Colindale, North London-based Computers Unlimited has announced the PhotoPhase and StudioKit digital camera from Phase One Systems Inc for use with commercial studio cameras. The PhotoPhase digital film cassette replaces the film magazine without the need for modifications to be made to the camera. The photographer takes a picture as normal, but instead of shooting a Polaroid film and having to wait for it to be processed, the image appears on the screen of a Macintosh, making the system both faster and cheaper than using real film. The photographer can then examine the exposure to see that no parts are over or under exposed. Adjustment to the subject being photographed can then be made and the picture can be taken again and captured. This process is the equivalent of shooting several films, sending them to a laboratory to be processed and only then having the opportunity to decide if they are good enough to use, which can take all afternoon. The images shown on computer have a resolution of up to 25Mb. The StudioKit consists of the equipment needed to start taking digital pictures, including camera back, Macintosh NuBus plug-in board, two studio lights and software for displaying the images and controlling the camera back and image processing. The PhotoPhase System starts at UKP12,500 and the StudioKit starts at UKP2,500.
