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MISANU Virtual Museum

Camera Kodak DC 40

The Kodak DC40, developed by Eastman Kodak, was introduced on March 28, 1995, and is considered one of the first digital cameras designed for general consumer use. This model marked a significant moment in the history of photography—transitioning from film to digital image recording, making digital technology accessible to everyday users. The DC40 featured a 0.38-megapixel CCD sensor (effectively about 0.4 MP) with a resolution of 756 × 504 pixels, which allowed users to create color photographs sufficient for on-screen viewing and basic printing. The camera had a fixed 42 mm lens (35 mm equivalent), a built-in flash, 4 MB of internal memory, and was connected to a computer via an RS-232 serial port. Photos were transferred to a computer and converted into formats such as TIFF and PICT. Although it lacked an LCD screen for previewing images, the DC40 offered a new experience: the ability to capture, store, and process images without film, eliminating the wait time for development. The camera supported basic image capture functions without zoom or manual settings, which made it very user-friendly. Technical Specifications:

• Sensor: CCD, 0.38 MP (756 × 504 pixels)
• Lens: Fixed 42 mm, f/2.8
• Memory: 4 MB internal flash (up to 99 images)
• Connection: RS-232 serial port
• Power supply: 4 AA batteries
• ISO sensitivity: Fixed, ISO 84
• Weight: approx. 500 g
• Screen: No LCD display

The Kodak DC40 was one of the first commercial digital cameras targeted at the mass market. With support from Microsoft and retail partners like Kinko’s, Kodak launched the DC40 alongside educational materials and software tools, helping to introduce digital photography to everyday life. Though modest by today’s standards, the DC40 represented a critical turning point in the development of digital imaging, allowing users to create digital albums, share photos electronically, and manage their image collections in entirely new ways. Its release marked the beginning of the consumer digital photography era, at a time when digital cameras were still rare and unfamiliar to the public.

Creator: Eastman Kodak, 1995
Source: Mathematical Institute SASA
Text prepared by Vanja Korać
Photo by Dragan Aćimović