Fujix DS-X (1989)

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Development of the Fujix DS-X card camera was done in October 1989 and the camera was introduced December 1989, together with the ES-30TW. The DS-X was the result of the field tests that were conducted with the DS-1P. This time Toshiba and Fuji worked at a similar pace and both companies succeeded in producing an identical digital camera. Fuji launched the DS-X and Toshiba built the IMC-100. 

Images could be recorded in normal and in high mode as well as in single bursts or in a rate of 4 frames per second. The memory cards were again SRAM cards that were powered by a button cell. The camera had a small status LCD for camera operation information and a built-in flash. The camera was powered up by a proprietary Ni-Cd battery which was pretty common back then. Yes, the still video and early digital cameras could not be operated through regular household batteries! Images could be viewed by inserting the memory card into the Fujix memory card player. The price of $20,000 was for an entire system with camera, memory card, card reader and DAT (digital audio tape) recorder(?) which served as an electronic photo album (1,000 images could be stored on a 120min. DAT tape.

Again there is a lot of crap on the internet about the DS-1P and DS-X. Thousands of websites claim that these were marketed and sold whereas we know that the DS-1P was never marketed and it is up until now entirely uncertain whether the DS-X was marketed or not. So if you come across a book, magazine or website that claims that these cameras were marketed, please think twice.