1984 - 1985       

FIRST INTERNET (USENET) MENTION  OF ELECTRONIC CAMERAS - 1984.  Dejanews.com pioneered research into past articles on the web. Later, Google acquired Deja assets and continued the program. A web search by DigiCamHistory.Com in March of 2002 found a 1984 message mentioning electronic cameras.  The message was by Debbie Byrd on 27 October 1984, on the net.astro newsgroup.  Debbie discussed the use of an electronic camera on a telescope in Chile used to photograph the planet Neptune.  Thanks to Joe Perrigoue for info concerning this 1984 post on Usenet and that the World Wide  Web did not come about until about ten years later.

CANON STILL VIDEO SYSTEM - 1984.  Although Sony was the first company to demonstrate a working still video camera, the Mavica in 1981, Canon was the first to demonstrate and bring to market a still video camera and associated equipment,  the RC-701 in1986.  Canon began development of their still video camera in October of 1981, a prototype known as the D413.  In 1984 Canon personnel attended the Olympics in Los Angeles.  Approximately fifty photos were transmitted by phone to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper in Japan using the D413 or the D701 (sources vary).  Photos required six minutes for black and white and twenty-four minutes for color.  Prior to this, newspapers around the world were required to fly film back to their home country, develop the film, and then print in a local newspaper, usually a day or two after an event had taken place.  Electronically transmitted photos has since revolutionized the media industry.
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/AUSTRALIA/Electronics-Australia/EA-1987-11.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_video_camera

CANON D413 PROTOTYPE SV CAMERA                                 CANON D701                                        CANON RC-701 MARKETED IN 1986

The Canon D413 was Canon's first working prototype still video camera.  It was followed by the D701 which was similar in appearance (.4MP CCD, 50-300mm zoom lens).  Canon continued to develop the D701 into the RC-701, which was the first still video camera to be marketed commercially (1986), aimed at professional photographers and news agencies; three interchangeable dedicated lenses were developed for the RC-701, and FD-mount lenses could be attached via an adapter.  The RC-701 used a 380,000-pixel CCD made by TI (Texas Instruments), and was priced at US$2,595 for the body alone.  It was the key component of Canon's pro-oriented Still Video System (see our 1986 page).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_camera

EQUIPMENT USED AT 1984 LOS ANGLES OLYMPICS    OLYMPIC SVS PHOTO           POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY

The Canon RT-971 Still Video Transceiver prototype was developed to transmit images over telephonic circuits, beginning with the 1984 Olympics.  Made by Sony for their still video product line, it was relabeled by Canon as the "RT-971 Transceiver" and distributed through their own sales channels.  The RT-971 contained a built-in still video recorder and a color monitor.  It used AM transmission for low-noise phone circuits.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/canon-rt-971-vintage-video-camera-4694050811  
                                                  

CANON RE 551 Still VIDEO RECORDER/PLAYER                             CANON RP-601 COLOR PRINTER                                             CANON RE 550 VISUALIZER

MSRPs;
RT-971 Transceiver - $20,900 ($72,600 in 2024)
RP-601 Color Printer - $6,950 ($24,000 in 2024)
RR-551 Still video recorder/player - $2,700 ($9,376 in 2024)
RC-701 Camera without lens - $3,455 ($12,000 in 2024)
RC-701 Lens - $730 ($2,100 in 2024)   

COMMODORE AMIGA A1000 - 1984.  (First shown in 1984, marketed 1985) The Amiga was the very first personal computer with superior graphics and sound capabilities with a GUI (graphic user interface) environment.  It provided multi-tasking capability with driver-and-library-using design.  There were two versions of the Amiga 1000. The first one sold only in the USA, had a NTSC display, and no EHB video mode.  Later versions would have this built in. The second version had a PAL display, the enhanced video modes (EHB), and was built in Germany.  It could digitize pictures, video, and display still images with 4096 colors when in the HAM mode (static display).  The Amiga A1000 was a significant advance over other systems at the time as it included a 32bit pre-emptive multi-tasking GUI, 4 channel stereo sound, 880k 3-1/2 inch floppy disks, and video modes which provided 4096 colors as standard equipment when other systems were monotasking at just 16 colors. The Amiga could simultaneously  display multiple windows at different resolutions on a single monitor.  It became a favorite of artists and animators because its multiple co-processors allowed it to do complex images and animations that other systems of the time could not handle (with the exception of expensive workstations).  The Amiga A1000 has the signatures of all of it's designers cast into the inside of it's case, including the paw print of Jay Miner's (Amiga developer) dog Mitchy.  MSRP $1300.

http://oldcomputers.net/amiga1000.html

HITACHI MOS STILL VIDEO CAMERA PROTOTYPE - 1984.   This camera had a 2/3-inch MOS image sensor with horizontal resolution of 300 TV lines.  Shutter 1 to 1/500 sec.  Framing rate of  3.5 fps.  25 frame capacity.  Popular Photography, October 1984, p35.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.  NOT MARKETED.

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/tag/1984

KOALA MACVISION VIDEO DIGITIZER - 1985.  Full-motion video cameras were used to capture video images and MacVision was used to make snap-shots of the video input. It used an algorithm which was made by Bill Atkinson (He who wrote QuickDraw, MacPaint, HyperCard).   Koala MacVision was a $400 combination hardware/software interface to digitize still frames from a video camera or VCR. The MacVision box plugged into either the Printer or Modem port. Data streamed in slowly: small frames took about six seconds to appear, a full-screen image took 22 seconds.


http://32by32.com/macvision/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDvJoWLEdkc

KONICA CV-301 - 1984.  The CV-301 was the world's smallest video camera at that time, but still used a image pickup tube rather than a CCD or CMOS chip. It was unusual for its pistol-grip shape which was made possible by the clever placement of the pickup tube - in the handle! The CV-301 could be used with portable VHS, VHS-C, CVC and some other types of recorders, but not Betamax. Information provided by Total Rewind.

http://www.totalrewind.org/ 

GE 1CVC4030E - 1984.  One of many early model video cameras which required an external tape recorder. Playing a tape onto a TV also required a power supply for the recorder. The camera shown above was obtained on eBay in excellent condition with original case and manual for $1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TYxsllP0sQ

CANON Ci-10 - 1985.  Color video camera with 9 mm lens.  508 x 466 pixel CCD.  Image sensor of 8.8 x 6.6mm.   Ci-10 size was 102 x 53 x 27 mm (H x W x D) and weighted around 289 grams without a lens. Sensor used was 3.8 megapixels (380 000 px) 6.6 x 8.8 mm. It allowed a resolution of 300 TV lines sensitive up to 20 lux. It also had a 1.4x optical zoom.  Images could be recorded on still video floppy discs (with proper equipment). See references below. Popular Mechanics, December 1985, page 14.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://books.google.com/books?id=deMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=Canon+%2B+"CI-10"+%2B+1985&source=bl&o

ts=w9JQddBq2u&sig=pwjZtfCUnEC1PHXyC5VxR7wl5cc&hl

=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7o56d1vPYAhVS11MKHa9fCGQQ6AEITTAJ#v=onep

http://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/29/arts/camera-will-tape-be-the-film-of-the-future.html

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/cameras/item/canon-ci-10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmet_camera

https://pevly.com/action-camera-history/

MACINTOSH COMPUTER - 1984.  Apple introduced the Macintosh computer in January 1984 with an emphasis on graphics and user friendly interface.  The first Macintosh didn't have a model number - it was simply the Macintosh. There was no name on the front.  Early 128Ks said "Macintosh" on the back, while later ones were marked "Macintosh 128K" to distinguish them from the Macintosh 512K. MSRP $2,500.   Digital Photography, Mikkel Aaland, 1992, p11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh

MEGAVISION 1024XM VIDEO / DIGITAL STILL CAMERA SYSTEM - 1984.   The MegaVision 1024XM was designed to acquire, process, analyze, and display 1024 x 1024 pixel images. MegaVision designed a 1000-line (a scanline, vidicon tube)  1024 x 1024 resolution video camera to be used with their 1024XM image processor (photo above left), or a Westinghouse ETV-2000 TV camera (above right) could be used with the 1024XM which could provide 2,000 x 2000 pixel color pictures.     The 1024XM had  up 32 MB of internal  image memory.  The system also included an 800 MB removable optical disk which would equate to about 70 full high quality color publication pages.  MSRP for the complete system was about $200,000.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MegaVision_(cameras)

SONY DISCMAN (D-5, D-50 PORTABLE CD PLAYERS) - 1984.  Sony introduces portable CD players.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discman

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/sonyhistory.html

ATARI / MITSUBISHI PICTURE PHONE - 1985.  The Lumaphone began as a division of the Atari Video Game Company. The division was called Ataritel. This particular phone was developed in 1983. Atari Sold the division to Mitsubishi in 1984. The "Lumaphone", the Atari Videophone in its finished form, was advertised in 1985 and sold by Mitsubishi Electric of America in 1986 as the Luma LU-1000. The Lumaphone could transmit an image in 3-5 seconds and could have a parallel printer attached for printing out small black and white images (Mitsubishi P60U). Also, a TV could be hooked up to the unit for conference room meetings. If a larger video image was desired for the home or office desk, the optional VisiTel LU-500 could be attached. This Lumaphone, VisiTel (in new condition) and information were kindly provided by Mike Mozart of JeepersMedia.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

Mitsubishi P60U and Mitsubishi VisiTel LU-500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJgBhesWdfg

http://www.youtube.com/user/JeepersMedia

CANON 8 VM-E1 - 1985.  Canon releases the Canovision 8 VM-E1, its first integrated (all in one unit) 8mm video camcorder. Canon was second after Sony in releasing an 8mm camcorder. MSRP $1,400.

FUJI MOS Prototype - 1985.  Zoom lens, 400K pixel sensor.  Camera was reported to be little more than a box with no image storage capability.   Images were shown on a video monitor.  Not a first as it was preceded by the 1984 Hitachi MOS prototype described above.   Popular Photography - June 1985 - Page 68, 69.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.   NOT MARKETED.

https://books.google.com/books?id=eceHrUipmB4C&pg=PA68&dq=%22PMA+%2785%22+%2B+MOS&hl=en&sa=X&ved

=0CCcQ6AEwAGoVChMIkIqD5ImTxwIViVoeCh16zAbi#v=onepage&q=%22PMA%20'85%22%20%2B%20MOS&f=false

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/item/fujix-es1

KODAK STILL VIDEO SYSTEM - 1985.   A 19 September 1985 article in the New York Times discussed the Kodak announcement of an impending Kodak still video system to be test marketed that winter in selected areas.  The system was to include a compact floppy disk, a still video player and a device for producing instant prints of TV images.  This announcement was made by Daniel Carp, VP for Kodak's consumer electronics division.  A similar statement was put out by a Kodak spokesman, Mike Sullivan.  He said the system contained a color video imager (MSRP $700) which would turn a TV set into an instant electronic camera producing hard copy prints of anything on the screen as well as making instant color prints from images on the floppy disk.   Dr. K. Bradley Paxton was directing the Development Group in Daniel Carp's Consumer Electronics Division in the Fall of 1985.  The group engineered the Kodavision Camcorder with Matsushita and after that, the Modular Video System, based on 8mm mag tape. The Kodavision was the world's first 8mm camcorder. The were also developing the Kodak Still Video System on their own, which was designed for still video images, stored on a 2 1/4 inch floppy disk.  The 'Four Bubble Diagram'  design concept by Dr. Paxton is shown above left.  By the Fall of 1986 the group had become The Electronic Photography Division with Dr. Paxton as General Manager and Vice-President.   They completed the SVS development and were actively selling systems at that time.  That  SV system became the Kodak SV system shown on our 1987 page.  The system diagram on the 1987 page is the finished version of Dr. Paxton's diagram shown in the photos above on the lower left.  The SV8300 camera is one of five designed especially for this system, but was not sold commercially.  A book by Dr. Paxton (Pictures, Pop Bottles and Pills) describing the entire process as well as much of Kodak's history in the '60s and forward is currenlty available on Amazon.com.  A complete Still Video System in working condition was donated to the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York (Todd Gustavson, Technology Curator).   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this still video system.

https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/27/arts/camera-kodak-boosts-electronic-pictures.html

THE DEMISE OF KODAK - Kodak was founded by George Eastman and Henry Strong in1888. For well over one hundred years it was dominant in the photography industry, but once again we have proof that no matter how big a company is, or for how many years it has been successful, poor management can cause even the strongest company to fail.  Dr. Paxton and other outstanding engineers at Kodak developed the first ever electronic cameras, but most of those in upper management at Kodak were not interested. They thought that film would remain the dominant (and most profitable) product well into the future and that electronic cameras were just interesting toys that would never amount to anything useful for a long time to come.  As a result, they ignored the growing competition by other companies and did not aggressively pursue their early advantage in electronic technology. In 2012, after 124 years of being one of the world's most successful companies, Kodak declared bankruptcy.  The stockholders lost their investment, thousands of employees lost their jobs, and America lost a major industry to foreign competition. Very sad.

KONICA SVC-20 - 1985.  Prototype still video camera.  2/3-inch, 300K pixel CCD.  Through the lens viewing with 9mm-27mm zoom lens. Up to eight frames per minute. Understanding Electronic Photography, John J. Larish, 1990, p35. Popular Science, October 1985.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://books.google.com/books?id=eceHrUipmB4C&pg=PA68&dq=%22PMA+%2785%22+%2B+MOS&hl

=en&sa=X&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAGoVChMIkIqD5ImTxwIViVoeCh16zAbi#v=onepage&q=%22PMA%20'85%22%20%2B%20MOS&f=false

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/item/konica-svc-20-1985

http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/dcs/extras.php

KONICA SVC-40 - 1985.  Prototype still video camera.  2/3-inch 300K pixel CCD.  Auto-focus, 12-38mm f/1.4 zoom lens. Recorded on mini floppy dics. Understanding Electronic Photography,John J. Larish, 1990, p35. Popular Science, May 1987, page 86.   We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.   NOT MARKETED.

https://rrlu.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/go-through-with-some-digital-camera/

http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/dcs/extras.php

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/esvc/item/konica-svc40

Minolta Maxxum 7000 and 9000 35mm SLR film cameras - 1985.  In January 1985 Minolta marketed the first mirror reflex camera with an autofocus completely integrated in the housing, the Maxxum 7000. Click on image for enlarged view.

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Minolta_7000

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_Maxxum_9000

PIXAR Digital Imaging Processor - 1985.  Pixar introduces a digital imaging processor.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blkidprimer6_12photo.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixar_Image_Computer

https://pixar.fandom.com/wiki/Pixar_Image_Computer#History

SONY CCD-V8 - 1985.  World's first camcorder capable of recording video on standard 8mm videotape. 250K pixel CCD. 6X zoom. 1.97kg. c.$1175 in Japan. The photo  is of the original CCD-V8 which was manually focused. This model is very rare as production ceased as soon as the AF model was made available.  Both the manual focus and the auto focus model are in the DigiCamHistory.Com collection.

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

SONY CCD-V8AF - 1985.  The cased camera is an improved model, the CCD-V8AF, which as the name suggests, incorporated auto-focusing, the first 8mm camcorder to do so. Collectors, you missed out on this one. The CCD-V8AF shown above in new-from-factory condition with carrying case and all accessories was obtained on Yahoo Auctions for a winning bid of just $40!

A TALE OF TWO CAMERAS by Jack Carter (a dickens of a different sort). The CCD-V8 video camera was manual focus only and radically different than the following CCD-V8AF model. The CCD-V8 did have distance markers on the lens to aid in focusing manually, a feature retained by the CCD-V8AF. The CCD-V8 had no internal auto focus parts, circuit boards, or manual / auto focus switch on the outside. However, the early CCD-V8AF camera which replaced the CCD-V8 model had a hunting problem, not being able to decide where the correct focus point should be. The auto focus motor would operate continuously and cause the battery to run down. Professionals would habitually turn off the auto focus in order to conserve battery life. The CCD-V8AF had two types of auto focus: infrared and through-the-lens. The infrared model would measure distance by sending out an infrared beam which reflected back to a sensor. It had two major flaws: 1) difficulty in focusing on a dark object, the dark object adsorbing the infrared beam completely with no return to the sensor; 2) the beam would reflect from glass windows causing the lens to focus on the glass rather than on the intended subject. The through-the-lens system operates similar to the human eye, adjusting the focus for finest detail. The early through-the-lens AF models also had hunting problems, never being satisfied as to the sharpest focus point and then shutting down the auto focus after a few seconds, the solution at the time if the camera wasn't moved. The CCD-V8 and the CCD-V8AF were quite different internally and the lens of the CCD-V8 was long enough so that you could easily focus it by hand. Later cameras didn't have a lengthy protruding lens because the auto focus system worked very well, focusing as rapidly as the human eye.

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/sonyhistory-f.html

SONY CCD-M8 - 1985.  World's first 'pocket-book' 8mm camcorder - lightest weight (1.0kg) and smallest size. Record-only function. 270K pixels (Gross) CCD .

http://www.rewindmuseum.com/history.htm

SONY BETAMOVIE BMC-220 - 1985.  Similar to the BMC-100/110 of 1983, but with auto-focus.

http://www.betainfoguide.net/BTMpage.htm

TOSHIBA DIGITAL STILL PICTURE RECORDER - 1985.  The first report of recording still images on an audio cassette tape digitally was made by Toshiba in 1980, and they then produced a prototype of this recording technology in 1985 as published by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).  A video camera or other analog device could feed data into the Digital Still Picture Recorder where the images were digitized and stored on ordinary C90 audio cassette tape.  The Digital Still picture Recorder is the bottom piece of equipment shown in the photo with an audio recorder on top. The system was never placed on the market.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/diversity/document/system/pdf/039_e.pdf

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/prototypes-rarities/item/toshiba-cassette-camera

1984 - 1985