The Pinhole Camera History

The pinhole camera is one of the earliest cameras used in photography. It is an-odd looking thing because, unlike other cameras, it does not need to use lenses to take pictures. To explain, images are projected into the pinhole camera when light passes through a tiny hole in its box-like frame. According to Wikipedia.com, the small hole of the camera can focus light by directing it through a single point. This article will talk about its illustrious history.
Early Discoveries of The Ancient Greeks
Pinhole camera history in Wikipedia.com says that these simple devices were already used by the Greeks as early as 500 B.C. It was a common belief that people were able to see because the light rays were bouncing from the human eye. Wikipedia.com adds that, later on, they found out that seeing was actually an effect of light rays entering into the eye, rather than bouncing from it. This important realization led to a better understanding of how these work.

Ancient china
Mo Jing, a Mohist philosopher in 5th century-China, was said to have studied and experimented with phenomenona of images projected via a very small hole. Because of this, the Mohist philosopher was able to contribute to the development of the pinhole camera and the Burning Mirrors used by the ancient Mohists. Much of the pinhole camera history revolves around key events in Ancient China. In fact, Wikipedia.com also states that Shen Huo, a Chinese scientist during the Song Dynasty, was able to establish the key geometrical and quantitative concepts vital to the development of the pinhole camera today.
1000 to 1600 A.D.
The 10th century Muslim mathematician Ibn al-haytam is credited for inventing the first modern pinhole camera. Further advancements were made to the camera when the Muslim mathematician realized that a smaller hole produced a more sharper image.
In addition, more ideas and studies were done by the brilliant minds of Gemma Frisuis and Giambattista della Porta. These two published a paper explaining why images projected into the pinhole camera appeared upside down. Lynn Bryant, writing for a video surveillance website, said that the studies made by Gemma Frisuis' of a solar eclipse projected into a dark room was the first documented use of a pinhole camera in history.
1800s and Beyond
Lynn Bryant also says that Sir David Brewster, a Scottish scientist, was the first one to take pictures with the pinhole camera back in the 1850s. Lynn Bryant also says that this simple camera was not regarded as a popular medium of photography, not until the 1960s. It may be owing to the fact that the photographers during the period preferred to take pictures using a conventional camera, as opposed to the pinhole camera.
The pinhole camera history can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, with advancements contributed by the Ancient Chinese and by brilliant scientists and philosophers in the late 20th century. Its history, like the histories of all things ingenious, is colorful, interesting, and absolutely eventful, and one that never fails to prove how great things can come from a simple idea.

Article By Nahshon Roberts

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History of The Camera

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!!

Article By Christopher Haslego

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Digital Photo Imaging Tips and Resources

The advent of digital revolution in photography entailed a lot of promise to professional as well as novice digital photography enthusiasts. This emerging industry not only boosted the advent of a profitable market of cell phones and digital camera but also the confidence of each and everyone in pursuing an interest in artistically capturing life's moments and nature's wonders. The variety of digital photo imaging technologies incorporating in digital photography gave more life to your traditional photographs. Now, the storage, printing, processing sharing, and display of your stock photos go beyond conventional dark rooms and photo albums to offer more possibilities in exploring your chosen art form.
The development of various software, programs, and application services offered for digital photographs basically revolve around all the possible means of enhancement that you can do to make your photographs more realistic. They allow you to manipulate certain aspects of your photo and take control of its aesthetics. With that, digital imaging technologies are developed to allow you to make all the necessary adjustments to your photograph's graphics, display resolution, color depth, and other image editing and enhancement applications.
Your digital images may be used for display, ad campaign, instructional purposes, and logos. Through programs like Adobe illustrator, digital photo imaging technologies may be used to add in graphic shapes, text, and other digital image attributes that will fit the photograph to its intended use. Through digital manipulations, it may be put into albums, animated features, and flash displays along with scripted and programmed sequences. The technique and selection of tools used for digital photo imaging depends in the intended purpose of a particular photo.

Prior to printing, digital photo imaging manipulations can be done to ensure quality final prints. For instance, through sampling, you can have your digital image scanned to determine the necessary adjustments to optimize its resolution and determine the appropriate dots per inch settings. This way, you get the best quality out of your final prints.
In terms of pixels, digital photo imaging software and programs like the image editor may be used to edit, enhance or retain the full resolution needed to ensure quality digital image display or prints, especially when a particular photo is resized, cropped, compressed or re-compressed. If the picture is meant to be displayed, similar digital photo imaging programs can be used to achieve the pixel size that is relative to your target resolution of photo display.
Digital photo imaging and editing applications allow you to artistically stylize and add texture to your photographs. To bring more art to your digital photographs, you may need to do some color mapping, object or text overlays and color adjustments. This section digital photo imaging process mainly involves the use of print art. For instance, if you intend to make black and white prints out of your colored pictures, then you need to make adjustments to put in grayscale attributes into your photograph. This digital photo imaging and manipulation technique ranges from incorporating simple graphics to full color compression.
Over the next decades, you shall see the digital photo imaging industry to introduce more dynamic range of tools and editing applications to make excellent digital image output. With these excellent photo color, size, and print calibration, it would be easier to produce clean, crisp, and real-like image out of your raw photographs.

Article By Michael Greenway

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What Is The Best Digital Camera Brand?

If ever there was a controversial question amongst the hordes of digital camera enthusiasts, it has to be "What is the best digital camera brand?". Sometimes referred to as "What is the best brand of digital camera to buy?", but not to be confused with "What is the best camera to buy?". Because everyone knows that regular (film) cameras are far superior to digital cameras. Hang on a sec, or was that the other way around? Who can keep track these days? Now before I digress too far from the topic, lets take a look at that age old battle, and see if we can determine which brand is best.
First things first, in the spirit of full disclosure, I need to declare that I do in fact own several cameras. They represent a variety of brands. I have two Canons, a Fuji, and a Kodak. I must confess, that I am somewhat partial to Canon, but I'll try not to let that cloud any editorial comments I may subsequently make.

If digital camera sales were any indication of what the best brand was, then according to Amazon.com Canon would be a clear winner. As I write this, Canon manufactures 18 of the top 25 bestselling cameras on their best seller list. In addition, Canon holds 9 of the top 10 spots, with the top 3 being the PowerShot A570 IS, the PowerShot SD1000 Digital Elph, and the PowerShot SD850. Sharing the top 11 spots with Canon are 2 of the Pure Video manufactured Flip Video cameras. Nikon has 2 cameras in the top 25 including the Nikon D40, and the Nikon D300. Panasonic sneaks in with a couple of their Lumix models, specifically the DMC-TZ3K and the DMC-TZ3A. And finishing in a strong 25th spot, that old stalwart Kodak with the Easyshare Z812IS.
Of course being popular, or the best seller does not the best brand make. It simply means you have the best salesmanship. In that world, Canon seems to be having the most success. How exactly would we determine the best brand? Best service, best design, best features, best customer support, best images, and best user experience are all valid traits. Perhaps a critical / scientific /empirical examination of all cameras models by manufacturer would be in order. Let's see if we can aggregate a lot of the work already done by a couple of camera review sites who take the above traits into consideration.
A perusal of one top camera review site under their 5 star category, show 39 Canon cameras, 18 Sony cameras, 17 Nikon cameras, 6 Fuji cameras, 5 Olympus cameras, 5 Panasonic cameras, 3 Pentax cameras, and 1 Konica camera. A second camera review site under their top 103 cameras showed 46 Canon cameras, 21 Sony cameras, 20 Nikon cameras, 5 Pentax cameras, 3 Fuji cameras, 2 Samsung cameras, 2 Panasonic cameras, 2 Kodak cameras, 1 Konica camera, and 1 Casio camera. If you total all that up, the top 3 end up being Canon with 85, Sony a distant second with 39, and Nikon a very close third with 37. Everyone else had less than 10 top rated cameras.

Article By Chris Campbell

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Little Knowledge

In 1888, George Eastman began promoting the first hand-held Kodak
camera with the slogan, “You press the button, we do the rest.” His idea
was to make the film camera as convenient as the pencil. However, the film
king’s dream didn’t really come true until the invention of the digital
camera.
Certainly, conventional photography has long been as
simple as pressing a button, but the “we do the rest”
part — taking the film to a photo lab, deciding what
size and kind of prints to make, and then waiting for
the results — is a lot less convenient than using a
pencil.
Digital photography has finally put the entire
process of making pictures in the hands of the
person holding the camera. You press the button,
and you can do as much of the rest yourself as
you’re comfortable with. If all you want to do is point
and shoot, you can do that. If you want to get more
involved in the picture-taking and picture-making process,
digital photography gives you the tools for that, too.
You compose the picture through the viewfinder (as always), but now, you
can preview the exact photograph that you’re going to take on a bright LCD
(liquid crystal display) screen on the back of your camera. After snapping a
shot, you can instantly review the photos you’ve taken and erase the bad
pictures on the spot or “mark” the ones you want to print.

You don’t need to remember to stop and buy film. Your digital film is almost
infinitely reusable. You don’t have to drop off your digital film for finishing:
It’s “processed” instantly and ready for viewing or printing using your own
inexpensive color printer. No more sifting through stacks of prints of marginal
images. You decide which images to print and whether to make them
4 x 6 inches or 5 x 7 inches or some other size. You can print them at home
inexpensively or take a tiny digital memory card to a nearby retailer and
have even more inexpensive prints made for you in minutes by an in-store
digital print lab.
On the other hand, if you want to have full control over your photos, digital
photography gives you that, too, to a degree that has never before been
possible. Perhaps your images aren’t exactly right or could benefit from a
little cropping or other improvements. You can fix bad color, remove your
ex-brother-in-law from a family photo, or adjust the borders of an image to
focus on the most interesting subject matter. All you need is an image editor,
such as Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.


Article By Digital Photography for Dummies book
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