FotoZap Marketing Camera (2009)

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Some people think I'm nuts. True, but I also have a weak spot for extraordinary cameras and rarities. Here is another fine example. Although the FotoZap camera is not in use anymore, apps and smartphones have replaced it, it is still a very interesting camera. Underneath all the stickers and cosmetic changes lies a slightly modified Ricoh Caplio 500SE-W from 2008 (the 500SE basic model already came out in 2006 but the version with the barcode scanner not before 2008).

Hell, FotoZap is popular! Major companies and brands have benefitted from it. There is a whole network devoted to this kind of event and brand marketing. It's a fairly simple concept. FotoZap users roamed the country to capture branded photos from event guests and customers. FotoZap is a creation of Photerra Inc. who later turned into PictureMarketing Inc. They started out at the end of the last millennium with their FotoZap kiosks which uploaded the pictures directly to their website. They also made custom built kiosks and kiosks with different themes for events.

In 2009 they turned the Photokiosks into digital cameras by using a modified Ricoh Caplio 500SE-W outfitted with a barcode scanner. The 500SE-W is a ruggedized, water-resistant camera with excellent networking capabilities (WiFi, Bluetooth). Perfect for this kind of event marketing and data imaging. The 500SE-W had a slightly altered appearance with FotoZap labels all over the camera and a modified firmware and GUI. After 2012 they were replaced by smartphones and apps. Hey, you have to go with the technology flow.

The camera you can see here was pre-owned and operated by the Boston Beer Company.