Return To Autumn 1996 Index
Return To Autumn 1996 Index
by In this edition we decided to look at an emerging technology which is poised to revolutionise the world of photography - filmless cameras. It is quite possible that within a few years, the conventional wet-film photography process will become the domain of specialists and enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will snap a batch of pix, take the camera home, down load pictures into a PC. Then, at our leisure we may select and tweak the ones we like, and run them out on a colour printer.
People who dont have a PC - or Mac at home, you'll simply will take your digital camera, or maybe even a smart card from the camera into a photo shop, or reprographics bureau. Once there, a happy, smiling assistant will use the firm's computers to print however many prints you like - in a range of different sizes. Some cameras may even include an LCD screen or a mini printer.
The technology is still in its infancy, but a number of big players, including Canon, Kodak and Casio are producing digital cameras already. One of the smallest and cheapest is the Casio QV-10A.
Truly pocket sized it measures just 120 mm x 35 mm x 65 mm. Its 2 MB flash RAM will store 96 colour images. Trouble is the images are very small - 320 x 240 pixels. This will fill just one quarter of an average computer monitor.
This is great for snaps, but far to small for serious use. When printed these images will only be a few inches across. Blow them up any bigger and they look awful.
Its Windows-based connection software kids you it produces 640 x 480 but it doesn't. It simply doubles the size of the native 320 x 240 image - and looks very grainy indeed. There is also connection software available for Macintosh
The software saves images in uncompressed BMP and TIFF format, as well as its own compressed CAM files. It does not save in JPG format. This is a grave omission since JPG files achieve a much better degree of compression than Casio's CAM format, and JPG is also the main international standard for photographic transmission on the Internet.
Down loading images from the camera is slow. It takes over an hour to offload its full capacity of images. It eats batteries too. Casio recommend using an optional mains supply whist downloading, so why it doesn't supply one with the camera beats me!
Even taking pictures, we found that the money we saved on film, we spent on alkaline batteries. During a trial shoot in the New Forest, our test camera snaffled three sets of Duracells.
It fits a standard camera tripod, but lacks a flash synchronisation socket - so you can't use an external flash. If you are taking pictures in poor light your only alternative is to use a video lamp.
The viewfinder takes a bit of practice too. It consists of a tiny active matrix screen measuring 40 mm x 30 mm, which is updated about once per second. Rather than peering into it, you view it like a small TV screen. You can also use the LCD screen to review pictures you've already taken.
The CCD - charge coupled device - the bit that captures the image, can be swivelled through 180 degrees. This means you can hold the camera at arms length and take a self portrait, whilst seeing yourself in the viewfinder screen - like the one at the top of this page.
This camera is the first of a new wave of digital imaging products that will hit the high street over the next few years - and my advice is wait a while before you whip out your flexible friend. For those who must have a digital camera today, the QV-10A retails in the UK for about £460 including VAT.
For downloadable samples of what the Casio QV-10A can do click the following thumbnails...
