The Timeline of Digital Photography

THE SPACE RACE

While private industry played a huge role in the proliferation and development of digital photography, NASA had a significant impact on digital photography on earth. Governments needed a way to transmit information and images from satellites back to earth, and this need was a prime factor in the development of digital technology. The US and Russian governments also the potential application of cameras in space for spying. 

To read more about NASA, check out the article, "Spinoff" (2010)

or the History of Digital of Photography.

1980S

In August, 1981, Sony released the Sony Mavica  electronic still camera, the camera which was the first commercial electronic camera and did not require film. Images were recorded onto a mini disc and then put into a video reader that was connected to a television monitor or color printer. However, the early Mavica cannot be considered a true  digital camera even though it started the digital camera revolution. It was a video camera that took video freeze-frames. 

The next year, Kodak also released several new products that changed the way images could be stored, transfered and used. This paved the way for future digital cameras to use megapixels in the manner that they do now.

In 1986, Nikon created a prototype for an analog electronic SLR camera. The Fuji DS-1P was released in 1988 and was the first device to digitally store images. From this point on, digital photography technology exploded.

Another key event in the history of digital photography occured when the first JPEG and MPEG standards were set in the late 1980s. These standards set in place a universal format which allowed images (JPEG) and video (MPEG) to be stored in a compressed format.

1990S

This decade saw incredible progress in digital technology. 

The Apple Quicktake 100 camera, made by Kodak, was the first to connect directly to the home computer. Aimed at the consumer market, it had a 640 x 480 pixel CCD and produced eight images which could be stored in its digital memory.

The Kodak Professional Digital Camera System (DCS) is introduced, using a Kodak electronic 1.3 megapixel sensor to  back standard 35mm singe lens reflex Nikon cameras. This camera is credited as starting the digital camera revolution. 

The nineties saw the emergence of  photorealistic printers, compact flash cards, flash drives, and point and point and shoot cameras with LCD displays. 

In the mid to late nineties, people reproduce pictures at home for the first time as Hewlett Packard release PhotoSmart System which contains scanner, photo-editing software, printer, printer paper, and digital camera.  Intel and Kodak introduced pictures discs with pictures on CD-ROM.  At this time, the DVD format became available in Japan. Epson released scanner which can convert traditional film to digital images. 

Web-based services emerge as AOL and Kodak introduce "You've Got Pictures!", a service for AOL members to have their processed pictures delivered online. Shutterfly also made it's debut. This internet service stores, prints, and delivers pictures. 

2000S

The 2000s saw incredibly fast progress for this technology. Early 2000, Fujifilm released the FinePix S1 Pro, which was the first digital SLR to be directed at consumers. In 2001, Canon introduced the EOS-1D and entered the world of professional digital SLR cameras. Two years later, Canon upgraded their line and began showing image sensors that could detect 6.3 megapixels. 

Since that point, Nikon and Canon have been major competitors for the digital camera market. 

Major camera companies, such as Nikon, Canon, Kodak discontinue many of their film cameras. While megapixel sensors now detect up to 22 pixels, there are also camera phones that can sense up to 4 megapixels.

Other major developments in the 2000s include:

• Google's launch of a search engine for images

• By 2010, sensors are up to 24 megapixels. 

• Adobe's launch of Elements, a simplified affordable photo editing software which has remain consistently priced over time. 

• Lenses from film cameras can be attached to digital cameras

• RAW files are used

• camera companies promote "docks" to make picture printing more convenient

• broadband internet allows for more uploading and printing of images

• LCDs grow up to 2.5 inches

• Nikon's D90 is the first camera to record video.

THE FUTURE

It is hard to predict where the technology will go in the future. It may look nothing like we anticipate now. Some trends to watch are:

• Cameras will have more “on-board” processing software that perfects the final image without the need for a computer

• They will become increasingly smaller

• Battery life will grow, allowing more time to photograph

• Storage devices will increase in size 

• Images to be printed on and saved to wafer-thin electronic paper called e-paper.  

• Immediate upload of your image once taken to your favourite internet site with Bluetooth and WiFi connection for cameras (Samsung is currently a leader in this technology)

• Full-frame videography that rivals anything Hollywood has used

• Better quality sensors for cell phones

• Better low-light sensitivity on CMOS chips

• Google glass and Corning Glass