History of the Camera
By Christopher Haslego
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:
1. Greater resolution from even the simplest, low cost
camera models
2. Usage in any type of lighting conditions,
3. Compatibility across a range of software, hardware and
image types
4. 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!!
The author, 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.