Kodak SV8300 (1985/1987)

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The Kodak Still Video Camera prototype, developed by Tom Nutting and Keith Surdyke in late 1985. Built and demonstrated. It was designed to give an overview of a possible Still Video System concept. Pete Sucy of Kodak's Electronic Photography Division, beta tested the first Adobe Illustrator version when he created a Still Video Systems setup on his macintosh computer. 

There is a lovely anecdote that in early 1986, Dr. K. Bradley Paxton (then VP of Kodak's Electronic Photography Division) took the camera and a shoulder backpack, containing the 3" magnetic disk recording unit, to the top management floors of Kodak to take pictures of Kodak's executives.

After initial tests and trials, the camera itself was improved and six further (almost ready-for-market) prototypes were built in 1988. According to a recent inquiry, only two prototypes still exist today. One of them can be seen with a complete Still Video setup in the George Eastman House collection. Kodak's management again was not pleased with seeing a filmless camera with a Kodak logo on the market and the SV8300 got shelved.

Such a shame because the SV8300 was by far one of the most intriguing and advanced still video cameras of it's time. For instance there was a status display at the back of the camera that had a backlight feature. Also, as with it's predecessor, it did not have an optical viewfinder (which was common at the time) but instead a miniature cathode-ray tube which both served as an electronic viewfinder and display screen for reviewing images already taken. A total novelty and long before Kopin invented the Cyberdisplay.

I owe everything I know about this camera to Dr. K. B. Paxton, a Kodak veteran who was responsible for the entire still video product line. The museum likes to thank Dr. Paxton for donating the SV8300 which you can see exclusively here in a 360° shot.