RSS
The The Online Photographer picked up the Walgreens $10 digital camera and promptly dissects it -
"Contemplate the miracle. It can't have a manufacturing cost much over $2 for a device that can electronically photograph a scene, digitize and process it into an image file, store it, and send it to your computer. Plus, it will work as a Web cam.
Yes, it's bloody amazing. When I designed my first digital camera 35 years ago, I knew they'd eventually get cheap enough to compete with conventional cameras. If you'd told me that would be possible to manufacture one for 50 cents (in 1971 dollars) I'd have said that was completely nuts." Thanks Adrian! - Link.
Ha, I bought one of these for $10... and lemme tell you: they are awful. Don't plan on using it for a camera. If you need a small, cheap webcam (and are running [a 32-bit version of] Windows), go for it. Otherwise, hold off and go buy some sushi.
Reply to this comment
Has nobody noticed? these take video! no sound but the quality is ok. i got 3, one for me one for my sister and one to use as a full time webcam.
Reply to this comment
Note that part of the reason why it's so incredibly cheap is not because of technological advances, but because it's made in China by people who are right on the very edge of being straight-out old-fashioned indentured labourers. Your 1971 self did not have the option of buying the product of slave labour.
Electronics workers probably get better pay than the real guttersnipes in the clothing industry, but you're still talking at least six days a week, at least 10 hours a day, for maybe $US200 a month. If they're lucky.
And minus the first month, of course, payment for which is often kept by the factory as a "deposit" to discourage workers from leaving.
I'm just sayin'.
Reply to this comment