Kodak AP NC2000 (1994)

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After having introduced the Kodak DCS 200, AP (Associated Press) teamed up with Kodak to improve this model to meet the growing demands of journalists and reporters. The deal was made in 1992 and a news camera was designed by input and funds from AP in 1994. The main problems of the DCS 200 were battery lifetime and the rather slow harddisk. So a PCMCIA Type III slot was implemented as well as an audio recording feature so reporters could make comments after each picture. The Kodak AP NC2000 was introduced in February of 1994 and first offered to AP news members for the small sum of $17,500. It was a quite a success. Kodak used a Nikon N90s which was a better SLR than the 8008s. According to Jim McGarvey a total of 550 models were produced for the AP. Members of the AP used the NC2000 to shoot some 30 photos of the Super Bowl in Atlanta by the way.

The NC2000 however was not only the first true press DSLR camera but also a guinea pig. It was not uncommon for a shutter to blow for instance. Also there was absolutely no guarantee that all the pictures were recorded properly. The camera wouldn't tell you if anything was wrong. It just kept on working, even with a broken shutter. The Vancouver Sun alone bought twenty of those cameras in 1995 and turned it's back on film photography. In 1996 Kodak also recalled some of the DCS and AP cameras because the battery pack could overheat during charging.  Kodak marketed three different models with different front labels. The 1996 issued NC2000e can be seen in a 360° shot elsewhere in this category.

Kodak AP NC2000 - color
Kodak AP NC2000ir - infrared
Kodak AP NC2000m - monochrome

I recommend this in-depth article by Rob Galbraith: A look back at the NC2000