Kodak DCS 760 (2001)

A professional DSLR built around the Nikon F5 body, featuring a 6-megapixel CCD sensor and designed for high-end commercial and field use.

Overview

The Kodak DCS 760 is a professional digital SLR camera released in 2001, based on the Nikon F5 film body and modified by Kodak to house a digital imaging system. It was designed for demanding applications including portrait, fashion, commercial, and military use, and saw operational service with NASA from late 2001 through 2008. The camera captures 12-bit raw images in a lossless compressed format, storing them on dual PC Cards, and supports voice annotation via an onboard microphone.

Specifications

Sensor	6-megapixel (3032 x 2008) ITO CCD
Effective imaging area	27.65 x 18.48 mm
ISO sensitivity	80–400 (pushable to 2 stops)
Lens mount	Nikon F Lens Mount
Burst rate	1.5 frames per second for up to 24 images
Buffer	128 MB
File format	Lossless compressed 12-bit raw
Color depth	36-bit (12 bits per channel)
Autofocus system	Five-area phase detection with three cross-type sensors (Multi-CAM1300)
White balance	Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash
Video output	NTSC or PAL
Interface	IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
Storage	Dual PC Card slots
Dimensions	158 x 194 x 88 mm
Weight	1.86 kg (with battery)
Focal length multiplier	1.3x
Color filter array	Primary color (GRGB)
IR filter	Built-in lithium niobate anti-aliasing filter
Display	Improved color LCD with wider viewing angle
Special features	Intervalometer, GPS option, on-board histogram, custom white balance, +1.1 EV exposure, Open API for third-party software

Design

The DCS 760 uses a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body derived from the Nikon F5, ensuring durability in field conditions. It integrates Kodak’s proprietary indium tin oxide (ITO) CCD sensor, which offers higher light transmittance compared to polysilicon sensors, along with low-noise electronics and a software noise-reduction filter. The camera supports wireless Ethernet for rapid auto-save to a laptop and includes an Open API for custom application development.

Context

The DCS 760 was part of the Kodak DCS 700 Series, succeeding the DCS 660 with improvements in ISO range, burst rate, and buffer capacity. It competed in a market that included the Canon D30 and Fuji FinePix S1Pro, and remained in production until Kodak introduced the 14-megapixel DCS Pro 14N in 2003. A monochrome version, the DCS 760M, was introduced in 2002.

Market

Used units have been available on eBay, with prices observed between $400 and $800. NASA used the camera extensively from 2001 to 2008, highlighting its reliability in extreme environments.