Minolta RD-175

Early DSLR camera that used three CCD sensors From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Minolta RD-175

The Minolta RD-175 was an early digital SLR, introduced in 1995. Minolta combined an existing SLR with a three way splitter and three separate CCD image sensors, giving 0.41 megapixels (MP) of resolution.[1]:74 The base of the DSLR was the Minolta Maxxum 500si Super, marketed as the Dynax 500si Super in Europe and as Alpha 303si Super in Asia. Agfa produced a version of the RD-175, which retailed as the Agfa ActionCam.

Quick Facts Overview, Maker ...
Minolta RD-175
Image of the Minolta RD-175
Overview
MakerMinolta
TypeDigital SLR camera
Lens
Lens mountA-mount
Sensor/medium
Sensor type3×CCD
Sensor size1/2"
Recording mediumPC Card (Type I, II, or III)
Focusing
FocusAutomatic
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesPASM
Flash
Flashbuilt-in, GN 12
Flash synchronization190 s
Shutter
Shutter speeds1212000 s
General
Battery
    • 1×6V (2CR5, body)
    • 1×7.2V (NP-500H, back)
    • 1×3V (CR2025, clock)
Data Port(s)SCSI
Dimensions161×128×145 mm (6.3×5.0×5.7 in) W×D×H
Weight1.1 kg (2.4 lb)
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The RD-175 was also notable as the first consumer digital camera to be used in a professional stop motion production, being used to create the full-motion claymation adventure video game The Neverhood.[2]

Technology

The camera uses Minolta A-mount lenses with a crop factor of 2.[3]

The light entering the central 12 mm × 16 mm area of the RD-175's focal plane was compressed by 0.56x relay optics behind the focal plane, similar to the optical reduction system used in the Nikon E series. The light bundled on the smaller sensor area increased the effective sensitivity (ISO) by 2+23 stops.

Since state of the art single-CCD resolution at the time was insufficient for Minolta, the light was split and sent to three separate 4.8 × 6.4 mm sized 768 × 494 pixel (3 × 0.3 MP) image sensors, two used for green and one for the red and blue color,[3] reducing the sensitivity increase to about 2 stops. The only usable ISO was 800.[1]:74

Images were stored on an internal 128MB PCMCIA hard drive. The output of the three sensors were combined digitally when imported to a computer and interpolated to the final size of 1.8 MP (1528×1146 pixels).[4] On its original release, the bundled software was compatible only with Macintosh OS. Depending on the computer, importing and processing a single image could take from 50 to 108 seconds.[3]

See also

References

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