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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Today, digital photography seems to us something common –, we shoot on smartphones, SLR and mirrorless cameras, process pictures in seconds and immediately share them on social networks. But just a few decades ago, photography was still purely analog, and the first digital camera looked more like a scientific experiment than a device that would change the industry forever.
Who created the first digital camera?
The world's first digital camera was invented in 1975 by Kodak engineer Stephen Sasson. It was he who created the device, which did not use film, but stored the image electronically. The invention was so innovative that even Kodak management did not immediately realize its significance.
What did the first digital camera look like?
This camera looked very clumsy and more like an experimental setup than a portable device. Its main characteristics are:
- Resolution: 0.01 megapixels (176×176 pixels).
- Sensor: Black and white CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) matrix developed by Fairchild Semiconductor.
- Lens: Taken from a regular Kodak film camera.
- Data recording: The image was stored on a magnetic tape cassette (recording took 23 seconds).
- Size: large and heavy device, similar to a portable cassette recorder.
To view the photo taken, you had to connect the camera to a special device that displayed the image on the TV.
Why did Kodak not use the invention?
Despite the fact that Kodak owned the technology, the company did not see a future in it. She made billions selling photographic film and did not want to risk the business. As a result, Kodak lost the chance to become the leader of digital photography –, and a decade later the company could not withstand competition at all and declared bankruptcy.
When did digital cameras become available?
The first commercial digital camera did not appear until 1981 – it was Sony Mavica (Magnetic Video Camera). However, this device was not yet fully digital, but recorded images on diskettes in analog video format.
The first real digital camera for the mass market – Dycam Model 1 (also known as Logitech Fotoman) – was released in 1990. It had a resolution of 376×240 pixels and cost $1000.
The first digital camera was invented back in 1975, but the world was not ready for such a breakthrough. It took technology just decades later to completely change the way we take photos. Today, digital photography dominates, and analog cameras have become rather an attribute of enthusiasts and artists. And it all started with an experiment by an engineer who changed the course of history.
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