The History of DSLR Cameras
The history of the single-lens reflex camera starts with the use of a reflex mirror in a camera obscura. It was first described in 1676, but it took a long time before it was used successfully in a photographic camera. Since then, there have been many improvements to the design.
Canon
Canon has been manufacturing cameras for over 80 years. During this time, the company has made important advances in video and photographic technology. It all started in a humble street-side workshop in Tokyo, where the company’s founder, Goro Yoshida, repaired motion picture cameras.
The company’s first camera, the RC-701, was the first analog electronic camera. In the United States, it was sold at a price of $499. The camera came with a crop factor of 1.6x and could shoot 1080p HD video at 60 frames per second. The RC-701 was also marketed as the Ion in Europe and Q-Pic in Japan. Canon went on to add many new features, including a digital video function and a monochrome mode for black-and-white photography.
The company continued to develop video and digital cameras, introducing the EOS D30 DSLR in 2000, the first digital camera designed entirely by Canon. The company also released the EOS D2000 and EOS D6000, two SLR cameras made with Kodak digital backs. Canon continues to innovate and is known for its quality and performance.
The company’s latest DSLRs incorporate new CMOS image sensors. These high-sensitivity, large-area CMOS sensors enable high-resolution images with low power usage and low cost.
Nikon
If you’re a Nikon fan, you’ve likely seen the company’s newest DSLR camera, the Nikon D780. It features a full-frame sensor and weighs less than ninety grams, but has also been superseded by the Nikon Z6. Despite being superseded by a new camera, the Nikon Z6 is still available new.
In the mid-2000s, Nikon’s DSLRs were second to Canon, and they had several years’ lead in professional-grade DSLRs. While their DX size sensors were not as large as Canon’s, they were still capable of producing high-quality photos. Nikon also produced compact cameras with interchangeable lenses and viewfinders, a motor drive, and a data back. Later, the company dropped the series names.
The Nikon company began making cameras for civilian use after World War II. They developed the Nikoflex, a 6x6cm rangefinder/TLR camera, but it was scrapped because of problems with its leaf shutter. They were influenced by the German Leica and Contax, and their first camera, the Nikon Model F, was released in 1948.
The Nikon D1 was the first practical digital SLR. It was priced low enough and offered high-quality 2.7 MP DX images. Nikon D1s replaced film cameras at forward-thinking newspapers.
Olympus
Olympus has been a leading camera manufacturer for nearly four decades. The company is known for making quality cameras at affordable prices. In addition to digital cameras, the company has a full line of film cameras. The company’s history of innovative cameras dates back to the early 1970s when the Olympus OM-1 was introduced. It featured the world’s first TTL (Two-Thirds) direct metering system. This system measures light reflected off the film’s surface to determine exposure and strobe adjustment. History of DSLR Cameras. This automatic exposure system was very effective in controlling exposure and shutter speed during the shooting process. The camera’s shutter mechanism was also built with an air-damping system that minimizes the noise from the mirror box.
The company also perfected the single-lens reflex camera system. In the mid-1990s, the company introduced the E-1, the first digital single-lens reflex camera with interchangeable lenses. The E-1 also featured Zuiko interchangeable lenses, which were designed especially for digital cameras. The camera also featured a full-frame CCD based on the Four Thirds system and a dust reduction system.
As a pioneer of mirrorless cameras, Olympus has created some of the most innovative models in the industry. Its first 35mm SLR, the OM, launched in 1972, was a popular choice for many professional photographers. It was compact, offered interchangeable lenses, and featured advanced flash units and winders. The OM system also gained a loyal following and has a good reputation among macro photographers.
Ricoh
Throughout the years, the company has been involved in the development of digital still cameras. The first digital still camera with sound capabilities was the Ricoh RDC-1. It featured a 64mm color LCD screen, f/2.8 aperture, and three optical zooms. It cost about $1500.
The earliest cameras were made by the company, but later, it outsourced the production of many cameras to companies like Cosina. The Argus 1000 is one such camera, and it is a solid camera, but its design isn’t as good as the original.
As the company’s reputation grew, it began to produce better SLR bodies and lenses. They even made K-mount DSLR cameras under the Pentax brand. However, the company didn’t quite get ready for the SLR boom that would subsequently be triggered by the Nikon F. Eventually, the company decided to outsource production and rebrand itself to Sears. This led to the creation of the Sears SL11, which was later rebranded as the Ricoh Singlex TLS.
In the early sixties, Ricoh was the only SLR camera manufacturer in the country. As a result, the Singles TLS was rebranded with the Sears logo on the prism. The Sears-Ricoh partnership lasted about 25 years, producing about 30 Sears-branded cameras. History of DSLR Cameras. Eventually, the Sears-Ricoh partnership ended, but the company still survives as a company to this day.