Digital Camera, Taking Pictures | Kodak DC50 instruction

DIGITAL CAMERA

A Kodak© DC50 color digital camera is available to students. The student must obtain permission to use the camera from the instructor or the laboratory/operations manager. The camera can then be signed out for use.

TAKING PICTURES

The following are steps for taking pictures with the DC50 digital camera.

Turning On and Taking Pictures

Pull the sliding cover gently away from the camera. The sliding cover is located on the front of the camera. When the camera is on, icons appear on the LCD screen at the back of the unit. Hold the camera with both hands and place your right hand inside the strap. The shutter and lens zoom buttons are located at the top of the camera. Slide your right hand through the hand strap with your index finger resting on the shutter button and allow the camera to rest on your thumb.

Fig. 1. Turning on the camera.

Framing Subject Mattter in Viewfinder

Look through the viewfinder on the back of the camera. Position the Auto Focus target marks on the subject. The Auto Focus target marks are the solid and dashed circles in the viewfinder. The solid circles are from distances to infinity, and the dashed marks are for pictures up to 70 centimeters. Use the small frame marked with a flower when closeup mode is selected. The DC-50 can zoom from 37 to 111 mm.

Fig. 2. Viewfinder

Capturing an Image

Hold the camera as steady as possible when you press the shutter button. Press the shutter button half way down. The camera measures the ambient light, sets the exposure and white balance, and automatically focuses the lens.

A green light flashes on the viewfinder if the subject is too close or too far away. When the subject is properly framed, press the shutter button all the way down. There will be a short delay between the time the button is pressed and the time the picture is taken. The green light will flash while the camera processes the image. Another picture cannot be taken until the green light stops flashing. The counter on the LCD will add one to the number of pictures taken.

DC50 specifications

Released in 1995, the Kodak DC50 marked a significant milestone in the world of digital photography. As one of the early consumer digital cameras, the DC50 combined simplicity and innovative technology, making it a popular choice among photography enthusiasts at the time.

At the heart of the Kodak DC50 was a 0.6-megapixel sensor, a cutting-edge feature that allowed users to capture images at a maximum resolution of 640x480 pixels. While this resolution may seem modest by today’s standards, it was a remarkable accomplishment in the mid-90s, providing decent image quality for personal use and basic printing.

One of the standout features of the DC50 was its modular design. The camera could be fitted with an array of interchangeable lenses, expanding its versatility and allowing photographers to experiment with different focal lengths and perspectives. This modularity meant that users could adapt the camera to various shooting scenarios, from landscapes to portraits.

In addition to its interchangeable lenses, the DC50 also incorporated a built-in LCD display, a pioneering feature for digital cameras of that era. The LCD screen facilitated image previewing, enabling users to review their shots immediately after capturing them. This direct feedback was a departure from traditional film cameras, where photographers had to wait for film development to see their images.

Another notable aspect of the Kodak DC50 was its connectivity options. It featured a serial port for transferring images to a PC, an important feature that simplified the sharing and editing of photos in the burgeoning world of digital technology. This made the process of digitizing photographs not only more efficient but also more accessible to a wider audience.

The camera utilized one of Kodak's early digital image compression technologies, which allowed for the efficient storage of images on removable memory cards. The DC50 typically supported CompactFlash cards, which became a standard in the industry, providing an increased capacity for storing images compared to earlier storage options.

Overall, the Kodak DC50 was an innovative digital camera that combined user-friendly features with advanced technology for its time. While today’s cameras have vastly surpassed its capabilities, the DC50 played a crucial role in introducing digital photography to a broader audience, paving the way for the modern digital imaging landscape we enjoy today. Its legacy continues to influence how digital cameras evolve, highlighting the importance of convenience, connectivity, and user experience.