Design and Prototyping
First Digital Camera
1975
(© 2011 Macworld)
The very first digital camera was developed in 1975 by Steve Sasson who worked for Kodak. Sasson created a large eight pound camera out of state-of-the-art parts this prototype ended up being roughly the size of a toaster. Some of the parts used to create the first digital camera included a Super 8 movie camera lens, a digital cassette recorder, an analog to digital converter, experimental chips that converted light into electrons, and nickel cadmium batteries. The first picture Sasson took with the large camera took twenty-three seconds to record. The resulting image was black and white, blurry, and viewed on a television screen. (Kreiser, 2012).
1. Fujix DS-1P
2. Dycam Model 1
(© 2011 Macworld)
The first fully digital camera produced commercially was the Fujix DS-1P but all sources agree it was never sold. The Fujix DS-1P ‘came out’ in 1989 and had a resolution of 0.4 mega pixels. The first digital camera sold commercially was the Dycam Model 1 which came out in 1990. Finally in 1991, Kodak began commercially selling a digital camera that boasted 1.3 mega pixels. By 2010, the first “high end” digital camera was being sold for under $10,000. This camera was the Pentax 645D and sported 39.51 mega pixels. (Edwards, 2011).
Manufacturing and Production
There are many companies that produce digital cameras now. Some of the most popular brands include Canon, Sony, Olympus, Kodak, Fuji, Samsung, Nikon, and Panasonic. (Top 10, 2012). Each company designs their own camera with the needs of the consumer in mind.
The building process begins with making the camera body. The body of most digital cameras is made of a polycarbonate compound that contains between ten and twenty percent glass fiber. This polycarbonate compound allows the camera body to stay light, be shock resistant, and durable. The shutter and film transport system are made of mechanical and electronic parts. Some of the materials will differ depending on the type of camera and who the manufacturer is. The viewfinder lens is made of optical glass, plastic, or a combination of the two. The in-line mirror part of the viewfinder has several coatings added to allow a correct color reflection. The last part is to manufacture the electronics and LCD screen. LCD stands for liquid crystal display and this screen is used as a display for the photographer. (Camera).
Sadly, there is a lack of information regarding where different camera brands manufacture their digital cameras and there is ultimately no information on working conditions. One partial list I was able to find listed several brands and where their cameras were manufactured. Panasonic has parts manufactured in Japan and China. Canon has whole cameras built in China, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Sony manufactures some cameras in China, Japan, and Thailand. (Where are our cameras made?, 2004).
Below is a interesting video showing some of the manufacturing process for Canon cameras.
How a Digital Camera is Made
(© 2012 YouTube)
Marketing
Who is targeted by the marketing for digital cameras really depends on the brand. According to a survey done by Lyra Research, women prefer and buy more Kodak cameras than any other brand whereas men purchase more Canon cameras. After Kodak, women purchased these brands (in order from most to least): Canon, Sony, HP, Fuji, Olympus, and then Nikon. Men purchased these brands (in order from most to least) after Cannon: Sony, Olympus, Kodak, HP, Nikon, and Fuji. (Women, 2005).
Sales
Digital cameras of many different brands can be purchased in many locations. Besides each brands’ online website, many brands can also be purchased at BestBuy, Amazon, and Ebay to name a few online locations. Digital cameras can also be purchased in physical stores including Walmart, Fred Myers, and specialty camera shops.
User Support
Most camera brands have customer support that you can either call or email if you are experiencing a problem or if you have a question. Support for most digital camera brands also include: registering your camera or accessory, downloading the user manuals, and software updates.
Maintenance
It is a good idea to clean your camera occasionally especially if you have been in harsh conditions. Many online locations or camera shops will have basic cleaning equipment for purchase like lens wipes or soft brushes. Users could also send their cameras into the manufacturer for a professional cleaning or repairs. Some camera shops will also do cleaning and repairs.
Recycling and Disposal
Several manufactures are now allowing customers to send digital cameras back for recycling and only charge a small fee. Most waste centers have areas or containers where electronics can be safely recycled. If the camera is still functional, it might be feasible to use it as a trade in for a newer model. Many communities will also have periodic electronic recycling days where you can safely dispose of your old digital cameras. (Chen, 2008).
