Kodak DC20 (1995–1996)
A $299 shirt-pocket camera that made digital photography a consumer reality - twice.
Overview
The Kodak DC20 sold for $299. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., introduced the original in 1995, then followed with a substantially upgraded "new version" on February 13, 1996, under the press release headline "Kodak Introduces New Version of Popular DC20 Digital Camera." Kodak's own press materials called the original "popular," so this little fixed-focus point-and-shoot caught on quickly. Collectors now describe it as one of the first truly pocketable digital cameras.
The DC20 is really two cameras sharing one nameplate. The original, produced from 1995 to 1996, captured 640 x 480 pixel images - 493 x 373 effective - in 24-bit color, stored on 1 MB of internal memory, and wrote files as JPEG. The 1996 version delivered roughly four times the resolution, with a 1.0-megapixel sensor producing 1152 x 864 pixel images. Both sold at the same $299 list price. Kodak wanted to move digital photography forward without moving the price tag. The new DC20 was designed, in Kodak's words, to "take a major step forward in bringing affordable, easy-to-use digital photography to consumers."
The sources conflict on what sensor the 1996 version used. Kodak's own press release says a 1.0-megapixel CCD, while Imaging Resource (1996) describes a 1.0 megapixel CMOS sensor. Both agree on the resolution and the price, and both were describing the same camera, so the sensor type remains uncertain. It's a footnote for collectors.
Key Features
1.0-Megapixel CCD (or CMOS — Take Your Pick)
The 1996 DC20's headline upgrade was the 1.0-megapixel sensor producing 1152 x 864 pixel images, roughly four times the resolution of the original's 640 x 480 output. Whether that sensor was a CCD, as Kodak's press release claims, or a CMOS device, as Imaging Resource reported, the images looked surprisingly good for a sub-$300 camera. The original's 493 x 373 effective pixels seem quaint now.
35mm f/4.5 Fixed-Focus Lens
Both versions used a fixed-focus 35mm lens - the original rated at f/4, the 1996 version at f/4.5. The new version's focus range ran from four feet to infinity, so there were no focusing decisions to make. The trade-off was that close-up work was off the table. This was a camera for snapshots, not macro photography. The original had fixed exposure: point, shoot, and hope the light cooperates. The 1996 model added auto exposure and auto white balance, which made it markedly more forgiving in mixed lighting.
CompactFlash and Internal Storage
Storage shows the split between the two versions. The original DC20 relied entirely on 1 MB of internal memory - no cards, no expansion. That was enough for roughly a dozen JPEG images at 640 x 480. The 1996 version moved to 1 MB CompactFlash memory cards, so you could carry a spare card in your pocket and swap it out when the internal buffer filled. The camera stored up to 16 images per card.
Serial Transfer at Up to 115,200 Baud
Getting images off the DC20 took patience. The camera connected to any PC or Macintosh computer via an included serial cable, transferring data at baud rates up to 115,200. Imaging Resource (1996) noted that "the serial transfer is quite slow," which means you could make coffee while a full card downloaded. The serial connection was universal in 1996, though, and USB was still years from mainstream adoption. Talking to both PC and Mac out of the box was a real selling point. The bundled Adobe PhotoDeluxe software gave new owners something to do with the images once they arrived.
Two AAA Batteries and Shirt-Pocket Size
Kodak's press release made a point of the DC20's portability. It was small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, and it ran on two AAA batteries. That combination was both its greatest strength and its most persistent weakness. The pocketability was novel for a digital camera in 1995-96. The battery life was mediocre, as Imaging Resource (1996) bluntly put it. Two AAAs didn't last long when the camera was writing JPEGs and transferring data, so serious users carried spares. The original version also had a built-in flash - a single source reports "Flash: Yes" - though the 1996 press release doesn't mention one, and Imaging Resource cited the lack of a flash as a limitation of the later model.
Historical Context
In 1995, digital photography was still largely the province of professionals and early adopters willing to spend thousands on clunky, camera-shaped objects that connected to computers through mysterious drivers and serial ports. Kodak's bet with the DC20 was that a $299 camera, small enough to carry everywhere, could bring digital photography to ordinary consumers. The 1996 press release framed it as a step forward in "affordable, easy-to-use digital photography."
Kodak wasn't alone in the space. Imaging Resource (1996) compared the DC20 to the Casio QV-10 in size and price, noting the two were roughly comparable. The QV-10 had its own quirks - a rotating lens barrel, lower resolution. Kodak's advantage was brand recognition and a package that looked and felt like a consumer product, not a prototype. Kodak introduced a "new version" of the DC20 just a year after the original, at the same price.
Collectibility & Value
Today the DC20 is a sought-after collector's item. eBay listings range from $50 to $200 depending on condition. A complete boxed example with the serial cable and PhotoDeluxe software will command the higher end of that range; a bare camera with scuffs will land near the bottom.
Collectors should know two common issues. The battery door is fragile and prone to breakage, a common failure point on cameras of this era, and the mediocre battery life meant frequent battery changes. The second issue is capacitor failure in the flash circuit, which can leave the flash inoperative. Neither problem is fatal, and repair is possible for someone comfortable with basic electronics, but both are worth checking before purchase. The serial transfer speed, slow even when the camera was new, remains the practical bottleneck for anyone trying to use a DC20 today.
Check which version you're buying. The original 640 x 480 model and the 1996 1.0-megapixel version look similar and share the same name, but they're different cameras with different capabilities. The 1996 version's higher resolution makes it the more usable - and arguably more collectible - of the two. Check the serial number and, if possible, test the camera before buying.
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