Still Cameras Approach Picture Perfect

Jon Pepper

Thanks to falling prices and improved performance, digital cameras could soon become popular peripherals for PC and Mac users. Affordable still-image digital cameras that cost $2000 or less can't yet take high-resolution photos (e.g., 1524 by 1012 pixels). But a new round of digital cameras offers improved resolution and even the ability to capture brief video clips with sound, for about $2000 or less.

In 1995, several companies, including Apple, Kodak, and Logitech, released digital cameras for under $1000 that could capture images at resolutions of up to 640 by 480 or 768 by 512 pixels. And Casio's QV-10, although capable of a maximum of just 480 by 240 resolution, added several features, including a tiny 1.8-inch LCD vi ewfinder for previewing and reviewing pictures and NTSC compatibility that lets you play a series of images on your TV (see "Digital Cameras for Real Work," October 1995 BYTE). New cameras expected to ship this year will be even better.

Although still a little pricey (about $1800), Ricoh's new RDC-1 camera, which should be available in the first half of this year, offers several improvements in addition to its maximum 768 by 480 resolution. It can capture still images with up to 10 seconds of sound, and it can even capture motion scenes with sound.

If you don't need all the features of the RDC-1, you can also buy less expensive units that still offer a good feature set. A good example is the Epson PhotoPC, which is expected to sell for less than $500. The PhotoPC takes images at up to 640 by 480 resolution, can store up to 16 color images in high-resolution mode, and includes EasyPhoto image-editing software.

Kodak's successor to its DC40 camera, the DC50 (about $979), has a motor-driven zoom lens that can focus on objects from 19 inches to infinity. It can also take wide-angle photos. The system has 1 MB of permanent memory and can take industry standard PC Cards for additional storage. Chinon's new $499 ES-1000 Pocket Digital Camera weighs less than 5 ounces.

"There's no question that eventually everyone will use digital cameras," says Alexis Gerard, editor of The Future Image Report (agfuture@aol.com or 800-749-3572). "The image quality will catch up to film quite rapidly and, with digital technology, you can create camera features that make people better photographers." Gerard says an example of this is an LCD screen that allows you to preview aspects such as exposure and adjust your camera accordingly. "When manufacturing volumes rise, digital cameras will be cheaper than analog cameras because they are solid state," Gerard says. During this year and next we will see "rapid growth in the market and continued price/performance improvements."

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Digital Camera Freeze Frame

GOOD



-- Fast input
 of images into Macs and PCs

-- Cost less
 than analog cameras to operate (you
   don't have to pay for film or processing)

-- Better pictures
 with real-image viewfinders

-- Previews let
 you instantly discard bad photos


NEEDS IMPROVEMENT



-- Digital cameras
 still expensive to buy

-- Low resolution
 limits use

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Sony's Colorful Digital Camera Offering

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Sony's new d igital camera, expected to sell for less than $2000 this summer, has a 12x zoom lens, removable PC Card, and color viewfinder.

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Kodak Does It Again

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Kodak's DC50 camera takes 756- by 504-pixel images and weighs 22 ounces, including its four AA batteries.