Re: [photo-3d] Digital camera 3D

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ron Beck wrote:
> Has anyone considered removing the "guts" of a couple of cheapie digital
> cameras and positioning the sensors in something like a Realist or Kodak
> stereo?  Might make an interesting project.
> 

It's very unlikely that you could get the "guts" of a digital camera
to fit inside a Realist or Kodak.

Kodak (and now Nikon, Canon and Fuji) has built high end professional
digital cameras based on 35mm SLR bodies, but they use a very large
pack attached to the camera body (the way motor winders used to be
attached to the body) for a battery, storage and electronics and a
special camera back to hold the sensor.  (Kodak started with Nikon and
Canon bodies that have removable backs.)  You can not remove the
digital back and use film in the same camera.  If you remove the
digital back you are supposed to ship the camera back to Kodak for
servicing.

Film is considerably thinner than an electronic sensor.  Even if you
can get all the other electronics into the well that holds the film
cartridge I don't think you'll get the imaging sensor properly placed.

For several years now a company has been announcing that they are just
about to release a sort of digital film cartridge that would fit
inside a normal 35mm SLR.  Their most recent announcement states that
the cartridge will only work on ceratin Nikon (and perhaps Canon, I
don't remember) bodies.  No one (including people who have signed up
for the beta program) has seen an actual working unit.  If it is ever
released, with the current specifications it will be lower resolution
and higher cost than just about any digital camera.

If you already have the two digicams you might as well twin them on a
bracket and work on synchronizing the electronics.

I've been thinking about getting a cheap digicam (less than $200) for
low resolution web images, but I haven't really seen anything that
interests me.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
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