Thursday, April 07, 2005

“The camera is the film”, says Dvorak; but what of modularization?

John Dvorak has a thoughtful column titled "The camera is the film." He explains that with analog cameras, you choose the film you want to get a certain look. Digital cameras, each with their unique combination of lens, light-capturing mechanism and firmware, have a certain look. Dvorak has used many digital cameras and discusses a few that he returns to for their characteristic style.

Since we are in a world of hybrid hardware/software products here, I’d like to take the obvious next step and ask about modularization. Will the day come when I assemble my own digital camera by buying a lens here, a CCD there, download and customize some open-source camera firmware, and make a camera that has a unique look?
Why not?

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