Difference between revisions of "Disc film"
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| − | '''Disc film''' was a format introduced by [[Kodak]], along with the cameras in 1982. The intention was to develop the [[Instamatic]] idea, of foolproof loading and simple operation, into cameras which would work in all lighting conditions. Developments in emulsion technology | + | '''Disc film''' was a format introduced by [[Kodak]], along with the cameras in 1982. The intention was to develop the [[Instamatic]] idea, of foolproof loading and simple operation, into cameras which would work in all lighting conditions. Developments in emulsion technology were allowing reasonable quality from very small negatives. |
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| − | + | === Format === | |
| + | Fairly thick film was cut into 15 8×10.5mm rectangles, and arranged into a circle, in a similar manner to Viewmaster disks. The disc was mounted in a light-proof cassette which could simply be dropped in to the camera. The camera would take a photo, and then rotate the disk 24° for the next shot. The discs had a magnetic strip included, to store information about print settings - allowing duplicate reprints to be made later. | ||
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| + | The discs was only available for colour prints - no other types, such as slide film, were made. Kodak developed special aspherical lenses for the cameras and printing. | ||
[[Konica]], [[Fuji]] and [[3M]] also made disc film - which was also sold branded by other companies. | [[Konica]], [[Fuji]] and [[3M]] also made disc film - which was also sold branded by other companies. | ||
| − | The quality of pictures was not good, due to the size of the negatives and the tendency of photo labs to print them using equipment designed for larger formats. | + | The quality of pictures was not good, due to the size of the negatives and the tendency of photo labs to print them using equipment designed for larger formats rather than Kodak's specially-developed system. |
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| + | === Cameras === | ||
| + | The flat, roll-less arrangement of the film, meant that disc cameras could be very thin, and the negative size allowed very short focal-length lenses, and so lenses did not bulge out far. Most disk cameras were small & thin, mostly with automatic exposure, however the complex mechanism in a small space made manufacture difficult, and the film expensive. | ||
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| + | === Demise === | ||
| + | The format ultimately failed due to the poor picture quality, the relative expense of the cameras compared to other formats, and reliability problems. Newer 35mm cameras - providing much better images - had become more popular, and disc cameras went out of production in 1988. Most manufacturers stopped making film shortly afterwards - although Kodak carried on with film until 1999. | ||
| − | + | '''Reference''': Coe, Brian, ''Kodak - the First Hundred Years'', pp.261-265, Hove Foto Books, Hove, UK, 1988. | |
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Revision as of 00:48, 13 March 2008
Disc film was a format introduced by Kodak, along with the cameras in 1982. The intention was to develop the Instamatic idea, of foolproof loading and simple operation, into cameras which would work in all lighting conditions. Developments in emulsion technology were allowing reasonable quality from very small negatives.
Format
Fairly thick film was cut into 15 8×10.5mm rectangles, and arranged into a circle, in a similar manner to Viewmaster disks. The disc was mounted in a light-proof cassette which could simply be dropped in to the camera. The camera would take a photo, and then rotate the disk 24° for the next shot. The discs had a magnetic strip included, to store information about print settings - allowing duplicate reprints to be made later.
The discs was only available for colour prints - no other types, such as slide film, were made. Kodak developed special aspherical lenses for the cameras and printing.
Konica, Fuji and 3M also made disc film - which was also sold branded by other companies.
The quality of pictures was not good, due to the size of the negatives and the tendency of photo labs to print them using equipment designed for larger formats rather than Kodak's specially-developed system.
Cameras
The flat, roll-less arrangement of the film, meant that disc cameras could be very thin, and the negative size allowed very short focal-length lenses, and so lenses did not bulge out far. Most disk cameras were small & thin, mostly with automatic exposure, however the complex mechanism in a small space made manufacture difficult, and the film expensive.
Demise
The format ultimately failed due to the poor picture quality, the relative expense of the cameras compared to other formats, and reliability problems. Newer 35mm cameras - providing much better images - had become more popular, and disc cameras went out of production in 1988. Most manufacturers stopped making film shortly afterwards - although Kodak carried on with film until 1999.
Reference: Coe, Brian, Kodak - the First Hundred Years, pp.261-265, Hove Foto Books, Hove, UK, 1988.
Links
- Definition at PhotoNotes.org
- photos (text in German)
