Kodak DCS 400 series

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Kodak DCS 460.
Photo: Gisle Hannemyr

The Kodak DCS 400 series were a series of digital SLR cameras produced by Eastman Kodak.

The cameras in this series is the 1.5 Mpx DCS 410 (introduced in August 1994), the 1.5 Mpx DCS 420 (introduced later in 1994), and the 6.2 Mpx DCS 460 (introduced in March 1995). In addition, Kodak sold a version of the back from the DCS 460 adapted for medium format bodies as DCS 465. Kodak also made a camera especially for Associated Press. It was called NC2000 (based on the Nikon N90/F90), later upgraded to NC2000e (based on the Nikon N90s/F90x) using many of the same components as was used for the DCS 400 series.

In addition to the standard (colour) version, Kodak made monochrome and infrared versions of the DCS 420, and monochrome versions of the DCS 460 and DCS 465. You can tell which version by looking at the model designation printed at the baseplate. E.g.: the colour version of the DCS 420 is marked with DCS 420c, the monochrome and ir-version are marked as DCS 420m and DCS 420IR respectively. The non-colour versions are very rare and tend to collect high prices at auctions and second-hand brokers.

The DCS 400-series were based on the Nikon N90s 35 mm film camera (called F90x in Europe). The DCS 410 and some early versions of the DCS 420 were based on the Nikon N90/F90 body. After Nikon N90s/F90x was introduced in late 1994, Kodak started using that model as basis for the DCS 400-series.

The DCS 400 series used an unmodified Nikon camera where the detachable Nikon film back replaced by a Kodak digital back and lower body portion containing batteries, electronic components, and storage media. The camera can be converted back to a film camera by replacing the digital back with a standard back.

All cameras in the series uses as 12 bit/channel CCD. The 1.5 Mpx sensor used in the DCS 410 and DCS 420 measures 9.2x13.8 mm (2.6x crop factor compared to the 35 mm film format). The 6.2 Mpx sensor used in the DCS 460 and DCS 465 measures 18.4x27.6mm (1.3x crop). The 1.3 Mpx sensor used in the NC2000 and NC2000e measures 16.4x20.5mm (1.6x crop) with an unusual aspect ratio (5:4).

In 1995, the DCS 460 was the highest resolution digital camera available and its list price was US$ 35,600.^[1] When it closed out in November 2000, the price had dropped to US$ 2,500.^[2]