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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.
.jpg) Image of the Minolta RD-175 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Maker | Minolta |
| Type | Digital SLR camera |
| Lens | |
| Lens mount | A-mount |
| Sensor/medium | |
| Sensor type | 3×CCD |
| Sensor size | 1/2" |
| Recording medium | PC Card (Type I, II, or III) |
| Focusing | |
| Focus | Automatic |
| Exposure/metering | |
| Exposure modes | PASM |
| Flash | |
| Flash | built-in, GN 12 |
| Flash synchronization | 1⁄90 s |
| Shutter | |
| Shutter speeds | 1⁄2 – 1⁄2000 s |
| General | |
| Battery |
|
| Data Port(s) | SCSI |
| Dimensions | 161×128×145 mm (6.3×5.0×5.7 in) W×D×H |
| Weight | 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) |
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
editThe 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+2⁄3 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Minolta Digital Camera RD-175: Instruction Manual. Minolta GmbH, Business Equipment Operations.
- ^ Schofield, Edward (3 May 2013). "Pencil Test Studios". Facebook. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
On The Neverhood, we used beta versions of the Minolta RD-175, one of the first digital SLR cameras. For you trivia buffs, The Neverhood was the first professional stop motion production to use consumer digital SLR's--something that is common for most productions today. --Ed
- ^ a b c Henshall, John (May 1996). "Minolta RD-175 = Agfa ActionCam". The Photographer. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ Boron, Adam (1998). "PRZYDATNOŚĆ APARATU CYFROWEGO MINOLTA RD 175 W FOTOGRAMETRYCZNYCH OPRACOWANIACH CYFROWYCH" [Using the Minolta RD-175 digital camera in digital photogrammetric processing]. Archiwum Fotogrametrii, Kartografii i Teledetekeji (in Polish). 8 (12): 1–10.
External links
edit- Minolta RD-175 on The Digital Camera Museum
- RD-175/Agfa ActionCam review by John Henshall
- Agfa ActionCam on Jarle Aasland's NikonWeb.com site
- Example images at Pbase.com
- Retrospective Review video on YouTube by V Nemeth
- "Minolta Digital Camera RD-175 Software Instruction Manual". Minolta Corporation.
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