A Piece of History

The Casio QV-10 digital camera is credited with being the world’s first consumer digital camera to include an LCD display on the back, a feature that is ubiquitous today.

Recently, I found one in the office.

Strictly speaking, this is the QV-10A variant, which came out slightly later, but is functionally identical other than an increase of the internal memory from 2MB to 16MB (MSP noted in the comments that I was confused by the units given!). There is no ability to use a memory card. Other features include:

• 0.25 Megapixel resolution
• Manual aperture adjustment (seen here underneath the lens)
• Macro mode switch
• 1.8″ TFT screen
• CCD sensor

The screen on the back is still in pristine condition.

The lens can be rotated on the main body, to take photos of yourself.

Popped some batteries in (AA x4), and the screen still works...

After a desperate hunt for the software, which communicates with the camera via a serial COM port, I downloaded a picture it took of a distant descendant. Here it is, in all its full-resolution glory: