Before the digital age, I had a variety of standard film cameras, like Nikon, Minolta, Konica, Kodak etc...

Needless to say, all the photos taken with those cameras stayed in their original developed photo paper format and still remains somewhere in my collection of photo albums.

So I have dedicated this page to the digital age, whereas all the pictures taken with a digital camera can be easily shared with the rest of the world.
 

It wasn't until early 1998 when I acquired my first digital camera, photos started to pile up in their digital format from that date forward.  My first digital camera was a Casio QV series.    It is now considered a Dinosaur of Digital cameras, but very expensive and high tech at the time it was introduced.   People used to gather around me and ask me all kinds of questions about that camera.  It took very marginal quality pictures, with very low resolution, and very limited in memory size and it was not upgradable.  And the digital imager can never capture the correct color. 

Signal System: NTSC standard: QV-10A BIB/PAL standard: QV-10A CIB  Horizontal Resolution: Approximately 300 lines  Recording System: Digital (JPEG base)  Recording Medium:: 16Mbit internal flash memory  Memory Capacity: NORMAL: 96pages  Image Deletion: Single-page; all-page(individual pages can be protected against deletion)  Imaging Element: 1/5-inch CCD (250,000 pixels)  Computer Output Images: 320 x 240 dots  Focusing: Fixed focal point with macro position  Lens: F2.8/f=5.2mm (equivalent to 60mm lens on 35mm full-size camera)  Aperture: Manual switching between F2.8 and F8  Focus Range: F2.8 NORMAL: 0.6m to 3.1m /MACRO: 13cm to 16cm/F8 NORMAL: 0.3m to (degree)/MACRO: 11cm to 21cm  Light Metering: TTL center point by CCD  Exposure: Aperture priority automatic exposure  Continuous Light Metering Range: EV + 5 to 18  Exposure Correction: -2EV to +2EV (1/4 EV Steps)  CCD shutter : 1/8 to 1/4,000 second  White Balance: Automatic  Self-Timer: 10 seconds  Monitor/Viewfinder: 1.8"TFT, low-glare color LCD (61,380 pixels)  Input/Output Terminals: DIGITAL IN/OUT, VIDEO OUT, AC adaptor connector  Power Supply: Four AA-size Batteries or optional AC adaptor  Battery Life*: Approximately 120 minutes on alkaline Batteries; 300 minutes on lithium batteries  Dimensions (W)x(H)x(D): 130mm x 66mm x 40mm  Weight (excluding Batteries): Approximately 190g

In early 1999, during the initial boom of the mega pixel digital movement I too jumped on the band wagon.  Took delivery of a Kodak DC-260 Megapixel digital camera. This camera took what I've considered at the time amazing "film" quality pictures.  I was completely amazed at the quality of the pictures and the ease of the use of the camera.  It uses a removable compact flash memory card design, and came with NiMh rechargeable batteries.  It even had a USB port for connecting with your desktop computer.  The camera operates in a firmware enviornment, sort of like an operating system for your desktop computer.  Which means you can download updates from Kodak's web site to update this camera with the most recent color corrections and bug updates.  Kodak even sent me a compact flash card reader free of charge when I reported that the USB port had compatibility problems talking with the desktop PCs.  Majority of the pictures on my P-car.com web site are all taken with this camera.  The very minor things I didn't like about this camera were it's construction, I felt that it was slightly loose fitted around the lens area, which allowed dirt and lint to easily enter the camera.  And it only offered a 3x optical zoom, and an additional digital zoom (which I will never use).  The shutter reaction is also slightly delayed, which means that when you push the shutter button, it will take few moments before the picture is actually taken.  Difficult when you want to take action and sports photos.  Also the "boot up" and "shut down" time of the camera took forever.  It however does offer a complete selection of shutter controls and exposure compensation options.  I even used this camera and took some long exposure photos with it. 

Specifications : CCD Resolution 1548 x 1032 pixels  Image Resolution : 1536 x 1024 pixels, 1152 x 768 pixels, 768 x 512 pixels  Image Compression : Best, better, good  Image Storage : 8 MB KODAK Picture Card included. Stores up to 95 pictures  Viewfinder : 2.0" TFT color LCD for review and preview, plus real-image optical viewfinder  Lens : Auto focus 3X zoom  Digital Enhancement : 2X digital zoom  Lens Focal Length : 38 mm to 115 mm equivalent  Focus Range : 12" (0.3 m) to infinity  Exposure : Auto or manual exposure (+/- 2 EV in 0.5-EV increments) with automatic white balance  Shutter Speed : 1/4 to 1/400 second  Aperture Range : Wide: f/3.0 to f/14.0; Tele: f/4.7 to f/22.0  ISO Equivalent : 100  Scripting : Digita text-based language, extends functionality by automating camera  Burst Capture : Max 2 pictures at high and medium res, max 8 pictures at standard res, frame rate selectable from 0.1 to 3 frames per second  Time Lapse : Set to capture shot at pre-defined intervals; play back as movie on camera  Orientation Sensor : Automatically rotates image right-side-up at LCD and host  Picture Overlay : Time/date stamp, text, logo/graphic; user-selectable location  Albums : In-camera albums keep pictures organized. Albums transfer to Picture Easy Software  Self-Timer : 10 seconds  Tripod Mount : Standard  Flash : Strobe flash (auto, red-eye, fill, off); range up to 9.8' (3.0 m); optional flash sync cable supports external flash  File Formats : JPEG (EXIF), FPX  User Interface : Graphical, menu-driven, easy to navigate  Video Out : NTSC, PAL; live view  Audio : Record and playback  Interface : Serial, IrDA (camera-to-camera or camera-to-PC), USB, PC Card  Power : 4 AA batteries, AC adapter (included in box)  Dimensions : 4.6"(w) x 2.2"(d) x 4.2"(h); 118 mm (w) x 57 mm (d) x 106 mm (h)  Certifications : VCCI, CE, FCC Class B, C-Tick, ICES-003 Class B, CCIB  Weight : 1.2 lb. (525 g) without batteries  Warranty : One year

When the Kodak DC-260 camera left the factory it's firmware had a problem with red color, as you see from the about picture of the Guards red Porsche 993.  Soon Kodak had the updated firmware to download from their web site to correct that problem.  (During the firmware upgrade I was completely disgusted at how everything now days is going the Microsoft direction)..... download......upgrades......can't get it right the first time.......

After I had lapsed hundreds of photo with my Kodak DC-260 digital camera, I was getting ready for the next level in digital cameras.  The DC-260 served me well for the past several years, but it still had it's limitations.  For my next digital camera, I wanted to be able to take massive long distance zoom photos, and I wanted to get better colors, and depth from the pictures taken.  What I really needed was a 35mm SLR (Single Lens Reflex) professional digital camera, so my search started.  Apparently there is a small market out there for the SLR type digital cameras, unfortunately they were all designed and tailored for the professional photographers arena; so the prices on these type of digital cameras are also hefty.

Most of the professional SLR type professional digital cameras when new starts around $5000 range, and it can only go up from there.  I originally only planned to spend about $2000 for the complete package, and with that I need to have the camera, batteries, memory cards, and variety of quality lens, and a single large zoom lens.  My search ended when I came a cross an used Kodak DCS315 professional digital camera, it was introduced sometime in 1998, with an original street price of around $5000.  It is basically a standard Nikon Pronea 6i SLR 35mm APS format camera that has been modified by Kodak.  Kodak added the digital back to the back of the camera, and combined the original function of the Nikon Pronea and it's own operating system. 

Each picture taken is stored in Kodak's proprietary TIFF RAW 1.7MB format, you will need a special software from Kodak to compile the picture to a standard 4.3MB TIFF format.  And then from there you would use your choice of picture software to compress it down ever further for web site use.  The final photos shown on web sites are usually only 200k in size. 

Interchangeable full-sized Nikon camera lenses capture a film-like depth and feel. With its "lens multiplier effect", the DCS 315 is unrivaled as the most capable telephoto digital camera made.  Huge image capacity using CompactFlash memory cards (up to 128 mb), Type II Flash memory cards (up to 320 mb), IBM Microdrives (up to 340 mb), or Type III removable hard drives (up to 520 mb).  1520X1008 maximum actual resolution.  Easily select TIFF or JPEG formats.  Outstanding battery life using rechargeable AA size NiMH batteries.  Fast boot up, fast processing.  ISO ranges of 100, 200, or 400.  Rugged, well-built, solid construction Programmed Automatic Exposure, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, or full Manual Exposure controls with a built in exposure meter in the viewfinder.  Very fast shutter speeds for high speed action photography, up to 1/4000 of a second.  Long shutter speeds for special low light photography situations, as long as 30 seconds.  Very large, and very small aperture settings for special effects, limited only to the range of the lens in use.  Adjustable ISO (film speed equivalents) to stretch the ranges of shutter and aperture settings: 100, 200, or 400.  Manual or Autofocus - flip the lever next to the lens to choose.  Flash pictures with extended range capabilities using the "hot shoe" mount. (Or use the quick, easy built in pop-up flash.)  The camera comes with: The camera body, with a leather padded hand strap.  Separate manuals for the Nikon Pronea 6i camera and the Kodak DCS 315. The DCS 315 manual tells you basic features and operation, including what features of the "film" Pronea camera don't apply with the digital conversion.  Quick reference fold-up users card.  Two CD-ROM's - One with Kodak's Twain acquire software to be used with your own imaging software, the other a thorough "online" manual for camera and software operations.  Two battery trays - each hold 6 AA batteries. The camera uses only one tray, so you can have another tray loaded with batteries and ready to swap. (No batteries are included.)  AC Adapter - Newer production cameras only... not included with early production cameras.  A small plastic eyepiece cover for the Pronea, recommended while using the self-timer, to block light from entering the camera through the viewfinder.  One 52mm "hot mirror" filter *. (52mm is the standard filter size for all three IX series Nikkor lenses that commonly outfit the Nikon Pronea 6i camera.)  * Kodak strongly recommends the use of a "hot mirror filter" on the DCS 315. The hot mirror filter blocks infrared rays from the camera, which can cause a magenta cast or bluish haze in images captured by the 315's CCD sensor. If you select additional (or other) lenses that have a different filter size than 52mm, you'll need to fit them with the appropriate hot mirror filter, too.

	This is a new generation of compact standard zoom lens from Sigma that retains the same 1:2 (Half Lifesize) Tele-macro capabilities of its predecessor. However, it incorporates a Helical Focusing system for convenient use of polarizing or graduated filters. This also allows a "Perfect Hood" (supplied) to be used. This lens also utilizes a new optical design, and a "flare-cut" aperture, providing even better optical performance. And a convenient "Depth Scale" is displayed on the lens barrel to help calculate Depth-of-Field. This is the most desirable lens in the 28-80mm category.
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