Jim wrote in V4/259 re the 'new' digital film for use in most 35mm cameras: <snip> Here are the two main, missing items, in my opinion. There is no LCD screen with which to view your just taken pictures. All other digital cameras I know of have one. An interchangeable camera back needs to be available that would do this. The new digital F5 seems to have one but that camera does not work the way this system does. The second big missing item is that there is no interchangeable film picture storage device i.e. flash memory card or whatever, to go along with this electronic film cartridge. Once you have filled up the memory of the electronic cartridge, it has to be downloaded to another medium. This would require you to carry a laptop or have multiple efs (electronic film cartridges) available. Very costly. Pros could never work like this. If the manufacturer of this system does not address these two items along with many others like how to trick your camera into thinking film is advancing over the take-up sprockets/reel so that camera's exposure system will work (my F5 won't work without film rolling over the take-up spool) I don't think it will ever take off. <snip> Jim, I would agree with you, except that they seem to have other applications in mind: Imagine being a high-end realtor, who has a knowledge of cameras. You could use ultra wide angle lenses to show interior that cannot be produced with a digital P&S. News photographers often shoot just a roll of some non-exciting event (the traditional handing over of a check, or of a ground breaking - ho hum). With this device, they can use the cameras and lenses they are comfortable with, and save 30-60 minutes of darkroom time for an image. I can imagine myself using the device as follows: I have always longed for a Polaroid back for studio work. Unfortunately, while they are available, the images are so small as to make them worthless (compared to medium and large format use). With this device, I can take a picture, pull out the device, and plug it into my PC, and wham! there's the image on my 19" monitor. May not be perfectly in alignment (color and exposure wise) with the film I am using, but then neither is Polaroid. As to camera usage, this device may help to raise the price of older mechanical bodies that do not require film to be moving! Maybe I can get some resale out of my old Nikon F's yet! Colin
