OBSIDIAN IMAGING IC-100 / EPIX PRO / NEC PC-DC401 - 1996.   Imager: 640 x 480 pixels, one-half inch Sony CCD.  This camera was designed to prevent image tampering by creating an image signature within the camera when the photo was taken.  The camera software was able to compare any subsequent copy of the image with the original and detect alteration.  A cross-hatch grid showed where an image had been altered.  The system also allowed for encryption and for a watermark to be embedded in the image to control unauthorized changes (NEC PC-DC401 in Japan). Obsidian Imaging was previously Epix Imaging and the camera was based on the Epix Imaging Epix Pro.  See Epix Pro on our 1996 D-N page.   This the first time that we have seen the Obsidian IC/100 or any of its twins (the Epix Pro and the NEC PC-DC401) on eBay. If another one ever appears on eBay it is highly unlikely that it will have more than the original lens that came with the camera, certainly not six lenses.  Further, this camera is in mint condition and appears to have little or no use.  The plastic protective cover on the top panel has not been removed and there are no signs of use on the camera body.  Original MSRP: $1,495.


http://www.epi-centre.com/reports/9612bcs.html

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/cameras/item/epix-pro

OLYMPUS D-200L / C-400L- 1996.  640 x 480 pixel CCD.  ISO 130.  36mm f/2.8 lens.  Shutter 1 to 1/10,000 second.  Price $600. 

http://www.dpreview.com/products/olympus/compacts/oly_d200l

   
OLYMPUS C-400                                        OLYMPUS C-410L (Marketed 1997)

 
Key features the same for both cameras.  1/3-inch 640 x 480 pixel CCD.  Fixed-focus, 36mm f/2.8 lens.  ISO 130.  Shutter 1/8 to 1/10,000 second .  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide photos and information concerning these cameras.  

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

Olympus model numbers can be confusing because the early models used different numbers for different market areas. Below are listed cameras that are exactly the same except for having a D or C prefix model number.

PANASONIC VZ-XP1 - 1996.   Prototype for the Panasonic CardShot NV-DCF-1.  The VZ-XP1 was shown at Fall '96 Comdex.   The NV-DCF-1 was introduced in 1997.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/de/prototypen-raritaeten/item/panasonic-vz-xp1

  
PENTAX EI-C90 - 1996.    An unusual first in digicams, the EI-C90 could be separated into two sections so that the section containing the camera (on the right in the photo) could be carried alone if desired while the section containing the LCD could be left at home.   The marketed version featured small improvements over the PMA prototype of 1996and was put on sale in July 1997.  768 x 560 pixel CCD. ISO 200. 50 mm f/2.8 lens.  Shutter 1/8 to 1/4000 second.  PC card type I/II.  Price, $915. 

http://www.photographyreview.com/cat/cameras/digital-cameras/3-megapixel/pentax/ei-c90/prd_82688_3098crx.aspx

https://www.digitalkamera.de/Meldung/Pentax_EI-C90_fur_Sommer_1997_angekundigt/660.aspx

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Pentax_EI-C90

PIXERA Professional - 1996.  Example of a tethered digicam.  Images were stored on the PC hard drive. 1/3-inch 1280 x 1024 pixel CCD.  ISO 50.  40mm f/2.1 lens.  Shutter 1/16 to 1/1000 second. MSRP $1,195.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

http://www.pixera.com/products/professional/professional.htm

https://books.google.com/books?id=R2YEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=PIXERA+Professional+-+1996&source=bl&ots=bJ3q10c

7j4&sig=ACfU3U3dxe0tRVkwWx7ICb1T1vvVdNxv1g&hl=en&sa=X&ve

d=2ahUKEwiq8t_O3MD1AhWoDjQIHU4VAcoQ6AF6BAgkEAM#v=onepage&q=PIXERA%20Professional%20-%201996&f=false

POLAROID PDC-2000 Series -  PDC 2000/40, PDC-2000/60, PDC-2000T - 1996. 800 x 600 pixel CCD ( interpolated to 1600 x1200 pixels).  ISO 100.  38mm and 60mm equivlent f/2.8-f11 sonar autofocus lenses.  Shutter 1/25 to 1/500 second.  JPEG compression not used.  The /40 had 40MB of storage and the /60 had 60MB.  The /T was a tethered model ($2,995).  The  /40 was originally $3,695, but was later lowered to $1,350.  The /60 was originally $4,995, but was lowered to $1,999.  First digicam to use sonar focusing similar to that used on the Polaroid Sonar OneStep of 1978.   Both are one of the rather unique cameras that Polaroid produced using high frequency sound waves to operate the autofocus system. That is, they determined the distance to the subject in somewhat the same way as a bat does, by emitting high frequency sound waves that bounce back to the camera, but which cannot be heard by human ears.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera. 

http://www.epi-centre.com/reports/9604ahs.html

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/cameras/item/polaroid-pdc-2000

  RICOH DC1S(Japan) - 1996               RDC-2

RICOH RDC-2, 2E, 2L - 1996

RDC-1S:  1/3-inch 768 576 pixel CCD.  ISO 70.  3X 50mm to 150mm zom f/2.8 lens.  Shutter 1/8 to 1/500 second. The RDC-1S was a top of the line multimedia machine capable of capturing moving video, moving video with sound, stills and just audio alone. It featured a 3:1 zoom lens. The RDC-2 was a scaled down version of the RDC-1 without the ability to capture moving video. It had a dual focal length lens equivalent to a 35mm/55mm lens on a 35mm camera. It had five recording modes; still image, still image with sound, sound only, document mode, and continuous (aka motor drive) shooting mode. The RDC-2 had a built in flash - the RDC-2E did not. RDC-2L came with monitor.  There was also a DC-2V and DC-2S.  The RDC-2 came in a variety of "packages" bundled with various flash memory cards, LCD monitor, etc. The RDC-2E had a 410,000-pixel CCD with a mechanical shutter that recorded S-VHS quality images (768x576 pixels) in full frame. The lens was a fixed focal length f:3.7.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning these camera.   

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/cameras/category/ricoh-2

RICOH RDC-2V - 1996.  The RDC-2V model provided means for transmission of photos by cell phone. Ricoh RDC-2 models had 768 x 576 pixel CCDs.  ISO 70 or 90.  Shutter 1/8 to 1/500 or 1/1000 second.  35mm  and 55mm switchable f/2.0 autofocus lens.  Prices:  RDC-2: $699 or $799 with LCD, RDC-2E: $699.  Click on image to see enlarged view.  We believe we were the first digital camera history web site to provide a photo and information concerning this camera.

https://m3.idg.se/2.1022/1.103396/har-ar-fem-kameror-vi-minns--och-hemskt-garna-glommer/sida/2/sida-2-las-mer-om-digital-ixus-borjan-pa-den-digitala-kamerarevolutionen

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/de/digitalkameras/item/ricoh-rdc-2-de

ROLLEI DSP-104 - 1996.  Followup of the 1991 ScanPack and the 1994 Digital Chip Pack.  2048 x 2048 pixels.

https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/cameras/item/rollei-dsp104

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Rollei

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/digitalimaging/digitalimage1.htm

ORION DIGISNAP DS 21 - 1996.  Marketed in Europe by Orion of Hungary. 320 x 240 pixel CCD. Shutter 1/8 sec to 1/16000 sec. Lens F/2 fixed focus. The DS 21 was unusual in that it used a camcorder battery. It also had a relatively large 3-inch LCD, the first for a digicam. Internal storage for about 96 photos. Orion is an electronics manufacturing company. The DS 21 has been their only entrant into the digicam market and it was made in Japan.   MSRP $299.

1996 O-R