Development of Digital Photography

The era of Digital Photography commenced when two scientists ( George Smith and Willard Boyle) invented the device called 'Charged Coupled Device' (CCD) in 1969. Since then the CCD has been widely used in the production of modern digital cameras. It is the heart of all digital cameras and now called the image sensor. These two scientist, never thought that CCD will be extensively used in digital cameras, that time they invented the CCD to develop the first solid-state video camera (in 1970) which could give sharp images which was enough to be used in television broadcast (1975).the two scientists didn't plan it this way.

1.Introduction of First Digital Camera - Mavica

Since the above invention world had to wait around five years to see breakthrough in digital photography. In year 1981, world renown Sony Corporation introduced the first prototype digital camera which was called Mavica (Magnetic Video Camera). This new camera called Mavica was an electronically operated still camera with two CCD chips, It recorded images using magnetic impulses on to a compact two-inch diameter still-video floppy disk. However the first digital cameras for mass market were available in mid nineties.

It could be hooked to a computer through a serial port cable. For example, the cameras which came out with such facilities were Apple Quick Take 100 camera (February 17, 1994) worked with a home computer via a serial cable. The other similar digital models were introduced to the market by Kodak (DC40 camera in March 28, 1995), Casio ( Casio QV-11with LCD monitor in late 1995), and Sony ( Cyber-Shot Digicam in 1996).

2. Digital Image Software and Printers

Although there were several manufacturers came out with different types of digital cameras, none was so popular as Kodaks DC40 digital camera which produced for mass markets. Later Microsoft and Kinkos both collaborated with Kodak to introduce the digital image-producing software workstations and corner shops. The consumers were able to use these software and corner outlets to develop photo CDs and photographs as well as adding digital images to the documents. Similarly, IBM worked with Kodak introducing the internet-based network image exchange. At the same time, Hewlett-Packard was the pioneering company to make the first color inkjet printers that helped consumers to print good quality images which was an impetus to the popularizing the digital photography.

3.True Digital Camera

In 1988, Fuji developed the true digital camera, DS-1P which could record images in the form of computerized file. Other unique feature of this camera was its internal memory chip with a capacity of 16 MB while using a battering to store. However, it was noted that this Fuji camera never marketed in the United States or not even in Japan. As such, we can reasonably assume that the first commercially produced digital camera was Logitech Fotoman (in 1990) which was also called as Dycam Model-1. This camera used a CCD sensor which stored images digitally and later cold be transferred to Personal Computer (PC).

The background or evolvement of digital photography stress that that the future is the digital photography. This is already proven as the recent market surveys indicate that in year 2006, approximately 35 billion images were printed or stored in Western Europe.