camera costs about $700,
and can be connected to a computer, or the
CD-200 Digital Printer. The printer produces
4 by 6 inch prints.
<www.powershot.com>
last
updated: 11/25/98
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