APS AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

A P S   a N d    D i G I t a L   P h O T o G R a p h Y

The advanced photo system was announced in 1995 as a break through in photographic technology. Developed over five years by a consortium of the film and camera manufactures (Kodak, Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Minolta), the APS was designed to maximize the quality of the image taken by amateur photographers, and to over come some of the most common problems encountered. The key to this new system is the "smart" film with its drop-in and automatic-load cassette. The film contains a magnetic strip, which records information specific to each shot, such as lighting conditions, magnification, date and time, and communicates this data to the processing equipment in the mini lab. Once processed, the photographer receives a set of index prints, the photographs in any one of three different print sizes and the developed film stored within the original cassette. APS film can be directly scanned and digitized, allowing the new system to bridge the gap between conventional 35mm film and digital photography.

PRINT FORMATS: A great advantage of APS is the variety it allows in the format of the print. When taking a picture there are three different formats which can be selected: C (classic) gives a normal 35mm print, H (HDTV) is for a wider view and P (Panorama) provides the extra-wide landscape shot.

Information about each frame- such as lighting conditions, selected print format, and exposure speed- is recorded on magnetic data strips. In a process called "information exchange" this data is read by processing equipment, which adjusts itself to produce the best result for each individual picture.

APS FILM AND CARTRIDGE: To avoid mis feeding, the cassette loads, advances and reacts the film automatically and is also used to store processed film. A data disc tells the camera the film speed, type and exposure length. 

DIGITAL IMAGE SCANNER: The digital imag scanner alows user to input developed APS film cartridges into their personal computer. The index view instantly displays thumbnail versions of all the images stored on the roll.

INFORMATIVE DATA AND INDEX PRINTS: IX allows a variety of information to be imprinted on the back of each photo. Not only is the date and time given, but a title for each shot can be chosen. At-a-glance index prints are also provide showing the C, H or P formats at each frame plus the print number.

DIGITAL IMAGE WORKSTATION: Photographs are digitized and placed on templates for printing out on a colour printer. The workstation can also store the images on floppy discs or send them on-line to other locations.

DIGITAL CAMERA

KODAK DC50

NO FILM OR PROCESSING REQUIRED: Film less digital camera are a technological advancement in the professional photography  world. Within minutes a picture can be taken and transmitted anywhere in the world, either via telephone or E-mail. Digital cameras are also ideal for desktop publishing, business presentations and a variety of scientific or industrial applications.




CANON EOS-1 WITH KODAK DCS 3C

TRANSMITTING LIGHT INTO DIGITAL DATA:   Electronic sensors inside the camera transmit the different levels of light, which enter through the red, green and blue  filters onto a CCD (photo-sensitive semi conductor). The CCD digitally records the image and stores it onto a PCM-CIA card-a tiny hard disc drive.

FROM DATA TO ON-SCREEN IMAGE:  Digital cameras can be plugged into a computer's  serial port and the pictures can be instantly transferred from the camera's hard disc into popular applications such as Word perfect and page maker.