History of the Camera History of the Camera
Chris
Haslego
The camera and photography are
an important part of the communication history of the world. The
history of the camera is indelibly linked to the understanding
and development of optics. Optics is the study of physical
properties of light in terms of generation and transmission and
the use of lenses and mirrors to understand these properties. It
is an important branch of physics. The basic principles of optics
were known as early as the 4th century BC and Greek philosophers
are credited with the development of this knowledge. 16th Century
German scientist Johannes Kepler known for his study of astronomy
and optics is often referred to as the founder of modern optics.
He used the simple pinhole camera (invented many centuries before
his time and known to Aristotle as early as 322 BC) to understand
how pictures can be formed.
Early cameras of
the 16th and 17th century were able to project images onto paper
or glass but the study of capturing, processing and printing the
images took many more years. Up until the 17th century,
scientists believed that light was composed basically of the
‘white’ that is perceived by the human eye. It took the research
done by famous physicist Isaac Newton to discover that light is
actually composed of a spectrum of colors. While he made a big
contribution to the study of optics (that is at the core of
camera advances) with this discovery, Newton did not actually
have anything to do with camera development per se.
The early camera that first became a phenomenon was a
little more than a pinhole camera and can be traced back to 1558.
It was called the Camera Obscura. The Camera Obscura was seen as
a drawing tool for a clearer and realistic portrayal of objects.
It was in the early 19th century that an invention named the
Camera Lucida was introduced by Cambridge scientist William Hyde
Wollaston that consisted of an optical device that could help an
artist view a distant scene or person or object on a paper
surface that he or she was using to draw. In other words the
artist gets to view a superimposed image of a subject on paper
and this image could be effectively used to attempt to draw,
trace or paint it. Both the Camera Obscura and the Camera Lucida
provided an image that was temporary, which could not be
lastingly captured on to paper for later reference.
Studies however continued well into the 1800’s on how
to actually capture the image onto material. It was during this
time, around 1822 that French researcher Joseph Nicephore Niepce,
created the first photograph by using paper that was coated with
a chemical. The image would not stay permanently on the paper and
would disappear after a short while. Even so, despite the short-
lived nature of the image, the concept of photography was born
with this experiment and paved the way for further study and
development in this field.
Capturing images to retain them
longer and permanently became the next big quest for researchers.
Another Frenchman Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre partnered with
Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1829, to develop the process of
creating permanent photographs. Joseph Niépce died in 1833 but
Daguerre continued with the work and succeeded in 1837 after many
long years of experimentation. The process of capturing
photographic images that would not fade away, introduced by
Daguerre came to be known as the ‘daguerreotype’.
The
word ‘photography’ was coined by scientist Sir John F.W. Herschel
in 1839 and it is actually is derived from two Greek words
‘photos’ meaning light and ‘graphein’ meaning draw.
A slightly more advanced version of the daguerreotype
called the Calotype process that makes multiple copies possible
using the negative and positive method became available very soon
after. In fact, it was during the 1840’s that the use of
photographic images in advertisements first started and cameras
made their mark on the power of visual communication. It was not
much later, in the 1850’s that photographers first started
experimenting with underwater photography of seascapes.
Up until 1850, the process of capturing images was
cumbersome requiring upto half an hour of light exposure. The
discovery made in 1851 by Frederick Scott Archer was a blessing
since the new method termed the Collodion process called for just
2-3 seconds of light exposure to capture an image.
Prior to 1871, photographers went through a
development process where they had to coat the plate with wet
chemical each and every time and process the image immediately.
With the invention the gelatin dry plate silver bromide process
by Richard Leach Maddox, negatives did not have to be developed
immediately.
This was an important discovery since
up until then the captured image had to be processed instantly.
Kodak created in 1888 by George Eastman has been a
modern day pioneer of sorts in cameras and photography for the
masses. George Eastman and the scientists who worked with him at
Kodak developed the photographic film in 1889 and made it
available in rolls for the mass use of consumers. An important
milestone in our entertainment and communication history was the
development of transparent roll film by Eastman. This development
led to another key invention – the motion picture camera by
Thomas Edison’s in 1891.
-->Modern Times
During
the 20th century the pace of technology development in cameras
and photography continued at an accelerated pace much like many
other key technology developments. While several key inventions
like car, telephone and the gramophone record happened in the
later half of the 19th century, it is the last 100
years that saw major developmental work in many areas
of communications technology and as well as in other fields – TV,
aircrafts, PCs, digital technology, digital cameras, mobile
phones, fax machines and the internet, to name a few.
In the case of the camera, the developments simplified
the whole process of photography, making it accessible to one and
all at affordable prices and the camera industry denizens of our
times made it into a mass phenomenon. The first mass use camera
became available at the turn of the 20th century and can be
traced back to the year 1900. There are hundreds of
models of cameras available today both for the amateur as well as
the professional and the camera is an important part of any
family’s repertoire of must have gadgets.
-->20th
century chronology in the history of the camera:
1913:
35 mm still-camera created
1927: The flash bulb introduced
by General Electric Co. (The concept of camera flash existed much
before but was based on the use of a flash light powder that was
invented by German researchers)
1935- 1941: Kodak
starts marketing Kodachrome film and subsequently launches
Kodacolor negative film. Canon released the Hansa Canon in 1936,
the first 35mm focal-plane shutter camera.
1948: The
concept of the Polaroid camera is introduced in the market.
American scientist Edwin Land developed the process for instant
photography. Later Polaroid Corporation developed the ‘instant
color’ film around 1963.
1957: Frenchman Jaques Yves
Cousteau invented the first waterproof 35mm camera for underwater
photography named the Calypso Phot. The actual camera was
developed by the Belgian airplane technical designer Jean de
Wouters based on the blueprint and suggestions given to him by
Cousteau.
1972: The electronic camera that does not
require film was created and patented by Texas Instruments. This
is however not the same as a digital camera though you don’t
require film in digital cameras as well. The launch of the
digital camera is still many years away.
1975:
Kodak’s experiments with digital imaging kicked off around the
mid seventies but it will take another 20 years before a digital
camera for the home consumer market is launched.
1978 –
1980: Asian players like Konica and Sony begin to make their
mark. The ‘point and shoot’ automatic focus camera is launched by
Konica while Sony starts talking about the camcorder and
demonstrates a prototype.
1981: Sony launches a
commercially available electronic still camera. Similar to the
1972 invention by Texas Instruments, the Sony electronic camera
came with a mini disc on which images were recorded and stored.
The recorded images could be later printed or viewed on a monitor
using a reader device.
1985: Digital processing
technology makes its entry. Digital imaging and processing is
introduced by Pixar.
1986: The camera industry
becomes even more consumer focused and taps the fun and travel
connotations behind camera usage, with the launch of the concept
of the disposable single use cameras. Fuji is credited with the
development of this concept.
Also in 1986 -
1987, Kodak started taking giant strides in digital development.
Digital means, the photographic image is divided into tiny units
of dots or squares known as pixels. Pixels are the programmable
units of an image that can be processed by computers. Each image
could be made up of millions of pixels.
The use of
pixels in digital technology allows storing large volumes of
pixels to deliver high definition print quality.
1990:
Kodak introduces Photo CD’s. It is a system of storing
photographic images on CD and then viewing them on a computer.
With this development the user-friendly approach of the camera
industry began to take concrete shape.
1991: Kodak
introduces a digital camera targeted at professionals and
journalists. Kodak is credited with the invention of a pixel
based camera technology known to us as the digital camera.
Digital cameras don’t use film similar to their predecessor
electronic cameras but the storage method is entirely
different and the final photograph is of much higher
resolution. In a digital camera photos are recorded and stored in
digital form. This digital data can be transferred to a computer
and processed for printing. Kodak and Canon are well known
digital camera manufacturers and there are also several other key
brands as well.
1994: The Apple QuickTake camera, a
home use digital camera is launched. This is followed by the
launch of a clutch of home use digital cameras by Casio, Kodak
and others in quick succession during 1995 -’96.
-->The
digital era:
The development of digital camera
technology is considered to be linked to the development of TV
and Video technology. The principles of transmission and
recording of audio-visual images using digital electrical
impulses finds use in camera imaging as well.
Through the 1990’s the developments continued in camera
technology, the focus now shifting to the field of digital
imaging which is where the future lies.
Use-
friendly features like software that can download digital images
directly from camera onto home computers for storing and sharing
on the internet is the new norm in the market place.
The camera, the computer, the software industry and
the worldwide web are today irrevocably interlinked to empower
the user in experiencing the benefits of camera usage to full
potential. The innovation that sparked many an invention in the
camera industry found its way into the digital world as well and
continued among digital camera manufacturers. During 2001, the
Kodak and Microsoft partnership ensured that digital camera
manufacturers could use the power of Picture Transfer Protocol
(PTP) standard through Windows. The digital photo experience is a
key visual driver in the Internet era. Many of Kodak digital
camera models with EasyShare capabilities are compatible with
Windows XP. The Kodak EasyShare software enables users to
transfer digital camera pictures directly from camera to their
computers and then print the pictures or even email them.
Manufacturers in a related industry like the printing
industry have adapted their products to be in sync with the
images created by digital cameras. Cell phone manufacturers have
tied up with digital camera manufacturers to develop new age
camera phones in recent years. These camera phones can capture
images and share the images through the cell phone.
Among the 21st century digital developments are the
advanced product offerings from digital cameras manufacturers and
these are sure to occupy an important place in the ensuing
history of camera development. For instance, the Kodak
Professional DCS Pro SLR/c is a high-end digital camera and the
Kodak website calls the DCS Pro SLR models the most feature-rich
digital cameras on the market. It has an image sensor that can
handle 13.89 million pixels and this makes it the highest
resolution digital camera available. High resolution determines
the sharpness or level of detail in photographic images. This is
just a glimpse of the capabilities that digital technology places
in a user’s hands. Digital camera sales figures for 2003 show
that the two key players Kodak and Canon have recorded impressive
growth.
-->What does the future holds for camera users?
The features offered by digital cameras can be quite
mind-boggling for the average user and pretty exciting for most
pros. Four key ongoing camera
developments that
are likely to further improve the process of photography:
- Greater resolution from even the simplest, low cost camera
models
- Usage in any type of lighting conditions,
- Compatibility across a range of software, hardware and image
types
- Rich colors and tone
While the
higher-end digital evolution continues, the prices of the simple
camera have crashed to such an extent that even children and
teens are proud owners of uncomplicated cameras. The camera and
photography interest starts young and this creates a truly large
audience base for the camera industry.
And
throughout history, it is evident that the endeavor of
researchers and developers has been to make the camera available
to a wide section of society.
Without camera
technology and photography, the other key developments of cinema
and TV would have been delayed and what a boring place the world
would have been without TV and films!!
Chris Haslego is founder of http://www.cameramanualstore.com, the internet's
foremost source of camera manuals. With over 4000+ camera
manuals available from all major manufacturers.