Sony Mavica

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Prototype of the analog Mavica from 1981
Sony Digital Mavica MVC-FD5, the first digital model, 1997

Mavica ( Ma gnetic Vi deo Ca mera) was Sony's name for a still camera series , the images for the first time on a removable magnetic disk storage instead of a mm film held. Contrary to the popular opinion that the Mavica was the first digital camera , the photo camera did not work with digital photo technology. Rather, the CCD sensor generated an analog video still image that was recorded on a floppy disk . It was therefore the first camera with electronic recording. In fact, the original Mavica was the same as the ProMavicaMVC-5000 and MVC-7000 even with SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses. For the ProMavica series there were adapters for connecting Nikon and Canon lenses. At least the ProMavica MVC-7000 also supported bayonet adapters for Nikon and Canon lenses.

The first model was announced for 1983 in 1981, but was never marketed. It was not until 1987 that Sony brought the first still video camera (MVC-A7AF) to market. It was available for US $ 650 when it was launched in the US, which would have been US $ 1,475 if converted into 2012 purchasing power. Sony postponed the launch in Japan to 1988.

The 2 ″ so-called video floppies (“VF”) with the name “Mavipak” had a capacity of 50 video still images per diskette. The images could be displayed on a television for viewing, but this required an adapter, which was an additional $ 230. In order to be able to edit the images on a PC, they first had to be digitized . The same floppy disks were also used by some other camera manufacturers such as Minolta or Canon . The VF format rapidly evolved into the backward-compatible Hi-VF format supported by the ProMavica MVC-7000 and Hi-Band Mavica models.

Later camera models of the digital still camera series recorded the images in a computer-readable DOS- FAT12 format digitally on 3.5 ″ -1.44 MiB 2HD floppy disks and were initially called “Digital Mavica”, later “ FD Mavica ". This feature made the Mavica very popular, especially in the North American market. With ever higher achievable resolutions in digital camera technology (megapixels) and memory cards becoming available for the consumer market, Sony also found alternatives for the images to be saved. With an adapter for a memory stick instead of the floppy disk and later with a built-in memory stick slot, the Mavica was able to save images on memory sticks. Later camera models in the CD Mavica series then used 8 cm CD-R / CD-RW blanks as a storage medium.

The first camera in the Mavica series with built-in CD burners (Mavica MVC-CD1000) and with a 10x optical zoom lens could only write to blank CD-Rs. However, it was possible the images via the existing USB - interface also from a not yet completed ( lead-out to be able to read) CD-R media. The successor models - called "CD Mavica" - were more compact, but the zoom factor was reduced. But they were also able to write CD-RW blanks. The Mavica MVC-CD400 was the first camera to use a laser for focusing in low light conditions .

With the two MaviCap models MVC-FDR1 and MVC-FDR3 , Sony produced a digital image memory for any video sources ( FBAS and S-Video ), which also saved the images on 3.5-inch floppy disks. The latter had an LCD to view the stored images.

The FVP-1 Mavica printer can be used to print out the images stored on floppy disk.

Sony did not continue the Mavica series, but replaced it with the Cyber-shot series , which used the memory stick as a storage medium from the start . Sony now also offers digital single-lens reflex cameras with interchangeable lenses as part of the Alpha system .

Sony Mavica series models

Still video cameras with 2.0 inch video floppy

Mavica MVC 2000, an analog model from the mid-1980s
  • Sony MAVICA (1981) (Mavipak 2.0 ″ VF, SLR design, three interchangeable lenses)
  • Sony Mavica MVC-A7AF (1987) (Mavipak 2.0 ″ VF)
  • Sony ProMavica MVC-2000 (1989) (Mavipak 2.0 ″ Hi-VF)
  • Sony ProMavica MVC-5000 (1990) (Mavipak 2.0 ″ Hi-VF, SLR design, several interchangeable lenses)
  • Sony ProMavica MVC-7000 (1992) (Mavipak 2.0 ″ Hi-VF, SLR design, several interchangeable lenses)
  • Sony Hi-Band Mavica MVC-C1 (1988) (Mavipak 2.0 ″ Hi-VF)
  • Sony Hi-Band Mavica MVC-A10 (1988) (Mavipak 2.0 ″ Hi-VF)

Digital still cameras with 3.5 inch floppy disks

The later models MVC-FD75 , MVC-FD87 , MVC-FD92 , MVC-FD97 , MVC-FD100 and MVC-FD200 were called Sony FD Mavica , all other models as Sony Digital Mavica .

MVC-FD5 MVC-FD7 MVC-FD51 MVC-FD71 MVC-FD73 MVC-FD75 MVC-FD81 MVC-FD83 MVC-FD85 MVC-FD87 MVC-FD88 MVC-FD90 MVC-FD91 MVC-FD92 MVC-FD95 MVC-FD97 MVC-FD100 MVC-FD200
Launch 1997 1997 1998 1998 1999 2001 1998 1999 2001 1999 2000 2000 2000 2001 2000 2001 2002 2002
sensor 1 ⁄ 4 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 3 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 2.7 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 3.6 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 3 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 3.6 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 2.7 ″ CCD
Sensor resolution 0.35  MP 0.9 MP 1.3 MP 0.9 MP 1.3 MP 2.1 MP 1.3 MP 2.1 MP
Max. Image resolution 640 × 480 1024 × 768 1216 × 912 a 1280 × 960 1024 × 768 1280 × 960 1600 × 1200 1280 × 960 1600 × 1200
Video recording No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Focal length
(in mm) 		47 47-470 47 47-470 40-400 37-111 39-117 41-328 39-117 37-518 41-328 39-390 41-123
optical zoom No 10 times No 10 times 3-way 8-fold 3-way 8-fold 14-fold 8-fold 10 times 3-way
digital zoom No No No No No No No 2-way No 2-way
Storage medium 3.5 ″ floppy disk
alternative
storage medium 		No No No No No No No No No No No No No Memory stick No Memory stick
Viewfinder size 2.5 ″ color LCD
Viewfinder resolution
(in pixels) 		61,000 84,260 123,200 84,260 123,200 84,260 123,200
Video viewfinder No No No No No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No
Video output No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
USB port No No No No No No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
length in mm 127 127 127 138 138 138 140 142 142 143 143 143 140 143 126 127 142 142
Width (in mm) 110 110 110 103 103 103 104 107 107 103 103 103 103 103 124 124 104 104
Height (in mm) 63 63 63 62 62 62 61 73 63 66 66 77 163 79 184 184 77 77
Weight
(including battery, in g) 		590 720 580 590 590 590 650 670 660 650 650 670 950 660 970 990 645 645
a interpolated

Digital still cameras with 8 cm compact discs

The model MVC-CD1000 designated as Sony Mavica , all other models as Sony CD Mavica .

MVC-CD1000 MVC-CD200 MVC-CD250 MVC-CD300 MVC-CD350 MVC-CD400 MVC-CD500
Launch 2000 2001 2002 2001 2003 2002 2003
sensor 1 ⁄ 2.7 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 1.8 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 2.7 ″ CCD 1 ⁄ 1.8 ″ CCD
Sensor resolution 2.1  MP 3.3 MP 4.1 MP 5.2 MP
Max. Image resolution 1600 × 1200 2048 × 1536 2272 × 1704 2592 × 1944
Video recordings Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Focal length (in mm) 39-390 39-117 41-123 34-102 41-123 34-102
optical zoom 10 times 3-way
digital zoom 2-way SmartZOOM a 2-way 4-way
Storage medium CD-R CD-R / CD-RW
Viewfinder size 2.5 ″ color LCD
Viewfinder resolution 123,200 pixels
Video viewfinder No No No No No No No
Video output Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
USB port Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Length (in mm) 137 143 138 143 132 138 139
Width (in mm) 131 92 95 92 92 95 96
Height in mm 212 89 101 94 74 103 103
Weight (including battery, in g) 990 610 608 650 522 638 606
a digital zoom depending on the resolution: 3.8 times with 2 MP, 5.8 times with 1.2 MP, 9.6 times with VGA

MaviCap Digital Still Image Capture Adapters with 3.5 ″ floppy disks

MVC-FDR1 MVC-FDR1E MVC-FDR3 MVC-FDR3E
Image resolution 640 × 480 752 × 568 640 × 480 752 × 568
Video format PAL NTSC PAL NTSC
Video input 1 ×  FBAS and 1 ×  S-Video
Storage medium 3.5 ″ floppy disk
screen No No 2.5 ″ color LCD , 84,260  pixels
Length (in mm) 165
Width (in mm) 130
Height (in mm) 50
Weight (in g) 540 650

Digital color printer with 3.5 inch floppy disk

FVP-1 FVP-1E
Print resolution 1376 × 1024
Color depth 16.7 million colors
Printing time approx. 100 s per sheet
Video inputs 1 ×  FBAS and 1 ×  S-Video
Video output 1 × FBAS
Operating voltage 110-120 V AC 220-240 V AC
Length (in mm) 301
Width (in mm) 246
Height (in mm) 83
Weight (in g) about 3000

Individual evidence

  1. ^ "The Mavica was a single lens reflex with interchangeable lenses. The original Mavica was provided with three bayonet-mounted lenses: a 25mm f / 2, a 50mm f / 1.4, and 16-65mm f / 1.4 zoom. “ Sony's presentation of MAVICA on August 21, 1981 - Article in digicamhistory including a sectional drawing showing the inside of the camera
  2. ↑ Brooke Clarke's PSC-6 website showing the ProMavica MVC-5000 and a range of compatible lenses: 400mm, 60–300mm zoom, night vision lens, "Wide Lens 5mm 1: 1.8 Sony" (MCL-05H), "Zoom Lens 9.5 - 123.5mm 1: 1.8 Made by Canon "(MCL-913T)
  3. ↑ Sony advertising flyer for the ProMavica MVC-7000 shows camera functions and mentions accessories including Sony bayonet lenses: "wide lens" (MCL-06T), "zoom lens" (MCL-903T), "zoom lens" (MCL-806H) , "Wide lens" (MCL-05H) and "zoom lens" (MCL-710H) ​​as well as two lens adapters for Nikon (MCL-200N) and Canon (MCL-300C)
  4. ↑ Forum post shows a photo of the ProMavica MVL-7000 SLR with MCL-200N lens adapter
  5. ^ History of digital photography - Always sharper - p. 3 - 1981 - The first video still camera Süddeutsche Zeitung of November 24, 2008
  6. ↑ This is how the camera works without film . In: Arbeiter-Zeitung . Vienna August 27, 1981, p. 03 ( berufer-zeitung.at - the open online archive - digitized).
  7. ↑ a b http://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/de/standbildkameras/item/sony-mvc-a7af-de
  8. ^ A b Sony's hits and misses ( Memento from May 13, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), CNN-Money from June 25, 2009
  9. ^ The cost of living: 1982
  10. ↑ http://www.mi-fo.de/forum/index.php?showforum=134 Forum information box for instructions on most Mavica models