How My Digital Cameras Have Evolved

From Kodak's C340 to Samsung NX20

I was recently looking through my digital photos on Flickr and realized from the EXIF information that I've had quite a few digital cameras since 2007.

I did some Googling to try and recall exactly what each of these had looked like and as the images came up, the memories surrounding these devices surged back into my conscious mind.

Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, NY (Captured with Kodak C340)

The first camera I had used for Flickr uploads was the Kodak EasyShare C340.  I remember it seemed so modern and compact at the time I bought it, now it looks kind of like R2D2 from Star Wars.  It had a mere 5 mega pixel resolution (not bad at the time), captured a maximum video resolution of 640x480 (at a clunky 13 frames-per-second), and had a tiny CCD sensor.  Yet, I owe this funny looking little camera a lot. I had plenty of other traditional film cameras and a even few digitals before it, but for whatever reason, my love of photography just clicked with this one.

It was while using this camera that I realized there was a part of me that wanted to immortalize the ambiance of the moment.  I started to strategically plan my photography, watching for the perfect lighting conditions, and analyzing my surroundings for artistic merit.  A foggy morning or a rainy day wasn't just something to take in from a distance anymore, it was a challenge to go out in search of the capture that would perfectly represent what I saw or felt, forever.

I also started to play with shutter speeds and ISO settings and marvel at the different results I could get by adjusting them.

This little camera that once had a perfectly respectable retail price of 179.95, now sells on Amazon for a a near insulting $15.  Just another piece of technology made irrelevant by progress - to me though, it will always have merit as the medium that I first discovered a passion through.

Mill Pond, Washburn, ME (Captured with Kodak Z8612)

Next was Kodak's Z8612 IS.  I remember I got it on sale. In fact, it was left over from an underwhelming Black Friday sale in Presque-Isle, Maine and had been marked down a second time for not selling during the event. It was in the last box on the promotion shelf. The original price tag was supposed to be $250.00 (I think) and I believe it was marked down to $150 and then to $80.  I gazed at the image on the box of the gleaming, German made Schneider Kreuznach lens and saw '8.1 Megapixels' Printed in bold font and couldn't resist.

As much as C340 brought me into photography, the Z8612 model solidified it.  Now I wasn't just some guy with a camera looking for a great shot, I felt like a photographer.  Taking shots inside without using a flash was no obstacle for my 35mm German lens and 1/2.5' optical sensor.  Even the 640 x 480 video resolution now captured at a smooth 30fps.

Sadly, my time with Z8612 was cut short.  The tragic end that camera met, took place in the back seat of my car where it was dismantled by my two year old daughter.