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Digital Photography for Standard Cameras?

Posted by Cliff on from the cool-hacks dept.

NightWhistler asks: "I've been hearing stories for some time now about digital modules that can be used inside normal photo camera's as a sort of 'digital film', effectively turning a standard camera into a digital one. If they exist and performance is good, I would love to get my hands on one of those babies... ;-) Has anyone actually seen one of these, or perhaps have experience with them?" There may have been one company that did this, but I think they went out of business, recently. I've always thought this was a neat idea, but is there really a market for this kind of modification?

10 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Digital cameras offer little control by RussGarrett · · Score: 3, Informative

    With a good digital SLR, such as the EOS D-60 or the Nikon D1-X you can control at least all the settings available on a top-of-the range film SLR - such as ISO number, shutter speed, spot focus area, and so on. However, the digital bodies can be up to twice the price of the equivalent SLR, some as much as $7,000 or $8,000.

    A digital SLR can certainly produce pictures equivalent to those produced by a film SLR, but they have the advantage that you can review the shots to see what you want to print before printing them.

  2. Digital camera backs by Captain+Pedantic · · Score: 3, Informative

    I believe that what the poster is looking for is called a "digital camera back". Knowing that he should be able to find one that is suitable for him.

    --

    None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
  3. Obsolete concept by NeonSpirit · · Score: 5, Informative
    There was a company called Silicon Film which produced this. The disadvantage was that each unit was unique to the camera, i.e. no swaping between Nikon and Canon or even within Canon between models. DP review has an article from September last year that operations have been suspended.

    With the cost of Digital SLR's comming down people seem to be opting for a new camera body to match thier lens collection.

    --
    I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.....my life is my own.
    1. Re:Obsolete concept by Diamon · · Score: 3, Informative

      Eek, not only that but it appears Silicon Film's (e) film was only rated at ISO 100 and was only suitable for 8"x10" prints or smaller. Talk about the worst of both worlds.

  4. Vaporware by Col.+Klink+(retired) · · Score: 5, Informative
    The stories that you've been hearing have been vaporware. In fact, "digital film" has made Wired's Top 10 Vaporware lists twice.

    See also: Wired Story and Slashdot discussion thereof.

    6. Silicon Film's electronic film system: Last year, Silicon Film Technologies made our list for failing to deliver its intriguing "digital film" system, which purported to turn an ordinary camera into a digital one. The digital film, one year later, is still not available, to the chagrin of many readers.

    They're still at it. Their Web Site says it will be available soon (last updated Feb 14, 2002).

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    -- Don't Tase me, bro!

  5. Digital camera backs by eXtro · · Score: 5, Informative
    They're available, but they're very expensive. Kodak has the DCS line, which is an expensive option for expensive camera bodies, such as the Nikon F5 or medium/large format cameras. The Nikon F5 model has 6 million pixels which on the face of it is on par with a ~$1000.00 point and shoot digital camera.

    A pixel doesn't mean anything unless its providing useful imaging however, and a digital camera back such as this can provide many more useful pixels than a consumer model and also has a colour depth of 12 bits.

    Compared to a consumer digital camera the CCD area on these are huge, which means that each pixel receives more light. The list price is $7995.00.

    Here are a couple of links to reviews and Kodak's web site:
    --

    Chris Kuivenhoven is a thief, beware

  6. Re:Digital cameras offer little control by b_pretender · · Score: 3, Informative
    Coolpix 885. $400.

    I've been very happy with this camera. It offers *complete* control over things such as ISO, focus, f-stop, shutterspeed, Noise reduction, etc. in addition to many nice P&S settings.

    My only complaint is that low-light pictures turn out reddish no matter how I adjust the settings. If you want a manual focus that you adjust by rotating a lens barrel, then you won't get that either. However, the compact body of the coolpix 885 makes up for a lack of manual focus barrel and you are still able to selectively focus in pictures such as: this macro shot

  7. Sure, if you have $10000+ by shoppa · · Score: 3, Informative
    The item you are looking for is known as a "digital back", and indeed it is a detector that sits on the film plane.

    The problem for you is that your cameras probably do not have interchangable backs. There are very few 35mm cameras that have interchangeable or digital backs; see this web page for an example that does. In the "professional" medium format (2inch x 3inch negative) and large format (4inch x 5inch negative) worlds, there are many cameras and digital backs available. Plan on investing, at a minimum, $10K to get started; some digital backs run $50K to $100K.

  8. Digital back makers by shoppa · · Score: 5, Informative
    A quick search turned up these makers of digital backs for cameras that take interchangable backs:

  9. Mostly for medium format cameras by acomj · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you have a medium format camera with interchangeable backs, they sell digital versions.

    Medium format cameras (6x6 ,6x7 etc) are much more expensive than 35 mm ones but were designed to take different backs. The larger size negative means more megapixels.

    However those backs are very expensive.

    As cameras become more computer like they seem to also to be coming more disposable