$20 "Disposable" Camera w/LCD screen now available

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate
Does this strike anyone else as incredibly wasteful?

Actually, the entire idea mentioned in the referenced thread is - through use a modified cable and software a number of volunteers developed - to reuse a camera original designed as a one use per customer item into a product that can be used over and over again, as one would use a non-disposable digital camera.

 

[Johnbear007]

All the link sin the original thread are old and borken, so this is STILL a crappy thread

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
All the link sin the original thread are old and borken, so this is STILL a crappy thread

Not that the above seemingly random grouping of words remotely constitutes any form of comprehendible english, but the link to the original thread contains (second one listed, I believe) a link to a /. article, which contains a number of viable links, including this one, which is the second link provided in the opening paragraph.

"All the link sin the original thread" would be an incorrect generalization, as should be evident from the above. For those links that are not still viable, you might try looking here.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Mandos
Awesome. I'd love a tiny little LCD screen to mount somewhere on my desktop for a slick little Winamp window or something....

Just think of the possibilities!!!

i got a usb lcd display (not color or anything..just white text on blue backlight) from www.crystalfontz.com, it looks hot

-Vivan

 

[DefDC]

Awwww nuts... I searched up and down for the origional thread, and couldn't find it. Jeeze, I'm surprised about all the hate pouring in...

The origional thread was very hot, and hung around forever. As far as I can tell, I was the 1st person to get the camera with the LCD screen. I *DO* apologize for not including more info. I know better, but I was excited to post the former thread trackers that the camera was available...

As far as this being hot or worthless, that depends on your ablility to find cheap cables, and the patience to solder them together. Some enterprising people were able to rig a zoom as well...

The cables are available already assembled on Fleabay, but I can't attest to the quality of them, but they look good. The brand name is Dakota. I'll post the model number when I get home tonight.

Here is a link to the origional slashdot article.

Linky

 

[ApacheXMD]

well, have you tried using the old non-lcd cable and software on the new camera?

edit: and where are you located? so we can get an idea or what part of the country is carrying the new cams

-patchy

 

[Rab]

You should probably be aware that the PV2 may not be compatible with the original software/cable setup.

You'd be better off waiting a week or two for the hardware hackers to get their hands on it, and see if it can be made usable. From what I've heard, participating Ritz/Kits locations have had some kind of software upgrade to support the newer PV2 digital LCD cameras, which points to a firmware change.

 

[DefDC]

I'm located in South Bend, IN. (Notre Dame) However, this was mailed to me since I asked to be put on a waiting list. I never assembled a cable for the old camera, and I wont be able to any time soon. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks I'll get around to it.

 

[gnubea]

Any more update ? I am very much tempted to buy one or two..

 

[ethiopianbuffman]

This is hot deal, they found out that it has a USB connection area like the previously hackable one. The souped up brother of this camera is 2 mp with rechargable lithium battery and 1.5" lcd, this one is suppose to be similar and people have already started to hacked it. They say you can basically do the same as with the previous one, takes the same cable. Someone has also modified it to accept SmartMedia Cards.

 

[jck8r]

lol, 90% of people on this forum have cameras better than 1.3 MP already but want to do this b/c it's just so darn "neato!" . . .

 

[xDeLiRiOuSx]

Yeah, but it's actually amazing to see that we are at an age where companies can afford to make disposable LCD digital camera for $20 a piece!

David

 

[Rab]

The connector edge is the same, but the old drivers & software won't work with this one.

There are people looking into the driver problem, so hopefully these will be accessible via home pc soon.

Someone has also modified it to accept SmartMedia Cards.

Linkage?

For the walgreens camera, yes. For this one? Not that I've heard.

 

[bhaney]

Anyone have a model number for this camera, or a link to any further information? I can't seem to find any info about this new camera, only the original non-LCD one which I already have.

Hopefully whoever's working on the drivers for this will also fix the problem wherein my XP box no longer shuts down properly...

 

[imported_ShadowHawk]

just one thing for those who think disposable camera's are a waste....

You guys do realise they arent actually disposed of, right? If the camera is in good condition, it is sent back to be repacked and used again... most cameras arent thrown out or destroyed....

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: ShadowHawk
just one thing for those who think disposable camera's are a waste....

You guys do realise they arent actually disposed of, right? If the camera is in good condition, it is sent back to be repacked and used again... most cameras arent thrown out or destroyed....

I don't know about the digital cameras, but the disposable film ones, yes, they basically are destroyed. I think that they save the flash units or something, but as I understand it from a friend that worked for a while at a processing plant, they have to crack them open to get the film out of them. I should ask him again what the exact procedure was. Suffice to say, at least some plastic is getting sent to the landfill, every time one of these cameras is purchased and used.

 

[AnyMal]

These cameras usually run off the single AA battery which you can salvage prior to turning the camera in for development. After 27 or so exposures it's still practically brand new

 

[HarryK]

My god people, buy a clue. These digital cameras are not thrown away if you bring them back to Ritz camera to get your pictures.

And here's what happens to Kodak's non-digital "disposable" cameras

Components are reused up to ten times in new cameras, except for the acrylic lenses, which are ground up and recycled into new products. Once the cameras? parts have been used ten times they are recycled into new components.

Film makers such as Eastern Kodak are recycling the cameras since a recovery program was implemented in the late 1980s. More than 330 million cameras have been recycled since the program?s inception.

AGFA Corp. is also recycling disposable cameras and some companies have an informal policy of accepting other manufacturers? cameras and then exchanging them with the original maker.

To recycle a disposable camera, the internal frames and flash circuit boards are tested and possibly reused and the outside polystyrene shells are sent to plastics recyclers who can turn them into new products.

If you're really worried about people throwing away pieces of plastic, go talk to all the people who shave with disposable razors. There are more people throwing those out every day than there are disposable cameras being dumped into trash cans

 

[gnubea]

OK. I bought one this afternoon. I can give you all the information that I can get from outside. I am not such a hacker so I am waiting but I was willing to put my ante of $20 (a bit more with CA sales tax..)

The model # is as everyone knows, Dakota digital PV2 but actually from the technology from Pure Digital Technologies, Inc located in San Francisco. I have no idea who made the first version.. but assume that it is the same..

The package says that I can take as much as 25 picture and the ad misleaded as if I can erase any picture that I took but apparently I can erase only the one that I just took. not sure if I can browse old pictures.

The bottom of the camera says it is model 410.. is it the same as the old one ? The shop that I bought PV2 claimed that they also have PV1 but I could not find one and the clerk disappeared before showing one to me.

There's a little door at the bottom of the camera that would look like a door for battery. I am afraid if this battery isn't rechargeable but even in that case we should be able to use a stock NiMH.. The size guggests that this camera uses just one or two AA battery. Yes it is battery door that contains TWO AA alkaline batteries. No marking for polarity. so be a bit careful.

The signal connector is hidden with a paper tape and the tape says that:

To protect your pictures, this sticker should only be removed by a Ritz Associate. Camera CANNOT be connected to a home computer.

My gut feeling is.. the connector is compatible with PV1 because otherwise the whole infra structure has to be reconstructed. But there is a possibility that they incorporated a simple encryption scheme to the picture.. not quite likely though.

I asked the picture quality but the clerk answered that the picture quality is pretty good while he failed in showing me any example.

The connector has 10 silver pins.. (I removed the sticker but that is OK because I didn't take any picture and the sole purpose of the sticker is to protect my pictures ) if I call the bottom most pin as #1, pin 2, 7 and 10 are longer than the others. I would assume that they are GND or VDD wires. There are 7 signal wires left.

That is about it..

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: HarryK
My god people, buy a clue. These digital cameras are not thrown away if you bring them back to Ritz camera to get your pictures.

And here's what happens to Kodak's non-digital "disposable" cameras

To recycle a disposable camera, the internal frames and flash circuit boards are tested and possibly reused and the outside polystyrene shells are sent to plastics recyclers who can turn them into new products.

If you're really worried about people throwing away pieces of plastic, go talk to all the people who shave with disposable razors. There are more people throwing those out every day than there are disposable cameras being dumped into trash cans

That's basically what I said, they crack them open to get at the film, and they potentially save the flash circuits. I may have been wrong about my "landfill" comment. It's quite possible and likely that they send the outer broken plastic shell to the same place that they send shredded plastic soda bottles and the like to be recycled. I apologize. However, those outer plastic shells are NOT "re-used", and besides the flash and associated circuitry, and the outer casing, there really aren't many other components in those cameras.

And, for the record, I don't use disposable razors, and never have. I used a rechargable Norelco (made by Phillips). I actually owned a different one, and the rechargable battery finally gave out. I tried to open it up to swap batteries, but those damn things... are built to be disposable. The plastic case is not openable without cracking it, and the battery is soldered in.

This is markedly different from cheapo $10 cordless phones, which seem to have removable, rechargable battery packs. (But $80 rechargable razors, have non-replaceable batteries??? Go figure.)

PS. Sending your old PC away to be "recycled", may not be what you think it is. I wouldn't trust any mfg when they talk of "recycling" programs - they may not be using the same definition of the word as you are.

 

[gnubea]

I concur in the recycling concept as VirtualLarry. I try to reuse/recycle by myself instead. That is the whole point of making this camera reusable.

SMaL is a good company. Their chip might be essentially the same as SunPlus's with LCD control feature added + in package PROM..

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

And, for the record, I don't use disposable razors, and never have. I used a rechargable Norelco (made by Phillips). I actually owned a different one, and the rechargable battery finally gave out. I tried to open it up to swap batteries, but those damn things... are built to be disposable. The plastic case is not openable without cracking it, and the battery is soldered in.

Well you can cut open the case, cause you can duct tape it later right? Just get a soldering iron and unsolder the batteries (dont heat them much, not good for batts just quick unsolder, and if you think its heating batts, wait and let it cool then do it some more). Note: If you blow yourself up doing this, or do anything else I disclaim any responsability

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Devistater
Well you can cut open the case, cause you can duct tape it later right? Just get a soldering iron and unsolder the batteries (dont heat them much, not good for batts just quick unsolder, and if you think its heating batts, wait and let it cool then do it some more). Note: If you blow yourself up doing this, or do anything else I disclaim any responsability

That's alright, I'm quite good at soldering things. The problem was more the plastic casing, I had to break it off in several bits to get at the circuit board. I really wouldn't feel that comfortable shaving with a duct-taped mess of plastic bits, so I just got another one instead. Ironically, the battery itself has a label promoting rechargable battery recycling, yet it was soldered in.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: gnubea
SMaL is a good company. Their chip might be essentially the same as SunPlus's with LCD control feature added + in package PROM..

Getting back on the topic of the camera itself - there absolutely has to be a way to read out the pictures via that connector, I can't see the reasoning behind including such a connector, if that wasn't intended to be used to be able to "process" the digital pictures (dump them to some host system to burn to CD or whatever), and then "erase" the camera, and re-use it.

I hope this gets figured out soon, I didn't pick up the original camera, but one with an LCD screen is even better. Then again, you can buy USB-connectable cameras, with flash (bulb) and non-removable flash memory, for around $30-40 anyways, maybe cheaper nowadays. So I guess it really depends on what resolution these little Dakota Digital cameras are capable of, to determine if they are worthwhile or not to buy/use.

 

[TekDemon]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: ShadowHawk
just one thing for those who think disposable camera's are a waste....

You guys do realise they arent actually disposed of, right? If the camera is in good condition, it is sent back to be repacked and used again... most cameras arent thrown out or destroyed....

I don't know about the digital cameras, but the disposable film ones, yes, they basically are destroyed. I think that they save the flash units or something, but as I understand it from a friend that worked for a while at a processing plant, they have to crack them open to get the film out of them. I should ask him again what the exact procedure was. Suffice to say, at least some plastic is getting sent to the landfill, every time one of these cameras is purchased and used.

Wow, am I the only one who's taken apart disposable cameras themselves? Why let the stores do it, I often keep them since they're basically free/cheap cameras.
You don't have to break em to open them...usually there's just a couple of tabs you have to slide apart, the film in disposable cameras sort of runs backwards of a regular camera-essentially all the film has already been rolled outward, and each picture you take is basically a one picture-stop rewind back into the film casing.

Breaking it up yourself and just bringing in the film to develop means you get a free AA battery too heh.

It's probably just cheaper for kodak to break the tabs instead of carefully sliding them apart in processing so they probably do that, but maybe other disposable camera companies reuse the shells too. I've seen some disposable cameras where the "paper" shell was the thing that was mostly holding the camera tight together and it had re-closable clips and such underneath the paper...such a design should be easily reusable and not just chucked.